''Vakula the Smith'' ( ), Op. 14, is a Ukrainian-themed opera in 3 acts, 8 scenes, by

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer during the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music made a lasting impression internationally. Tchaikovsky wrote some of the most popula ...

. The

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

was written by

Yakov Polonsky Yakov Petrovich Polonsky (; ) was a leading Pushkinist poet who wrote poems faithful to the traditions of Russian Romantic poetry during the heyday of realistic prose. Of noble birth, Polonsky attended the Moscow University, where he befriended ...

and is based on

Nikolai Gogol Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol; ; (; () was a Russian novelist, short story writer, and playwright of Ukrainian origin. Gogol used the Grotesque#In literature, grotesque in his writings, for example, in his works "The Nose (Gogol short story), ...

's 1832 story "

Christmas Eve Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas, the festival commemorating nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus. Christmas Day is observance of Christmas by country, observed around the world, and Christma ...

" (, ''Noch péred Rozhdestvóm''). It was written for composer Alexander Serov, who died in 1871 leaving only fragments of an opera on the subject.

Composition history

The opera was composed between June and 21 August 1874; it was begun during a holiday in Nizy (in

Kharkov Kharkiv, also known as Kharkov, is the second-largest List of cities in Ukraine, city in Ukraine.

province) and finished in Usovo. The work was dedicated to the memory of the Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, who had died in 1873. When Tchaikovsky anonymously submitted the score for a competition under the motto "Ars longa vita brevis est" ("Art is eternal, life is short"), it won, and the composer received 1500 rubles. The opera was revised as ''

Cherevichki ''Cherevichki'' ( , , ''Cherevichki'', ''Čerevički'', ''The Slippers'' (alternative renderings are ''The Little Shoes'', ''The Tsarina's Slippers'', ''The Empress's Slippers'', ''The Golden Slippers'', ''The Little Slippers'', ''Les caprices d'O ...

'' (''The Slippers'') in 1885.

Performance history

The premiere took place in Saint Petersburg on 6 December .s. November 241876 at the

Mariinsky Theatre The Mariinsky Theatre (, also transcribed as Maryinsky or Mariyinsky) is a historic opera house in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music theatre of late 19th-century Russia, where many of the stage masterpieces ...

, conducted by

Eduard Nápravník Eduard Francevič Naprávnik (Russian: Эдуа́рд Фра́нцевич Напра́вник; 24 August 1839 – 10 November 1916) was a Czech conductor and composer. Nápravník settled in Russian Empire and is best known for his leading role ...

with stage direction by Gennadiy Kondratyev and set design by Mikhail Bocharov and Matvey Shishkov.

Roles

The stage history of the opera was short. The opera was given 18 times over several seasons at the Mariinsky Theatre, but Tchaikovsky did not permit it to be performed at other theatres. Dissatisfied with the opera, Tchaikovsky revised it in 1885 as ''

'' (''The Slippers'').

Instrumentation

Source
www.tchaikovsky-research.net
*''Strings'': Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses *''Woodwinds'': Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets (B-flat and A), 2 Bassoons *''Brass'': 4 Horns (all F), 2 Trumpets (F and E), 3 Trombones, Tuba *''Percussion'': Timpani, Triangle, Tambourine, Cymbals, Bass Drum, *''Other'': Harp *''On/Offstage'': Wind Band (off)

