19 June 2019 (Wed), 19:00 World famous Mariinsky Ballet and Opera - Mariinsky II (New Theatre) - Stars of the Stars Conducted by Maestro Gergiev ! PREMIERE ! Opera The Noblewoman Vera Sheloga. The Maid of Pskov (opera in three acts). Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Running time: 3 hours (till 22:00)
The performance has 2 intermissions
Schedule for The Noblewoman Vera Sheloga. The Maid of Pskov (opera in three acts). Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov 2022
Conductor: Maestro Valery Gergiev Mezzo soprano: Olga Savova Bass: Gennady Bezzubenkov Tenor: Oleg Videman Bass: Anton Perminov Bass: Dmitry Grigoriev Soprano: Ekaterina Sannikova
Composer: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Costume Designer: Tatiana Noginova Principal Chorus Master: Andrei Petrenko Musical Director: Maestro Valery Gergiev Set Designer: Vyacheslav Okunev Musical Preparation: Irina Soboleva Lighting Designer: Damir Ismagilov Revival Designer: Vyacheslav Okunev Revival Stage Director: Yuri Laptev Piano: Irina Soboleva
Orchestra: Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra Opera company: Mariinsky (Kirov) Opera
Opera in 3 acts
Performed in Russian with synchronised English supertitles
World premiere: 1 January 1873, Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg
Premiere of this production: 25 April 2008, Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg, Russia
Libretto by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov after the drama by Lev Mey
Revival of the 1952 production (with sets by Fyodor Fyodorovsky)
The Maid of Pskov, is an opera in three acts by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. The libretto was written by the composer, and is based on the drama of the same name by Lev Mey. The story concerns the Tsar Ivan the Terrible and his efforts to subject the cities of Pskov and Novgorod to his will. The original version of the opera was completed in 1872, and received its premiere in 1873 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The third and final version was completed in 1892, and is considered "definitive". This version was made famous by Shalyapin (Chaliapin) in the role of Ivan the Terrible. It was introduced to Paris in 1909 by Dyagilev under the title Ivan the Terrible, on account of the dominance of his role.
Synopsis
ACT I
Scene 1 Pskov, 1570 The garden of the Tsarґs
governor-general in Pskov, Prince Yuri Ivanovich Tokmakov. The maidens are
amusing themselves, watched over by their nurses. Princess Olga, however, is
left unmoved by her friendsґ games and songs. She dreams of meeting her beloved,
and is awaiting news of him. The nosy Perfilyevna tries to wheedle out of
Olgaґs nurse if it is true that Olga is not a princeґs daughter. Vlasyevna
speaks of Novgorod: Tsar Ivan became angry at the free city and together with
his oprichnina came and slaughtered indiscriminately and mercilessly: Styosha,
Olgaґs friend, secretly tells her that Mikhailo Tucha will be in the garden in
the evening to see Olga. The nurses take the maidens into the tower-chamber.
Olga comes into the garden, but her joy of seeing her beloved is
short-lived. The Princess has been promised in marriage to the noble boyar
Matuta, and it is not for Mikhailo Tucha, the son of a poor governor, to act as
a rival. Mikhailo tells Olga of his decision to depart for Siberia and, when he
returns rich with furs and silver, to ask her hand from Prince Tokmakov. But
Olga persuades her beloved to stay, and promises Mikhailo she will beg her
father not to give her to Matuta. Tokmakov and Matuta come out from the tower.
Mikhailo Tucha hides, and Olga slips into the garden, overhearing her fatherґs
conversation with Matuta. Tokmakov says he is not Olgaґs natural father. Her
mother was the noblewoman Vera Sheloga, the Princeґs dead wife, and her father
is unknown. Bells ring out – the alarm for the townspeople to assemble. The
Prince and Matuta depart. Shocked, Olga takes the bells as the death knell
burying her happiness.
