The Marriage (opera)
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| Operas by Bohuslav Martinů |
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Comedy on the Bridge (1937) |
The Marriage is a comic opera in 2 acts by Bohuslav Martinů, to the composer's own libretto, after the play of the same name by Gogol.
Contents |
[edit] Premieres
The opera's premiere was on NBC television in the USA, in its series NBC TV Opera Theatre, on 2nd July 1953. The conductor was Guido Cantelli. Its stage premiere was on 31 March 1954, at the Hamburg State Opera, Germany, when it was conducted by Horst Stein.
[edit] Roles
- Podkolyosin, a government official, baritone
- Kokhkaryov, his friend, tenor
- Fyokla Ivanovna, a matchmaker, mezzo-soprano
- Agafya, a spinster soprano
- Arina, her aunt, contralto
- Suitors, servants, etc.
[edit] Synopsis
The opera is set in St. Petersburg at the start of the 19th century. Fyokla suggests the 29-year old Agafya to Podkolyosin for a bride. Kokhkyarov encourages him. They find Agafya attended by three feeble suitors. Both Agafya and Podkolyosin are diffident, so Kokhkyarov does all the talking in persuading each of the other's merits, eventually even proposing on behalf of Podkolyosin. Agafya accepts, but while she is dressing for the marriage, which they have decided must be immediate, Podkolyosin escapes though the window.
[edit] Recording
Václav Nosek conducting the Brno Janacék Opera Orchestra, Supraphon SU33792.
[edit] Sources
Boosey & Hawkes website, The Marriage.
