The Maid of Pskov (original) (raw)

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Opera by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

The Maid of Pskov (Pskovityanka)
Opera by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Design by Matvey Shishkov for the premiere
Native title Russian: Псковитянка, Pskovityanka
Librettist Rimsky-Korsakov
Language Russian
Based on drama by Lev Mei
Premiere 1873 (1873)Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg

The Maid of Pskov (Russian: Псковитянка, romanized: Pskovityanka, lit. 'Pskov female resident' listenⓘ), also known as Ivan the Terrible, is an 1872 opera originally in three acts (six scenes) by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. The libretto is by the composer, after the play by Lev Mei.

The storyline is fictitious, but set against the background of the campaign by Ivan IV Vasilyevich to subject the cities of Pskov and Novgorod to his will.

Pskovityanka was Rimsky-Korsakov's first opera, and he revised it twice; once in 1876-7, when he added a prologue, and again in 1891-2, without the prologue (which was subsequently rewritten and became in 1898 the one act opera Boyarïnya Vera Sheloga). The third version was made famous by Feodor Chaliapin in the role of the Tsar. The opera was introduced to Paris in 1909, also with Chaliapin, by Diaghilev, under the title Ivan the Terrible.

Composition history

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The first product of the composer's interest in this work was a lullaby composed in 1866. Rimsky-Korsakov then set to work in full earnest on an operatic treatment in the winter of 1867-1868.[1] There are 3 versions of the opera. The original version was composed in the years 1868–1872, and received its premiere in 1873.[2] The composer revised the opera in the years 1876–1877. Later he completed a final version in the years 1891–1892.

Performance history

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The world premiere was given in St. Petersburg on 13 January (O.S. 1 January), 1873 at the Mariinsky Theatre, conducted by Eduard Nápravník.

Other notable performances included those in 1895 in St. Petersburg's Panayevsky Theatre, given by the Society of Musical Gatherings. The Russian Private Opera performances in Moscow in 1896, conducted by Bernardi, with scenery by Korovin and Vasnetsov, included Feodor Chaliapin as Ivan the Terrible.

In 1909 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, in a Sergei Diaghilev production, the opera was conducted by Nikolai Tcherepnin and Chaliapin sang Ivan. The opera was retitled Ivan le terrible (Ivan the Terrible), on account of the dominance of his role, and because of European audience's familiarity with his name.[3]

Role Voice type Premiere castSt. Petersburg 1873 Premiere castSt. Petersburg 1895 Premiere castParis 1909
Tsar Ivan Vasilevich the Terrible bass Osip Petrov Mikhail Koryakin Feodor Chaliapin
Prince Yuriy Ivanovich Tokmakov, the tsar's deputy and posadnik in Pskov bass Ivan Melnikov Mikhail Lunacharsky Vladimir Kastorsky
Boyar Nikita Matuta tenor Vasily Vasilyev II Aleksandr Davïdov
Prince Afanasy Vyazemsky bass Vladimir Sobolev
Bomely (Bomelius), royal physician bass
Mikhail Andreyevich Tucha, son of a posadnik tenor Dmitriy Orlov Vasilyev III Vasiliy Damayev
Yushko Velebin, courier from Novgorod bass Sobolev Vasiliy Sharonov
Princess Olga Yuryevna Tokmakova soprano Yuliya Platonova Feodosiya Velinskaya Lidiya Lipkovskaya
Boyarïshnya Stepanida Matuta (Styosha), Olga's friend soprano Bulakhova
Vlasyevna, wet nurse contralto Darya Leonova Alina Dore
Perfilyevna, wet nurse contralto Olga Shryoder (Eduard Nápravník's wife)
Guard's voice tenor Pavlov
Chorus, silent roles: Judges, Pskovian boyars, governor's sons, oprichniks, Muscovite Streltsy, maidens, people

Time: 1570

Place: Pskov; the Pechorsky Monastery; at the Medednya River

Scene 1

Princess Olga, daughter of Prince Tokmakov, is in the garden, as are two nannies, who tell stories of the repressive behaviour of Tsar Ivan on Pskov's sister city, Novgorod. Mikhail Tucha, the leader of the uprising in Pskov, is beloved of Princess Olga, but she is betrothed to the boyar Nikita Matuta. After Tucha and Olga sing a love duet, Tokmakov and Matuta arrive. Tucha leaves quickly and Olga hides herself. Tokmakov tells Matuta that Olga is not his own daughter, but the child of his sister-in-law Vera Sheloga. He does not know who Olga's true father is.

Scene 2

At the square of the Pskov kremlin, a messenger from Novgorod bears news that Tsar Ivan is about to deal the same fate to Pskov that he has to Novgorod. The townspeople are initially roused to defiance, but Tokmakov tries to calm the crowd and preach submission, saying that they are innocent of any treason and thus need not fear the Tsar. Tucha and his associates plan to rebel.

Scene 1

The people of Pskov are in fear of the wrath of the Tsar. Olga sings of how she does not truly know of her parents. A crowd gathers and sings welcome to the Tsar.

Scene 2

At Tokmakov's residence, Tsar Ivan patronizes Tokmakov and his ideas of the city behaving independently of the Tsar. The Tsar then asks to be attended by Princess Olga. She enters, and they both react oddly at each other's appearance. When Tokmakov and Ivan are later alone in conversation, the Tsar asks about Olga and learns about the identity of her mother. Ivan is shaken to learn that Vera Sheloga is Olga's mother, and his attitude toward the city changes.

Feodor Chaliapin as Ivan IV and V. A. Eberle as Olga
(Russian Private Opera, 1896)

Scene 1

In the forest, Olga and Tucha meet for a tryst. However, Matuta and his men appear, repulse Tucha and abduct Olga.

Scene 2

At a camp near the riverside, Ivan continues to think about Olga. He hears that Matuta has abducted her. Angry at this news, Ivan summons Olga, and addresses her as "Olga Ivanova", a hint as to her true father. Olga asks for protection from Matuta. Tsar Ivan says that she will be taken to Moscow, and he will choose her groom. He says that when Tucha is captured, he will live, but imprisoned. Olga continues to plead for mercy, and says that she has always worshipped him since she was young. Tucha and his forces attack the Tsar's camp. As they are repelled, Olga is fatally shot. At the end, over her body, Ivan reveals that he is, in fact, Olga's father.

Audio Recordings

Source: www.operadis-opera-discography.org.uk

Notes

  1. ^ Abraham, Gerald (1968). "Pskovityanka: The Original Version of Rimsky-Korsakov's First Opera". The Musical Quarterly. LIV (1): 58–73. doi:10.1093/mq/LIV.1.58. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  2. ^ Newmarch, Rosa (cited in the article as "Mrs. Newmarch", "The Development of National Opera in Russia. Rimsky Korsakov" (1904-1905). Proceedings of the Musical Association, 31st Session: pp. 111-129.
  3. ^ Palmer, Christopher, "Prokofiev, Eisenstein and Ivan" (April 1991). The Musical Times, 132 (1778): pp. 179-181.

Sources

External videos
video icon The Maid of Pskov (1994) by Mariinsky Theatre, released by the official YouTube channel