Synopsis

''Time'': The end of the 18th century ''Place'': In the village of Dikanka, Ukraine; St. Petersburg The widow Solokha agrees to help the Devil steal the moon. The Devil is annoyed with Solokha's son Vakula who painted an icon mocking him. The Devil decides to create a snowstorm to prevent Vakula from seeing his beloved Oxana. While the storm rages, Solokha rides up to the sky and steals the moon, while Oxana's father Chub and the Deacon are unable to find their way. Oxana is alone and lonely at home. She passes through several moods and the music follows her with gradually accelerating tempos. At one point, Vakula enters and watches her admiring herself. She teases him, and he says he loves her. Chub comes back out of the storm, and Vakula, not recognizing him, chases him out by striking him. Seeing what he has done, Oxana sends Vakula away in a miserable state. Young people from the village come around singing Ukrainian Christmas carols. Oxana realizes she still loves Vakula. Three men and the Devil wind up in three sacks at Solokha's hut after successively trying to seduce her, and Vakula winds up hauling the heavy sacks away. Outside three groups of carollers contend. Oxana shames Vakula into getting her the Tsaritsa's boots or else she won't marry him. He runs threatening suicide, leaving two bags which turn out to have the Deacon and Chub. A forest sprite warns water nymphs that Vakula is coming and wants to commit suicide. The Devil jumps out of Vakula's sack and tries to get his soul in exchange for Oxana but Vakula instead climbs on the Devil's back. Vakula forces the Devil to take him to St. Petersburg. The Devil puts down Vakula in the tsaritsa's court and disappears into the fireplace. Vakula joins a group of cossacks who are going to see the tsaritsa. In the hall of columns, a chorus sings the tsaritsa's praises to a polonaise. Vakula requests the tsaritsa's boots to a minuet, and it is granted because it is an unusual and amusing thing to ask. The Devil takes Vakula away as Russian and Cossack dances commence. The next scene takes place at the town square on a bright Christmas morning. Solokha and Oxana think Vakula has drowned himself and mourn for him. Oxana runs off weeping when villagers invite her to the Christmas feast. Vakula returns with the boots, asks Chub to forgive him for the beating and asks for Oxana's hand in marriage. She enters, tells Vakula that she wants him, not the silly boots. Chub calls for the kobzari (the lutenists), and everyone celebrates.

Tchaikovsky's thoughts on the opera

*"All my thoughts are now intent upon my beloved child, darling ''Vakula the Smith''. You would not imagine how I love him! It seems to me that I will positively go mad if I don't succeed with him" (''Pyotr Tchaikovsky, from the letter to Anatoly Tchaikovsky May 12, 1875'') *"

here are Here may refer to: Music * ''Here'' (Adrian Belew album), 1994 * ''Here'' (Alicia Keys album), 2016 * ''Here'' (Cal Tjader album), 1979 * ''Here'' (Edward Sharpe album), 2012 * ''Here'' (Idina Menzel album), 2004 * ''Here'' (Merzbow album), ...

two fundamental shortcomings: first, the style of ''Vakula'' is not operatic, but symphonic; and the second, there is no correspondence between the music and what is taking place on stage... but the music of ''Vakula'' is almost without exception noble and beautiful with respect to both theme and harmony." ('' César Cui, Sankt-Peterburgskie vedomosti, November 30, 1876'')

Related works

Some numbers were arranged for voices with piano or for piano duet (4 hands) by Tchaikovsky in 1874. *

Mykola Lysenko Mykola Vitaliiovych Lysenko (; 22 March 1842 – 6 November 1912) was a Ukrainian composer, pianist, conductor and ethnomusicologist of the late Romantic period. In his time he was the central figure of Ukrainian music, with an ''oeuvre'' tha ...

: The opera '' Christmas Night'' (1872; premiered 1874 in Kyiv) *Tchaikovsky: The opera ''

'' (1885), a revision of ''Vakula the Smith'' *

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov. At the time, his name was spelled , which he romanized as Nicolas Rimsky-Korsakow; the BGN/PCGN transliteration of Russian is used for his name here; ALA-LC system: , ISO 9 system: .. (18 March 1844 – 2 ...

: The opera ''

'' (1895)

External links

*, including a link to Polonsky's original libretto
Tchaikovsky Research
* {{Authority control Russian-language operas Operas by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Christmas operas Operas Operas based on works by Nikolai Gogol 1874 operas Operas set in Ukraine Works based on Christmas Eve (Gogol)