PART I
1. The beginning of the legend (Prelude)
The square of a medieval town. The Grand Inquisitor and his guards are slowly
moving across the square. As if from the future, a childrenґs choir can be heard
– "The evening is quiet, it is a summerґs eve…" Foreseeing the impending trial
of Mitya Karamazov, the male voices repeat several times "You are accused of
murder…", "Accused of the murder of your father…"
2. … Anything goes!
Outside the secluded monastery of the old man Zosima. Those wanting to meet
the old man are waiting at the entrance. The head monk leads Fyodor Pavlovich
Karamazov and his sons Ivan and Alyosha to the old man. The father hopes that
the old man will resolve the rights of inheritance between them and his eldest
son Mitya. Mitya appears. The father accuses his son of abandoning his fiancйe
Katerina Ivanovna and preferring the "local seductress" Grushenka. Instead of a
reconciliation between the father, passionately in love with Grushenka, and
Mitya, who is jealous of him, a heated quarrel arises. Suddenly the old man
falls on his knees before Mitya. "I bowed to the great suffering of his future.
To the great suffering…" the old man explains to Alyosha.
3. Confessions of a passionate heart
Mitya tells his brother Alyosha how Katerina Ivanovna became his fiancйe. Her
father, a lieutenant colonel, was accused of embezzlement. Mitya offered money
to save her father if she would come to him. She came. He gave her the money…
and let her go. Later he got his money back, followed by a letter from her… He
sent an answer through his brother Ivan who fell in love with her… And now Mitya
wants Alyosha to tell Katerina Ivanovna of his decision to break off with her
and no longer hide the fact that the money she recently asked Mitya to send to
Moscow was squandered by him and Grushenka. When Alyosha agrees, Mitya tells him
that he is rushing to his fatherґs house: according to his fatherґs servant
Smerdyakov, three thousand roubles have been made ready for Grushenka, and his
father is impatient for her arrival. "And if I find out she has come…", Mitya
warns Alyosha, blinded by hatred for his father, "… I will break in and commit
murder!"
4. Both together
Alyosha comes to Katerina Ivanovna and tells her about Mitya’s decision and
about her money which his brother spent carousing with Grushenka. Unexpectedly
Katerina Ivanovna brings Grushenka from the next room and states that they are
by no means rivals. Grushenka has long been in love with an officer who
abandoned her and married, but who is now free again and has returned. The women
encircle Alyosha, explaining in every possible manner their feelings to each
other. In thanks, Katerina Ivanovna even kisses Grushenkaґs hand. And the other,
it would seem, is ready to respond likewise. But suddenly with a sneer she
throws it all in Katerina Ivanovnaґs face: "What a noble lady you are. And what
if I don’t kiss your hand? I will tell Mitya. How he will laugh." Katerina
Ivanovna is furious. Grushenka disappears, laughing. Katerina Ivanovna is
overcome by convulsions and weeping.
5. What for? Why? (Mityaґs aria)
Mitya is left alone. "Dead. Utterly lost and dead. Why is the steppe so
empty, why are the people poor, why do the children go hungry? I saw Grushenka,
her beauty – and was lost. Beauty is a terrible thing. What for? Why?"
6. Drinking cognac…
The house of Fyodor Pavlovich. The servants Grigory and Smerdyakov attend
their master, who has finished lunch and is having coffee with his son Ivan.
Alyosha appears. A discussion about faith begins. Fyodor Pavlovich says "Ivan,
tell me, is there a God?" "No". "Alyosha, is there a God?" "Yes". Fyodor
Pavlovich says "And there is no eternal life?" Ivan replies that "There is no
eternal life." A terrible noise and violent screams are heard from the canopy,
and Mitya bursts into the room – "Sheґs been hidden! I saw how she came to the
house!" Mitya bursts into the other apartments looking for Grushenka. Trembling
with passion, Fyodor Pavlovich follows him – "Grushenka is here?" He is stopped
by the servants. Coming back, Mitya grabs the old man by his hair and throws him
to the floor, beating him furiously. The brothers draw him off. Ivan cries out
"Madman! You have killed him!" "Even if I haven’t, I will come again to kill."
Mitya leaves, turning to his blood-soaked father with the words: "I curse you
and renounce you…" Fyodor Pavlovich calls Alyosha: "Alyosha, I am afraid of
Ivan. I fear Ivan more than the other one."
