''The Oprichnik'' or ''The Guardsman'' (russian: Опричник ) is an

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...

in 4 acts, 5 scenes, by

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky , group=n ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer of the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music would make a lasting impression internationally. He wrote some of the most pop ...

to his own libretto after the tragedy ''The Oprichniks'' ( rus, Опричники) by

Ivan Lazhechnikov Ivan Ivanovich Lazhechnikov (russian: Ива́н Ива́нович Лаже́чников; September 25, 1792 – July 8, 1869) was a Russian writer. Biography Lazhechnikov was born into the family of a rich merchant in Kolomna in 1792. He r ...

(1792–1869). The subject of the opera is the

oprichnik Oprichnik (russian: опри́чник, , ''man aside''; plural ''Oprichniki'') was the designation given to a member of the Oprichnina, a bodyguard corps established by Tsar Ivan the Terrible to govern a division of Russia from 1565 to 1572. F ...

s. It is set in Ivan the Terrible's court during the

oprichnina The oprichnina (russian: опри́чнина, ) was a state policy implemented by Tsar Ivan the Terrible in Russia between 1565 and 1572. The policy included mass repression of the boyars (Russian aristocrats), including public executions and ...

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 The Mariinsky Theatre ( rus, Мариинский театр, Mariinskiy teatr, also transcribed as Maryinsky or Mariyinsky) is a historic theatre of opera and ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music th ...

in St Petersburg on 24 April 1874, followed by the Moscow premiere on 16 May 1874 at the Bolshoi Theatre.

Roles

Instrumentation

Source
Tchaikovsky Research
*''Strings'': Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Cellos, and Double Basses *''Woodwinds'': Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets (1 in B-flat, 1 in 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 Shilovsk

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 Petrovna Rozhdestvenskaya (Наталья Петровна Рождественская) (7 May 1900 – 1 September 1997) was a Russian soprano, wife of conductor Nikolai Anosov and mother of Gennady Rozhdestvensky. She performed m ...

(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 Melodiya ( rus, links=no, Мелодия, t=Melody) is a Russian (formerly Soviet) record label. It was the state-owned major record company of the Soviet Union. History Melodiya was established in 1964 as the "All-Union Gramophone Record Firm ...

, 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 Gennady Nikolayevich Rozhdestvensky, CBE (russian: Генна́дий Никола́евич Рожде́ственский; 4 May 1931 – 16 June 2018) was a Soviet and Russian conductor. Biography Gennady Rozhdestvensky was born in Moscow. ...

(conductor). Dynamic, reissued Brilliant.

References

External links

*
Tchaikovsky Research
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oprichnik (opera), The Operas by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Russian-language operas Operas 1874 operas Operas based on plays Operas set in Russia