Khovanshchina
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Khovanshchina (Russian: Хованщина, Hovánščina, sometimes rendered The Khovansky Affair) is an opera (subtitled a 'national music drama') in five acts by Modest Mussorgsky. The work was written between 1872 and 1880 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The composer wrote the libretto based on historical sources. Although the setting of the opera is the Moscow Uprising of 1682, its main themes are the struggle between progressive and reactionary political factions during the minority of Tsar Peter the Great, and the passing of old Muscovy before Peter's westernizing reforms. The opera was unfinished and unperformed when the composer died in 1881. It received its first performance in the Rimsky-Korsakov edition in 1886.
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[edit] Early Performance History
Rimsky-Korsakov's edition of the opera was first performed by an amateur ensemble on 21 February 1886 in St. Petersburg.
Important Premieres
| Date | City | Opera House | Conductor | Note | Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Nov 1897 | Moscow | Solodovnikov Theater | Shalyapin as Dosifey | Rimsky-Korsakov | |
| 23 May 1959 | Yevgeniy Svetlanov | Film by Stroyeva | Shostakovich 1959 | ||
| 25 Nov 1960 | Leningrad | Kirov Theater | Sergey Yeltsin | Shostakovich 1959 |
[edit] Historical Basis of the Plot
Like Mussorgsky's earlier Boris Godunov, The Khovansky Affair deals with an episode in Russian history, first brought to the composer's attention by his friend Vladimir Stasov. In this case, it concerns the rebellion of Prince Ivan Khovansky, his Old Believer followers, and the Streltsy, against Peter the Great, who was attempting to institute Westernizing reforms to the country. Ultimately, Peter succeeded, the rebellion was crushed and (in the opera, at least) Khovansky's followers committed mass suicide.
[edit] Instrumentation
Shostakovich Orchestration:
- Strings: Violins, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses
- Woodwinds: 2 Flutes, 1 Flute/Piccolo, 2 Oboes, 1 Oboe/English Horn, 2 Clarinets, 1 Clarinet/Bass Clarinet, 2 Bassoons, 1 Bassoon/Contrabassoon
- Brass: 4 Horns, 3 Trumpets, 3 Trombones, 1 Tuba
- Percussion: Triangle, Tambourine, Timpani, Bass Drum, Snare Drum, Cymbals, Tam-tam, Bells, Glockenspiel
- Other: Piano, Harp, Celesta
- On/Offstage: Unspecified numbers of Horns, Trumpets, Trombones
[edit] Roles
| Russian | English | Description | Voice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Князь Иван Хованский | Prince Ivan Khovanskiy | A boyar, head of the Strelstï | Bass |
| Князь Андрей Хованский | Prince Andrey Khovanskiy | The son of Ivan Khovansky | Tenor |
| Князь Василий Голицын | Prince Vasiliy Golitsïn | Minister of Foreign Affairs | Tenor |
| Боярин Фёдор Шакловитый | Boyar Fyodor Shaklovitïy | A member of the Duma | Baritone |
| Досифей | Dosifey | The head of a group of Old Believers | Bass |
| Марфа | Marfa | A young widow, an Old Believer | Mezzo-Soprano |
| Сусанна | Susanna | An Old Believer | Soprano |
| Подъячий | The Clerk | A scrivener | Tenor |
| Эмма | Emma | A maiden from the German quarter | Soprano |
| Пастор | The Pastor | A Pastor | Baritone |
| Варсонофьев | Varsonofyev | A servant of Golitsïn | Bass |
| Кузька | Kuzka | A strelets | Baritone |
| Стрешнев | Streshnev | The head of the Poteshnïye soldiers | Tenor |
| Streltsï, streltsï wives, people of Moscow, Old Believers, maidens, Persian slave girls, Poteshnïye soldiers | Chorus, Silent Roles | ||
[edit] Synopsis
Act 1: Moscow. Red Square. Shaklovity, a Boyar, dictates an anonymous letter to the Tsar, warning of a rebellion by Khovansky (captain of the Streltsy Guards) and the Old Believers. Ivan Khovansky arrives and promises a crowd of people to defend the Tsar against treachery. Andrey Khovansky, Ivan's son, chases in Emma, a German girl, but is fended off by Marfa, an Old Believer. Andrey threatens to kill Emma, but is prevented by the arrival of Dosifey, the leader of the Old Believers. Marfa leaves with Emma.