7. Anguish in the drawing room
Katerina Ivanovna, Khokhlova the landowner and Ivan are in Khokhlovaґs
apartments. Alyosha enters. Katerina Ivanovna tells him of the "drunken epistle"
she received yesterday from Mitya. "If even he marries such a… creature, I will
not abandon him! When he becomes miserable, then let him come to me…" Katerina
Ivanovna declares with resolution. "Anyone else would be wrong, but you are
right…" Ivan agrees. "Alyosha… Katerina Ivanovna never loved me! She was taking
revenge for Mityaґs insult… But you know, Katerina Ivanovna, you need him to
contemplate the extent of your faith. Farewell!" Coming towards Ivan, who has
left Katerina Ivanovnaґs apartments, there is a brisk figure dressed the same
way as Ivan himself. Quickly bowing to Ivan, he removes his top hat, exposing
Devil’s horns.
8. … It is interesting to talk with an intelligent
man
Smerdyakov with his guitar and Marya Kondratievna are seated on a bench in
front of Fyodor Pavlovichґs house. "However much I resist," Smerdyakov sings
with emotion, "… I shall depart and enjoy life in the capital!" Ivan appears.
Marya Kondratievna quickly departs. "What, are you not leaving?" Smerdyakov asks
Ivan. Ivan does not understand, "Why do you advise me to leave?" "What do you
mean why? You are to be pitied." The Devil in his top hat rises from the bench.
For an instant Ivanґs gaze is fixed intently upon him. With a devilishly
sneering smile, the Devil blushes. Ivan quickly departs. Smerdyakov says to the
Devil "… It is interesting to talk with an intelligent man."
9. Praise be to God!
The square of a medieval town. A funeral procession is approaching the
church. The Grand Inquisitor is in the distance. A childrenґs choir can be heard
singing a prayer. Mityaґs voice too: "I wanted to kill but I am not guilty!"
Menґs voices: "A murder trial is being held… of a retired titular counsellor…"
The Wanderer appears in the middle of the square. Everyone recognises him. With
a silent smile of compassion he moves towards the church porch. The mother of
the dead girl throws herself at his feet begging for her child to be
resurrected. The Wanderer passes his hand over the dead childґs body… The girl
in the coffin rises and sits up. She is holding the bouquet of white roses she
had with her in the coffin. The people are overcome with confusion, cries and
weeping… The Grand Inquisitor gives the guards a signal. The Wanderer is seized
and led away. The Grand Inquisitor raises his outstretched arm over the crowd.
"Praise be to God!" The crowd bows down before him.
PART II
10. It is even sweeter to be dirty! (Fyodor Pavlovichґs
monologue)
Fyodor Pavlovich is alone. "No, my dearest Mitya Fyodorovich. Not a rouble!
Not a rouble! I want to be a man another twenty years or so. But when I'm old
I'll become unclean… That's why I will need money. It is even sweeter to be
dirty! Even sweeter to be dirty!"
11. Gold-fields
Mitya bursts into Khokhlakova’s rooms. “I have come in the most utter despair
to ask you to lend me three thousand.” Khokhlakova’s response delights Mitya.
“I’ll give you more, I’ll save you... You will discover gold-fields, you will
make millions and become a useful man for Russia...” Khokhlakova, rushing to the
desk, moves box after box searching for something, brings out a small icon and
places it around Mitya’s neck. “Gold-fields! Now you may go.” “But the money?”
“Under no circumstances. Not for you. I love you.”
12. Relay from Mokroe
Grushenkaґs apartments. Well-dressed, Grushenka is anxiously awaiting her old
love – the officer who has come back to her. There is a knock at the door… Marya
Kondratievna escorts Alyosha into the room; he has come here looking for Mitya.
Grushenka is inexpressibly delighted at the visit, seats Alyosha down at the
table and offers him champagne, falling at his knees. "Alyosha, today is a
special day for me. My officer is coming, my tormentor! Perhaps, today, I will
take a knife to him… Tell me, do I love him?" Marya Kondratievna runs in holding
a letter: a carriage has arrived from Mokroe. Grushenka grabs the letter: "If he
comes and whistles to call me, I shall creep back to him like a beaten dog!
Grushenka is flying to a new life…"
13. She wonґt take the knife, she wonґt take it… (Alyoshaґs
prayer)
Alyosha is alone… "God! Look at her… I came here to find a wicked soul and I
have found a treasure, a loving soul… She forgave all, forgot all, and weeps.
And she wonґt take the knife, she wonґt take it!"
14. The copper pestle
Mitya bursts into Grushenkaґs house, pushing Marya Kondratievna: "Where is
she?" "My lord, I know nothing." "If Grushenka has run off to the old man… Iґll…
kill him! Like a fly!" Mitya rushes to the doors, comes back, grabs the pestle
from the mortar on the table and runs out.
15. Darkness…
Late evening. The garden in front of Fyodor Pavlovichґs house. Mitya appears.
"There is a light in the old manґs room. She is there!" He looks in the window.