Scene 2 Alarm bells continue to ring. The people gather on the
square. The horseman Yushko Velebin brings the news – proud Novgorod has
fallen and Tsar Ivan Vasilievech is marching on Pskov. Worry and panic seize the
people. Prince Tokmakov tries to calm the people – Pskov has nothing to fear,
with their faith and truth the townspeople serve their native land well. And so
they must meet the Tsar in peace and hospitality. The young people of Pskov,
headed by Mikhailo Tucha (a freeman of the town), do not wish to submit to the
Tsar. They call on the people to demand independence. The freemen take up the
bold song of their leader and leave the town. In fright Matuta asks Tokmakov to
call the streltsy to deal with the unruly. Tokmakov refuses indignantly. The
alarm bell continues to sound.
ACT II
Scene 3 The people of Pskov are waiting for Tsar Ivan, setting
the feast tables. Olga and her nurse appear. The Princess admits that she
has heard the conversation of her adoptive father with Matuta and bemoans the
fact she is an orphan. Olga is sad, but she is also gripped by some strange
feeling. Impatiently Olga awaits the Tsar. The bells ring louder, Tsar Ivan
Vasilievich himself appears on the square. The people drop to their knees in
prayer for forgiveness.
Scene 4 Ivan the Terrible at the entrance to Prince Tokmakovґs
chamber. "To enter nor not" he asks of the Prince, deciding the townґs fate.
Tokmakov answers with a deep bow. The Tsar is led to the place of honour.
Knowing the Prince has a daughter, the Tsar wishes her to bring him his bowl.
Olga enters, followed by Styosha and the other maidens carrying food. When Olga
raises her head to present the Tsar with his bowl, Ivan the Terrible recognises
the features of the woman he once loved – Vera Sheloga. Stunned, with difficulty
the Tsar manages to hide his unease and confusion. Left alone with Tokmakov
and asking who was Olgaґs mother, Ivan understands he has met his own daughter.
This is like a sign to him and he pardons rebellious Pskov: "May the murders
cease! Too much blood: Let us blunt our swords on stone. May God bless Pskov!"
ACT III
Scene 5 A wood close to Pechery Monastery. The maidens are off
to pray. Olga remains behind to meet Mikhailo Tucha. Olga hopes to beg
forgiveness for her beloved from the Tsar, but Tucha refuses to kneel before
Ivan the Terrible and calls on Olga to leave her native lands. She agrees
without hesitation. Nothing now links her with Pskov. Suddenly Matuta
appears. He has followed Olga. His serfs wound Tucha and carry off the young
girl.
Scene 6 The Tsarґs headquarters near Pskov. Tsar Ivan cannot
sleep. Meeting his daughter has awoken memories of his past youth. But his
thoughts are once again brought to affairs of State. He wishes to see Russia
unified under one mighty ruler. The Tsarґs thoughts are interrupted by
Prince Vyazemsky. He has taken Matuta who had kidnapped Olga. In fury, the Tsar
is ready to kill Matuta, but the latter declares he took the Princess while she
was with "the enemy of the Tsarґs will" Mikhailo Tucha. The Tsar orders Olga be
brought immediately. Ivan Vasilievich wished to take Olga to Moscow with him and
imprison Tucha. Tenderly Olga softens the Tsarґs heart: from childhood she
was wont to pray for him, loved him always, like her own father. Ivan the
Terrible is ready to admit to his daughter that he is in fact her true father,
but close to the tent the freemenґs song is heard – it is Mikhailo and his men
come to free Olga. The furious Tsar orders the rebels be killed and Tucho be
taken alive. Olga, who has heard her belovedґs words of farewell, runs from the
tent. Gunfire is heard. All the assailants lie dead. The body of Olga, shot
by a rogue bullet, is brought to the tent. In despair, Ivan Vasilievich calls
the apothecary Bomely, but Olga is already dead. The inconsolable Tsar bows over
his daughterґs body.
Schedule for The Noblewoman Vera Sheloga. The Maid of Pskov (opera in three acts). Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov 2022
|