The Enchantress
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Operas by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky |
|---|
Voyevoda (1868) |
The Enchantress, also The Sorceress or Charodeyka (Russian: Чароде ́йка) is an opera in 4 acts (1885-87) by Pyotr Tchaikovsky.
The opera was set to the libretto by Ippolit Shpazhinsky after his drama of the same title. It was composed between September 1885 and May 1887 in Maidanovo (Майданово).
It was first performed in St Petersburg, at the Mariinsky Theatre on November 1 [OS October 20], 1887, conducted by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, and with stage directions by O. O. Palechek. The set was created by M. I. Bocharov; the costumes made after drawings by E. P. Ponomaryov.
In the Soviet Union, it was staged again with a new version of the libretto by Sergey Gorodetsky after Shpazhinsky on March 22, 1941 in Leningrad (St Petersburg).
Contents |
[edit] Roles
| First performance, St Petersburg, Mariinsky Theatre, 1887
Pyotr Tchaikovsky, conductor |
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|---|---|---|
| Prince Nikita Kurliatev [Князь Никита Курлятев] | baritone | Ivan Melnikov (Иван Мельников) |
| Princess Evpraksia [Княгиня Евпраксия] | mezzo-soprano | Maria Slavina (Мария Славина) |
| Prince Yuri [Княжич Юрий] | tenor | Vasiliev 3rd (Васильев 3-й) |
| Mamyrov [Мамыров] | bass | Fyodor Stravinsky (Фёдор Стравинский) |
| Nenila [Ненила] | mezzo-soprano | |
| Ivan Zhuran [Иван Журан] | bass-baritone | |
| Nastasia (Kuma) [Настасья (Кума)] | dramatic soprano | Emilia Pavlovskaya (Павловская) |
| Foka [Фока] | baritone | |
| Polia [Поля] | soprano | |
| Balakin [Балакин] | tenor | |
| Potap [Потап] | bass-baritone | |
| Lukash [Лукаш] | tenor | |
| Kichiga [Кичига] (bass); | bass | |
| Paisy [Паисий] | character tenor | |
| Kud´ma [Кудьма] | baritone | |
| People | SATB chorus. |
[edit] Scoring
The opera is scored for piccolo, 3 flutes, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets (B-flat, C, A), 2 bassoons, 4 horns (F), 2 cornets (B-flat), 2 trumpets (B-flat), 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, triangle, tambourine, military drum, cymbals, bass drum, tam-tam, harp, violins I, violins II, violas, cellos, double basses + 4 horns (offstage).
The score was arranged for voices with piano by Pyotr Tchaikovsky around 1886-87.
[edit] Synopsis
The action takes place at the last quarter of the 15th century at the tavern and brothel near Nizhny Novgorod. Nastasia (Kuma), the charming owner of the inn, has made herself an enemy in rejecting the devious Mamyrov, the right-hand man of the local governor Nikita Danilovich Kurliatev. He spreads the gossip that Nastasia is an enchantress, and every man whom she meets falls for her. Yuri, Nikita’s son, begins to frequent the inn, as does his father, who falls madly in love with Nastasia (without any success), who threatens her that he will reach his goal by whatever means. Mamyrov confronts Nikita’s wife, Evpraksia, with the truth, while her son – not yet personally involved with Nastasia – swears to avenge his mother. While confronting Nastasia he learns that it is he whom she loves. They both plan to flee during the night not knowing that, by now, Mamyrov has worked out an elaborate plot to wreak his revenge on Nastasia as well as on Nikita and his family with devastating effect.
[edit] Structure
- Introduction.
- Act I – Folk Scene (No. 1); Folk Scena (No. 2); Chorus of Guests & Scene (No. 3); Scene (No. 4); Kuma's Arioso (No. 4a); Folk Chorus & Scene (No. 5); Scene (No. 6); Decimet (No. 7a); Scene & Chorus (No. 7b); Dance of the Tumblers (No. 7c).
- Act II – Entr'acte; Scene & Princess's Arioso (No. 8); Scene & Duet (No. 9); Scene (No. 10); Scene (No. 11); Prince's Arioso (No. 11a); Scene: Prince with the Princess (No. 12); Folk Scene (No. 13); Finale (No. 14).
- Act III – Scene & Duet (No. 15); Scene (No. 16); Scene (No. 17); Duet (No. 17a).
- Act IV – Entr'acte; Scene with Chorus (No. 18); Scene & Duet (No. 19); Scene (No. 20); Kuma's Arioso (No. 20a); Scene & Duet (No. 21); Scene & Quartet (No. 22); Finale (No. 23).
[edit] Recordings
- Pyotr Tchaikovsky: The Enchantress
- Audio; 3CDs
- Label: Aquarius
- Publication Date: 2003
- Performers:
- Prince Nikita Danilovich Kurliatev, leader of the local government of Nizhny Novgorod - Mikhail Kisseliov, baritone;
- Princess Evpraksia Romanovna, his wife - Viera Borisenko, mezzo-soprano;
- Prince Youri Nikitich, their son - Georgiy Nielepp, dramatic tenor;
- Nastasia (Kuma), the inn-keeper - Natalia Sokolova, lyric soprano;
- Mamyrov, an elderly deacon, and the right-hand man of the Prince - Aleksei Korolev, bass-baritone;
- Nenila, his sister. A lady-in-waiting of the Princesss - Anna Matiouchina, mezzo-soprano;
- Ivan Jouran, valet of prince Nikita - Mikhail Skazin, bass-baritone;
- Foka, uncle of Nastasia - Anatoly Tikhonov, baritone;
- Polya, a friend of Nastasia - Vera Gradova, soprano;
- Balakin, a regular visitor to Nizhny Novgorod - Serguei Sladkopevtsev, character tenor;
- Potap, a young man - Leonid Khatchaturov, bass-baritone;
- Loukach, another young man - Aleksei Ousmanov, tenor;
- Kichiga, a pugilist who works at the market-place - Gennadi Troitsky, bass;
- Paisy, a wandering monk of dubious character - Pavel Pontryaguin, character tenor;
- Koudma, a wizard - Pavel Korobkov, baryton.
- Radio USSR chorus,
- Moscow Philharmonia State Orchestra, Samuil Samosud, conductor.
- Moscow, January 1954.
- Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Dances and Overtures
- The Queen of Spades, overture (1890) [3:58]
- Fatum – symphonic poem, Op. 77 (1868) [15:58]
- The Voyevoda, overture (1868) [9:21]
- The Maid of Orleans (1881): (Entr’acte, Act II [3:22]; Danse des Bohémiens [3:44]; Danse des Polichinelles [4:21])
- Cherevichki (The Slippers) (1876/1887): Danse Russe [3:52]; Danse des Cosaques [3:26])
- The Enchantress (1887): (Introduction [5:31]; Danse des Histrions [3:56])
- Mazeppa, Gopak (1884) [4.21]
- The Oprichnik, Danses (1874) [5:47]
- National Symphony Orchestra of the Ukraine/Theodore Kuchar
- Recorded at the Grand Concert Studio, National Radio Company of the Ukraine, Kiev, 18-20 December 2000. DDD
- NAXOS 8.554845 [67:36]