Fyodor Pavlovich can be seen through the glass. Mitya hides in the shadows.
Fyodor Pavlovich disappears. "Is she here?" Again Mitya approaches the window,
knocks gently and retreats. Fyodor Pavlovich immediately comes to the window.
"Grushenka, is it you? You have come! I will open up now." Mitya takes the
pestle from his pocket and hides behind the house. Grigory appears. Mitya comes
back with the pestle raised high. "Monster! Father-killer!!!" Mitya strikes
Grigory with the pestle. The latter falls. Mitya cries out "God! Why did I do
that? Is he alive?" Mitya throws the pestle away. "But it doesnґt matter much
now. I have killed."
16. The Grand Inquisitor
To the sounds of a childrenґs choir, prison bars can be made out, and behind
them the Wanderer. Carrying a lantern, the Grand Inquisitor approaches him to
take a better look. He stops before the Wanderer and lights up his face. The
Grand Inquisitor asks "Why did you come to interfere here? The Devil tempted you
in the desert: ґTurn the stones into loaves… Give the people miracles… Take
Caesarґs sword…ґ You scorned this advice. We did not.” In the distance male
voices can be heard: "All rise! Court is in session… Court… Court is in
session…" "We gave them bread. And the people rejoiced… We have sanctified your
faith through the mystery of a miracle. And the people rejoiced… We are like
Caesar with his sword, we are kings on Earth. Why did you come here to
interfere, you heretic?"
17. Let me love… (Mityaґs prayer)
Mitya is alone. "God, save me from that terrible sort! Revive the old man!
And donґt judge me harshly, God. Because I have judged myself. And let me love…"
Mitya tears the amulet from his neck. "Here are one and a half thousand, half of
Katerinaґs money." Mitya breaks open the amulet and takes out a pile of currency
bills… “If only I could return it”.
18. Take me away, far away…
A hall in an inn. The Polish officers Mussyalevich (the officer who has
returned to Grushenka) and Vrublevsky are sitting playing cards at a table.
Sitting in a chair with a half-full glass, Grushenka suddenly sees Mitya at the
door. "Mitya! Sit down, Iґm glad to see you!" Champagne is brought. Mitya
suggests the Poles play a round. Having lost several hundred, Mitya takes them
aside. "If you want three thousand, sir, take it and begone," he tells
Mussyalevich. "Five hundred roubles this very minute, the rest tomorrow."
Understanding that Mitya does not have three thousand, they proudly turn him
down and Mussyalevich tells Grushenka of the conversation. Grushenka (to Mitya):
"Is it possible he took no money from you?" Mussyalevich says "I came to take
you as a wife, but see quite another miss, not the one there was before…" "Oh,
get out, go back to whence you came!" Mitya throws himself at the Pole. His path
is blocked by a throng of musicians and young women singing and dancing in the
crowded room. Grushenka says "I love someone here, Mitya. Can you guess who?"
The songs and merriment at the inn fade away… Grushenka continues, "Take me,
Mitya!!!" In the eyes of Grushenka and Mitya, everything and everyone around
them have disappeared. "… Donґt touch me. We must be pure and good… Take me far,
far away, do you hear?" Mitya replies "Far, far away…" Grushenka continues
"Theyґre not animals, they are kind…" Mitya replies "Iґd give up my whole life
for just one hour." Together they sing "The snow is bright, the church bell
rings… the church bell… Far, far away…" Meanwhile, the bell begins to chime in
reality. The district police officer and his gendarmes enter and approach Mitya.
"Retired Lieutenant Karamazov, you are arrested on suspicion of the murder and
robbery of your father." Mitya replies "Not guilty! Not I! Not I! I am not
guilty for that blood!" The officer continues "Grigory the servant is alive, he
has regained consciousness. And will give evidence."
PART III
19. What I need exists not on earth… (Katerina Ivanovnaґs
aria)
Katerina Ivanovna is alone. She is holding the letter she received from Mitya
yesterday. "Fateful Katya… I will give you the money. I will smash the old manґs
skull and take it from under his pillow… If only Ivan would go away…" Katerina
Ivanovna scrumples up the letter. "And what do I tell the court? …I remember… I
have the money, and I can make a gesture of respect. ґCome in. The door is
open…ґ Mitya could not kill… My window is high above the ground. I see only the
sky and the sunset… I weep without tears for a faithless vow. What I need exists
not on earth, not on earth…"
20. Not you, not you who killed
Alyosha and Ivan are in the gloom of a storm. Ivan says "Katerina Ivanovna
has a document, in Mityenkaґs own hand, proving that he killed." "That is
impossible, because he is not the killer!" "Who then?" Alyosha says "I will tell
you one thing… You did not kill your father. You are no murderer." After a
lengthy pause, Ivan says "I will have no more to do with you from this day on."
