| Operas by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky |
|---|
Voyevoda (1868) |
Voyevoda (Russian: Воевода, The Voyevoda) is an opera, Opus 3, in 3 acts, 4 scenes, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893). The opera was composed in 1867 - 1868, and it received its first performance in 1869, in Moscow. The libretto was written by Alexander Ostrovsky, and is based on his play Dream on the Volga (Russian: Сон на Волге).
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Composition history
The opera was composed between March 1867 and July 1868. The score was destroyed by Tchaikovsky in the 1870s, but has since been posthumously reconstructed from surviving orchestral and vocal parts. Much of the first act was re-used in The Oprichnik (1870 – 1872).
Performance history
Moscow Premiere (First Performance)
- Date: February 11 [OS January 30] 1869
- Place: Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow
- Conductor: Eduard Merten
Original Interpreters
| Role | Voice | Moscow 1869 |
|---|---|---|
| Nechay Shalïgin | bass | Finokki |
| Vlas Dyuzhoy | bass | Radonezhsky |
| Marya Vlasyevna | soprano | A. Menshikova |
| Praskovya Vlasyevna | soprano | Kronenberg |
| Nastasya | soprano | Annenskaya |
| Stepan Bastryukov | tenor | Rapport |
| Roman Dubrovin | baritone | Demidov |
| Olena | mezzo-soprano | Ivanova |
| Rezvï | bass | Bozhanovsky |
| Jester | tenor | Lavrov |
| Nedviga | mezzo-soprano | Rozanova |
| New Voevoda | bass | Korin |
The premiere was a benefit for Menshikova.
Instrumentation
Source: www.tchaikovsky-research.net
- Strings: Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Cellos, and Double Basses
- Woodwinds: Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, Cor Anglais, 2 Clarinets (B-flat & A), 2 Bassoons
- Brass: 4 Horns (all in F), 2 Trumpets (B-flat), 3 Trombones, Tuba
- Percussion: Timpani, Triangle, Cymbals, Bass Drum
- Other: Harp
Roles and setting
Roles
| Russian | English | Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Нечай Шалыгин, воевода | Nechay Shalïgin, voyevoda | bass |
| Влас Дюжой, богатый посадский | Vlas Dyuzhoy, a wealthy merchant | bass |
| Настасья, жена его | Nastasya, his wife | soprano |
| Прасковья Власьевна, его старшая дочь | Praskovya Vlasyevna, his older daughter | soprano |
| Марья Власьевна, его мпадшая дочь | Marya Vlasyevna, his younger daughter | soprano |
| Степан Бастрюков, сын богатого дворянина | Stepan Bastryukov, son of a wealthy nobleman | tenor |
| Роман Дубровин | Roman Dubrovin | baritone |
| Олена, жена его | Olena, his wife | mezzo-soprano |
| Резвый, слуга Бастрюкова | Rezvïy, Bastryukov's servant | bass |
| Шут | Jester | tenor |
| Недвига, мамка | Nedviga, a nurse | mezzo-soprano |
| Новый воевода | New voevoda | bass |
| Дворяне, посадские, слуги, девушки, народ | Noblemen, merchants, servants, maidens, people | chorus, silent roles |
Setting
- Time: The middle of the 17th century
- Place: A large city on the Volga River
Structure
Source: www.tchaikovsky-research.net
- Overture
Act 1
- No.1 Chorus of Maidens & Scena
- No.2 Mariya's Ballad & Duet
- No.3 Scena
- No.4 Bastryukov's Aria
- No.5 Scena & Duet
- No.6 Scena
- No.7 Scena
- No.8 Quartet & Scena
- No.9 Finale
Act 2
- No.10 Introduction
- No.11 Chorus of Servants
- No.12 Bastryukov's Aria
- No.13 Scena & Dubrovin's Aria
- No.14 Entr'acte & Dances of the Chambermaids
- No.15 Scena & Mariya's Song
- No.16 Scena
- No.17 Duet
- No.18 Scena
- No.19 Scena & Khorovod
Act 3
- No.20 Entr'acte
- No.21 Scena & Dubrovin's Aria
- No.22 Scena
- No.23 Quartet
- No.24 Scena
- No.25 Duet
- No.26 Scena & Quartet
- No.27 Scena
- No.28 Quintet
- No.29 Scena & Chorus
- No.30 Scena
- No.31 Closing Scena
Derived works
- The Entr'acte and Dances of the Chambermaids from Act 2 were based on the Characteristic Dances for orchestra (1865), and were also arranged for piano duet by Tchaikovsky.
- Under the pseudonym "Cramer", Tchaikovsky composed a Potpourri on themes from the opera The Voyevoda, for solo piano (1868).
Related works
- Tchaikovsky: Symphonic Ballad in A minor, The Voyevoda, Op.78 (1891)
The symphonic ballad The Voyevoda is an orchestral work based on Alexander Pushkin's translation of Adam Mickiewicz's poem, and is related to the earlier opera only in name.
Discography
The lively overture has occasionally been performed and recorded. It is one of the few works of Tchaikovsky to be performed by Arturo Toscanini and the NBC Symphony Orchestra in a broadcast performance that was preserved on transcription discs. The overture was also included in Vox Records' complete recordings of Tchaikovsky's orchestral music, released on both LP and CD (with Dolby surround sound).
