The Oprichnik

The Oprichnik
The Oprichnik
Opera by Tchaikovsky
	Apollinary Vasnetsov's set design for a 1911 production at Bakhrushin Museum, Moscow
Native title	Russian: Опричник
Librettist	Tchaikovsky
Language	Russian
Based on	The Oprichniks; by Ivan Lazhechnikov
Premiere	24 April 1874; Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg

The Oprichnik (Russian: «Опричник», IPA: [ɐˈprʲitɕnʲɪk] ⓘ), also translated as The Guardsman, is an opera in 4 acts, 5 scenes, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to his own libretto after the tragedy The Oprichniks (Russian: Опричники) by Ivan Lazhechnikov (1792–1869). The subject of the opera is the oprichniks. It is set in Ivan the Terrible's court during the oprichnina times (1565–1573).

Tchaikovsky worked on the opera from February 1870 - March 1872. It includes music from his early opera The Voyevoda (1869). The work is dedicated to the Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich Romanov. It was given its premiere performance at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg on 24 April 1874, followed by the Moscow premiere on 16 May 1874 at the Bolshoi Theatre.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere cast, St. Petersburg 24 April (12 April O.S.) 1874 (Conductor: Eduard Nápravník)	Premiere cast, Moscow 16 May (4 May O.S.) 1874 (Conductor: Eduard Merten[1])
Prince Zhemchuzhnïy	bass	Vladimir Vasilyev	Demidov
Natalya, his daughter	soprano	Wilhelmina Raab	Smelskaya
Molchan Mitkov, the bridegroom of Natalya	bass	V. F. Sobolev
Boyarïnya Morozova, the widow	mezzo-soprano	Aleksandra Krutikova	Kadmina
Andrey Morozov, her son	tenor	D. A. Orlov	Aleksandr Dodonov
Basmanov, a young oprichnik	contralto	V. M. Vasilyev	Aristova
Prince Vyazminsky	baritone	Ivan Melnikov	Radonezhsky
Zakharyevna	soprano	Olga Shreder (Schröder)
Chorus, silent roles: People

Instrumentation

Source: Tchaikovsky Research

Strings: Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Cellos, and Double Basses
Woodwinds: Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets (in B-flat, and A), 2 bassoons
Brass: 4 Horns (in F), 2 Trumpets (in D, F, and C), 3 Trombones, Tuba
Percussion: Timpani, Triangle, Cymbals, Bass Drum
Other: Harp

Synopsis

Introduction.

Act 1

No. 1 — Scena No. 2 — Chorus of Maidens No. 2a – Natalya's Song No. 3 — Scena & Chorus No. 4 — Scena & Chorus No. 5 — Recitatives No. 5a – Basmanov's Arioso No. 6 — Natalya's Arioso No. 6a – Chorus of Maidens

Act 2

Entr'acte

No. 7 — Scena & Morozova's Aria No. 8 — Scena & Duet No. 9 — Prelude, Scena & Finale No. 9a – Prince Vyazminsky's Aria No. 9b – Andrey's Aria

Act 3

Entr'acte

No. 10 - Chorus of People No. 11 - Recitatives, Chorus of Boys & Duet No. 12 - Scena No. 12a - Natalya's Arioso No. 13 - Finale

Act 4

No. 14 - Wedding Chorus No. 15 - Dances of Oprichniks & Women No. 16 - Recitatives, Chorus & Duet No. 17 - Chorus & Scena No. 18 - Scena & Quartet No. 19 - Closing Scena

Note: The entr'acte to Act II may have been written and scored by Vladimir Shilovsky.[1]

Derived works

Arrangements by the composer

Numbers from the opera for voices with piano accompaniment (1873)
Funeral March on Themes from the Opera The Oprichnik (1877, lost)