And continues, as he leaves: "You stay well clear of me today!"
21. Alyoshaґs dream
A space filled with splashes of light. Alyosha is in the centre of a
pulsating beam of light. Alyosha says "Dusk and the heavenly vault, filled with
glittering stars…" Somewhere in the distance an unreal vision of the dead old
man Zosima appears, slowly moving towards Alyosha. The old man says "Where are
you, Alyosha? Where are you?" There are mysterious, indefinable silhouettes of
Mitya, Ivan, then Fyodor Pavlovich and Smerdyakov. They all slowly approach
Alyosha. "Where are you, where are you, Alyosha? The sound of silence, like the
echo of the vanishing secret of lost souls…” The silhouettes of Grushenka,
Katerina Ivanovna and Khokhlakova appear… "Where are you, where are you,
Alyosha?" And, lastly, the thought comes again and again to the tormented
Alyosha: "The truth is that anyone is guilty for everyone and everything in the
eyes of the world." Everyone around Alyosha slowly begins to move away from him
– "Where are you, where are you, Alyosha? Where are you Alyosha?" – and
gradually they disappear.
22. And so it was you who killed…
Ivan appears in Smerdyakovґs room. Smerdyakov asks "Why are you worried? That
it is the trial tomorrow? I wonґt give evidence against you. It wasnґt you who
killed, not you." Ivan replies "I know it wasnґt me!" "Do you know? Well in fact
you did. And you knew about the murder… Knowing all, you left and appointed me
the murderer. You are the principal killer." The Devil appears with a mandolin
under his arm and a case in one hand. He quickly passes by the talking men as if
he does not see them. Ivan follows him with his eyes. Smerdyakov places a packet
of bank notes before Ivan. "There. All three thousand. Take it."
23. You are I, only the face is different
The Devil is sitting on a sofa in Ivanґs room and while waiting sings
Smerdyakovґs song, accompanying himself on the mandolin. "However much I resist,
I shall depart and enjoy life in the capital!" Ivan enters. "Youґre here?" The
Devil continues his seductive song: "I am bound to the pretty thing by an
unconquerable force… Are you going to court tomorrow? To defend your brother?
That is a fine decision." Ivan replies "Do you wish to assure me that you are I,
only our faces are different?" The Devil says "I donґt know how to please you
any more." He sets the mandolin aside, takes a trumpet from a case, continuing
to talk, mixing in virtuoso passages on the trumpet. There is a knock at the
door. The Devil, finishing a section, says "Open it, it is your brother Alyosha.
With very unusual news." Alyosha comes in: "An hour ago Smerdyakov hanged
himself." The Devil, looking indifferent, while playing on the mandolin, says "…
To enjoy life and live in the capital!"
24. All rise! Court is in session…
The court. Mitya is on the bench of the accused; Alexei, Grushenka and
Katerina Ivanovna are around… The foreman of the court, the jury, the public are
all there. Voices can be heard: "Retired lieutenant Dmitry Karamazov stands
accused of murder… of the murder of his father." Alyosha says "My brother is
innocent. Believe him!" Katerina Ivanovna chimes in "Believe him!" Grushenka
speaks: "I am guilty. It all happened because of me. Believe him." Ivan appears
in the courtroom. Waving the packet of banknotes he declares "Here is the money…
all of it… I got it from Smerdyakov. He killed, it was I who taught him to
kill…" Katerina Ivanovna exclaims "He is ill, he is fevered!" The public and the
jury reply "He is a madman!" Ivan intervenes "Free my brother, take me!"
Katerina Ivanovna again: "I must tell you… immediately!" She takes out Mityaґs
letter: "Here is a letter… This monster killed his father. He writes that he
would kill him as soon as Ivan would go away." Grushenka exclaims "Mitya, this
snake of yours has ruined you!"
25. The Wanderer (Postlude)
Once again the Grand Inquisitor and the prison bars loom up, the Wanderer
beyond them. The voice of the foreman of the court can be heard: "Is the accused
guilty of premeditated murder with the intent of robbery?" The Grand Inquisitor
(to the Wanderer): "Look about! Thus fifteen centuries have passed… Look, look
at them: whom did you raise to your own level?" Menґs voices: "Yes. Guilty …
Yes. Guilty… Yes. Yes. Guilty…" The Grand Inquisitor proclaims "Tomorrow you
will be burnt." The Wanderer, slowing down, passes through the bars, approaches
the front of the stage, stares at the audience, goes to the Grand Inquisitor,
kisses his bloodless lips and slowly disappears. A childrenґs chorus can be
heard: "The evening is quiet, it is a summerґs eve…"
© Photo by N. Razin