Act 2: Summer Study of Prince Vasily Golitsyn. Marfa tells the prince's fortune, saying that he will fall from power. After she leaves, Golitsyn orders his servants to kill her. Ivan Khovansky appears to complain that Golitsyn has interfered with the Boyars, but Dosifey enters and persuades the two to work together. Marfa, who has been saved by the Tsar's guards, reappears, followed by Shaklovity, who tells the group that the Tsar has been warned of their opposition to him.
Act 3: The Streltsï Quarter, South of the Moscow River.Marfa is overheard singing of her love by Susanna, a fellow Old Believer. Marfa admits to Dosifey that she loves Andrey Khovansky.
Act 4, Scene 1: A Richly Furnished Chamber in Ivan Khovansky's Mansion. Khovansky is warned by a servant of Golitsyn that he is in danger, but Khovansky ignores the warning and watches his servant girls dance. Shaklovity enters and murders Khovansky.
Act 4, Scene 2: Moscow. The [Red] Square before the Cathedral of Vasiliy the Blessed. Golitsyn is led into exile. Dosifey mourns the conspirators' downfall. Marfa offers sanctuary to Andrey with the Old Believers. The Streltsy are led to their execution. Peter, through an agent, intervenes to pardon them (which is not in agreement with historical fact).
Act 5: A Pine Forest. A Secluded Monastery. A Moonlit Night. Dosifey and his followers prepare to immolate themselves. As Dosifey, Marfa, Andrey and the Old Believers perish in the flames of a burning chapel, Peter's soldiers arrive in a vain attempt to capture them.
[edit] Principal Arias and Numbers
Introduction: Dawn on the Moscow River
Act 1
- Chorus: "The Chief is coming!" (Streltsï)
- Chorus: "Glory to the White Swan" (People)
Act 2
- Aria: Marfa's Divination (Marfa)
Act 3
- Aria: "The Streltsy sleep in their nest" (Shaklovitïy)
Act 4, Scene 1
- Ballet: Dance of the Persian Slaves (Orchestra)
- Chorus: "A young swan swims, ladu-ladu" (Maidens, Shaklovitïy)
Act 4, Scene 2
- Introduction: The Departure of Golitsïn (Orchestra, Chorus)
- Chorus: "Show them no mercy" (Streltsï Wives)
- March: March of the Poteshniye Soldiers (Orchestra)
Act 5
- Aria: "Here, in this holy place" (Dosifey)
[edit] Versions by other hands
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov completed, revised, and scored Khovanshchina in 1881–1882. Because of the heavy cuts and "recomposition" at Rimsky-Korsakov's hand, Dmitri Shostakovich revised the opera in 1959 based on Mussorgsky's vocal score, and it is this version that is usually performed today. It is also believed that Igor Stravinsky added a finale chorus at the finale of the opera .
[edit] Repertory status
While not as well known as Boris Godunov, this opera is, in some ways, more accessible. The pace of the action is slow, but there is more in the way of traditional vocal lines as compared to the earlier opera's use of a more speech-like style. There are also some fiery set-pieces, in particular the Dance of the Persian Slaves. While Khovanshchina is not seen on stage often, especially in the West, it has been recorded several times. More recently it is to be performed by Welsh National Opera in both Wales and England as well as at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich under Kent Nagano in 2007.
[edit] Discography
Shostakovich Version 1959
- Gergiev, Kirov Chorus and Orchestra, 1991
- Abbado, Orchestra of the Vienna Staatsoper, 1989
- Tchakarov, Sofia National Opera Chorus and Orchestra, 1986
- Leskovich, RAI, 1973
Rimsky-Korsakov Version 1882
- Ermler, Bolshoy Theater Orchestra and Chorus, 1988
- Margaritov, Sofia National Opera Chorus and Orchestra, 1975
- Khaikin, Kirov Orchestra and Chorus, 1973
- Rodzinski, RAI, 1958
- Baranovich, Belgrade National Opera Orchestra and Chorus, 1954
- Nebolsin, Bolshoy Theater Orchestra and Chorus, 1951
- Khaikin, Kirov Orchestra and Chorus, 1946
