The Oprichnik (, ), 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 () 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 RoleVoice typePremiere cast, St. Petersburg24 April (12 April O.S.) 1874(Conductor: Eduard Nápravník)Premiere cast, Moscow16 May (4 May O.S.) 1874(Conductor: Eduard MertenEduard 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)Prince ZhemchuzhnïybassVladimir VasilyevDemidovNatalya, his daughtersopranoWilhelmina RaabSmelskayaMolchan Mitkov, the bridegroom of NatalyabassV. F. SobolevBoyarïnya Morozova, the widowmezzo-sopranoAleksandra KrutikovaKadminaAndrey Morozov, her sontenorD. A. OrlovAleksandr DodonovBasmanov, a young oprichnikcontraltoV. M. VasilyevAristovaPrince VyazminskybaritoneIvan MelnikovRadonezhskyZakharyevnasopranoOlga 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.
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
External links
Tchaikovsky Research