Recordings

1948, Alexei Korolyov (Prince Zhemchuzny), Natalya Rozhdestvenskaya (Natalya), Vsevolod Tyutyunnik (Molchan Mitkov), Lyudmila Legostayeva (Boyarina Morozova), Dmitri Tarkhov (Andrei Morozov), Zara Dolukhanova (Basmanov), Konstantin Polyaev (Prince Vyazminsky), Antonina Kleschtschova (Zakharyevna). Moscow Radio Choir and Orchestra, Aleksander Orlov (conductor). Melodiya, reissued Pristine Classics
1980, Evgeny Vladimirov (Prince Zhemchuzny), Tamara Milashkina (Natalya), Vladimir Matorin (Molchan Mitkov), Larisa Nikitina (Boyarina Morozova), Lev Kuznetsov (Andrei Morozov), Raisa Kotova (Basmanov), Oleg Klyonov (Prince Vyazminsky), Nina Derbina (Zakharyevna). Chorus and Orchestra of the Central Television and Radio of the USSR, Gennady Provatorov (conductor). Aquarius.
2003, Vassily Savenko (Prince Zhemchuzhny), Elena Lassoskaya (Natalya), Dmitri Ulyanov (Molchan Mitkov), Irina Dolzhenko (Boyarina Morozova), Vsevolod Grivnov (Andrei Morozov), Alexandra Durseneva (Basmanov), Vladimir Ognovienko (Prince Vyazminsky), Cinzia de Mola (Zakharyevna). Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, Gennady Rozhdestvensky (conductor). Dynamic, reissued Brilliant.

References

^ Eduard Merten became 2nd conductor at the Bolshoi Theatre shortly before 1870. He was "a talented pianist and composed romances, but was completely inexperienced as a conductor" (Kashkin, Erinerrungen, 64, 66) Edward H. Tarr, East Meets West; The Russian Trumpet Tradition from the Time of Peter the Great

External links

Опричник: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
Tchaikovsky Research

[1] Eduard Merten became 2nd conductor at the Bolshoi Theatre shortly before 1870. He was "a talented pianist and composed romances, but was completely inexperienced as a conductor" (Kashkin, Erinerrungen, 64, 66) Edward H. Tarr, East Meets West; The Russian Trumpet Tradition from the Time of Peter the Great

v t e Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
List of compositions Musical style Symphonies The Five Belyayev circle Death
Operas	The Voyevoda Undina The Oprichnik Vakula the Smith Eugene Onegin The Maid of Orleans Mazepa (or Mazeppa) Cherevichki The Enchantress The Queen of Spades Iolanta
Ballets	Swan Lake The Sleeping Beauty The Nutcracker
Symphonies	No. 1 in G minor (Winter Daydreams) No. 2 in C minor (Little Russian) No. 3 in D major (Polish) No. 4 in F minor Symphony in B minor (Manfred) No. 5 in E minor No. 6 in B minor (Pathétique) Symphony in E♭ major (unfinished)
Concertante	Piano Concerto No. 1 in B♭ minor Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major Piano Concerto No. 3 in E♭ major Concert Fantasia Andante and Finale Sérénade mélancolique Valse-Scherzo Violin Concerto in D major Variations on a Rococo Theme Pezzo capriccioso Cello Concerto
Orchestral works	Romeo and Juliet The Tempest Hamlet Capriccio Italien Francesca da Rimini The Storm Fatum The Voyevoda 1812 Overture Marche slave Festival Overture on the Danish National Anthem Festival Coronation March Orchestral Suite No. 1 in D minor Orchestral Suite No. 2 in C major Orchestral Suite No. 3 in G major Orchestral Suite No. 4 in G major (Mozartiana) Serenade for Strings
Vocal music	Liturgy of St John Chrysostom All-Night Vigil Moscow Six Romances (Op. 38)
Chamber music	Quartet Movement in B♭ major String Quartet No. 1 in D major String Quartet No. 2 in F major String Quartet No. 3 in E♭ minor Souvenir d'un lieu cher Piano Trio in A minor String Sextet in D minor (Souvenir de Florence)
Piano music	Scherzo à la russe Souvenir de Hapsal The Seasons Grand Piano Sonata in G major Piano Sonata No. 2 in C♯ minor
Portrayals	Tchaikovsky (1970 film) The Music Lovers (1971 film)
People	Modest Ilyich Tchaikovsky (brother) Vladimir Davydov (nephew) Antonina Miliukova (wife) Nadezhda von Meck (patron)
Related	In popular media Attempted suicide theory Tchaikovsky State House-Museum Tchaikovsky Museum (Votkinsk) Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra Chaikovskij (crater) International Tchaikovsky Competition International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians Life
Category Audio

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