Vakula the Smith
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| Operas by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky |
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Voyevoda (1868) |
Vakula the Smith (Russian: Кузнец Вакула – Kuznets Vakula) is an opera in 3 acts and 8 scenes, Op. 14 (1874) by Pyotr Tchaikovsky.
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[edit] Composing and stage history
The libretto, by Yakov Polonsky, after Nikolai Gogol's story Christmas Eve (Russian: Ночь перед Рождеством – Noch pered Rozhdestvom) was written for Alexander Serov, but, as a result of death of the latter, it remained unused.
The opera was composed in June - August 21, 1874. It was begun during a holiday in Nizy (in Kharkov province) and finished in Usovo. The work was dedicated to the memory of the Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna.
The score was submitted for a competition anonymously under the motto "Ars longa vita brevis est" (“Art is eternal, life is short"). It was acknowledged by the authoritative judges as the best and the composer received the first prize, 1500 rubles.
It was first performed in St Petersburg, at the Mariinsky Theatre, on December 6 [OS November 24] 1876, with conducting by Eduard Nápravník.
The stage history of the opera was short – during several seasons the opera was given at the Mariinsky theatre 18 times. Tschaikovsky did not permit it to be performed at other theatres.
Dissatisfied with the opera, Tchaikovsky revised it in 1885 as Cherevichki (The Slippers, also known as "Les caprices d'Oxane", The Empress's Slippers, or The Little Shoes).
[edit] Roles
| First performance, Mariinskiy Theatre, 1876
Eduard Nápravník, conductor |
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|---|---|---|
| Vakula [Вакула] | tenor | F. P. Komissarzhevsky |
| Solokha [Солоха] | mezzo-soprano | A. P. Bichurina |
| Chub [Чуб] | 1st bass | I. V. Matchinsky |
| Oksana [Оксана] | soprano | V. I. Raab |
| Devil [Бес] (1st bass); | 1st bass | I. A. Melnikov |
| Schoolmaster [Школьный учитель] | tenor | N. G. von Derviz (Ende) |
| Pan Golova [Пан Голова] (2nd bass); | 2nd bass | Osip Petrov |
| Panas [Панас] | 2nd tenor | V. M. Vasiliev |
| His Highness [Светлейший] | 2nd bass | Fyodor Stravinsky |
| Master of Ceremonies [Церемониймейстер] | 2nd bass | |
| Attendant [Дежурный] | 2nd tenor | P. N. Dyuzhikov |
| Old Cossack [Старый запорожец] | 2nd bass | |
| Wood Goblin [Голос лешего] (2nd bass) | 2nd bass | |
| People | SATB chorus. |
[edit] Scoring
The work is scored for piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (one in B-flat, one in A,), 2 bassoons, 4 horns (all in F), 2 trumpets (one in F, the other in E), 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, triangle, tambourine, cymbals, bass drum, harp, violins I, violins II, violas, cellos, double basses and a wind band (offstage).
Some numbers were also arranged for voices with piano or for piano duet (4 hands) by Tchaikovsky in 1874.
[edit] Synopsis
The widow Solokha agrees to help the Devil steal the moon. The Devil is annoyed with Solokha's son Vakula who painted an icon mocking him. The Devil decides to create a snowstorm to prevent Vakula from seeing his beloved Oxana. While the storm rages, Solokha rides up to the sky and steals the moon, while Oxana's father Chub and the Deacon are unable to find their way. Oxana is alone and lonely at home. She passes through several moods and the music follows her with gradually accelerating tempos. At one point, Vakula enters and watches her admiring herself. She teases him, and he says he loves her. Chub comes back out of the storm, and Vakula, not recognizing him, chases him out by striking him. Seeing what he has done, Oxana sends Vakula away in a miserable state. Young people from the village come around singing Ukrainian Christmas carols. Oxana realizes she still loves Vakula. Three men and the Devil wind up in three sacks at Solokha's hut after successively trying to seduce her, and Vakula winds up hauling the heavy sacks away. Outside three groups of carollers contend. Oxana shames Vakula into getting her the Tsaritsa's boots or else she won't marry him. He runs threatening suicide, leaving two bags which turn out to have the Deacon and Chub.
A forest sprite warns water nymphs that Vakula is coming and wants to commit suicide. The Devil jumps out of Vakula's sack and tries to get his soul in exchange for Oxana but Vakula instead climbs on the Devil's back. Vakula forces the Devil to take him to St. Petersburg. The Devil puts down Vakula in the tsaritsa's court and disappears into the fireplace. Vakula joins a group of cossacks who are going to see the tsaritsa. In the hall of columns, a chorus sings the tsaritsa's praises to a polonaise. Vakula requests the tsaritsa's boots to a minuet, and it is granted because it is an unusual and amusing thing to ask. The Devil takes Vakula away as Russian and Cossack dances commence. The next scene takes place at the town square on a bright Christmas morning. Solokha and Oxana think Vakula has drowned himself and mourn for him. Oxana runs off weeping when villagers invite her to the Christmas feast. Vakula returns with the boots, asks Chub to forgive him for the beating and asks for Oxana's hand in marriage. She enters, tells Vakula that she wants him, not the silly boots. Chub calls for the kobzari (the lutenists), and everyone celebrates.
[edit] Quotations
- "All my thoughts are now intent upon my beloved child, darling Vakula the Smith. You would not imagine how I love him! It seems to me that I wil positively go mad if I don't succeed with him" (Pyotr Tchaikovsky, from the letter to Anatoly Tchaikovsky May 12, 1875)
- "[There are] two fundamental shortcomings: first, the style of Vakula is not operatic, but symphonic; and the second, there is no correspondence between the music and what is taking place on stage... but the music of Vakula is almost without exception noble and beautiful with respect to both theme and harmony." (César Cui, Sankt-Peterburgskie vedomosti, November 30, 1876)
