Undina (Tchaikovsky)
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| Operas by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky |
|---|
Voyevoda (1868) |
Undina (sometimes Undine or Ondine) (Russian: Ундина) is an opera in 3 acts by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. The work was composed in 1869. The libretto was written by Vladimir Sollogub, and is based on Vasily Zhukovsky's translation of Friedrich de la Motte-Fouqué's Ondine.
The opera was composed during the months of January to July, 1869, but Tchaikovsky destroyed score in 1873, preserving only a few numbers from the opera. The opera has never been performed in its entirety.
The only extracts which survive are (i) The introduction; (ii) Undina's aria Waterfall, my uncle, streamlet, my brother; (iii) the chorus Help, help! Our stream is raging; (iv) Undina and Huldbrand's duet O happiness, O blessed moment; (v) and the chorus with soloists' O hours of death.
At least three of these pieces - the aria, the duet, and the final chorus - were performed at the Moscow premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow on 28 March 1870.
Some music from the opera was subsequently re-used in Tchaikovsky's other works:
- The bridal procession of Act 3 was adapted for the Andantino marziale of his Symphony No. 2 (1872).
- The introduction was used unchanged as the introduction to his incidental music to Ostrovsky's Snow Maiden (1873).
- Undina's aria was somewhat altered and put to use as the first song of Lel in Snow Maiden.
- The duet was recycled as the duet (No. 13-V) of Siegfried and Odette in Act 2 of Swan Lake (1875-1876). The vocal parts were replaced by solo cello and violin.
Contents |
[edit] Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast March 28 [OS March 16], 1870 (Conductor: Eduard Merten) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Goldmann, an old fisherman | bass | ||
| Bertha, his wife | mezzo-soprano | ||
| Undina, their adopted daughter | soprano | A. Alexandrova-Kochetova | |
| Huldbrand, a knight | tenor | Aleksandr Dodonov | |
| The Duke | bass | ||
| Berthalda, the Duke's daughter | mezzo-soprano | ||
| Chorus, silent roles: People | |||
[edit] Instrumentation
Source: www.tchaikovsky-research.net
- Strings: Violins, Violas, Cellos, and Double Basses
- Woodwinds: Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets ( B-flat), 2 Bassoons
- Brass: 4 Horns (all F), 2 Trumpets (B-flat), 2 Trombones, Tuba
- Percussion: Timpani, Triangle, Cymbals, Bass Drum
- Other: Harp, Piano
[edit] Synopsis
Time: The 15th century
Place: Germany, near the Danube; Ringstetten Castle (Burg Ringstetten)
[edit] Discography
Introduction
- Gauk, USSR Radio Large Symphony Orchestra
Vocal Numbers
- Akulov, USSR TV and Radio Symphony Orchestra, Milashkina, Raikov
