Prince Igor

"Prince Igor" ( _ru. Князь Игорь, "Knyaz' Igor") is an opera by Alexander Borodin, written in four acts with a prologue. The composer adapted the libretto from the East Slavic epic "The Lay of Igor's Host", which recounts the campaign of Russian prince Igor Svyatoslavich against the invading Polovtsian tribes in 1185. The opera was left unfinished upon the composer's death in 1887 and was edited and completed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Alexander Glazunov. It was first performed in St.Petersburg, Russia, in 1890.

History

Composition history

Original Composition: 1869 - 1887

After briefly considering Lev Mey's "The Tsar's Bride" as a subject (later taken up in 1898 by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov, his 9th opera), Borodin began looking for a new project for his first opera. Vladimir Stasov, critic and advisor to The Mighty Handful, suggested "The Lay of Igor's Host", a 12th century epic prose poem, and sent Borodin a scenario for a 3 Act opera on April 30, 1869. [Abraham and Lloyd-Jones (1986: p.51).] Initially, Borodin found the proposition intriguing, but daunting:

After collecting material from literary sources, Borodin began composition in September 1869 with initial versions of Yaroslavna's arioso and Konchakovna's Cavatina, and sketched the Polovtsian Dances and March of the Polovtsy. He soon began to have doubts and ceased composing. He expressed his misgivings in a letter to his wife: "There is too little drama here, and no movement... To me, opera without drama, in the strict sense, is unnatural." [Malkiel and Barry (1994: p.16).] This began a period of about four years in which he proceeded no further on "Prince Igor", but began diverting materials for the opera into his other works, the Symphony No 2 in B minor (1869-76) and the collaborative opera-ballet "Mlada" (1872). [ Abraham and Lloyd-Jones (1986: p. 51).]

The "Mlada" project was soon aborted, and Borodin, like the other members of The Mighty Handful who were involved—César Cui, Modest Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov—thought about ways to recycle the music he contributed. Of the eight numbers he had composed for Act 4 of "Mlada", those that eventually found their way into (or back into) "Prince Igor" included No.1 (Prologue: The opening C major chorus), No.2 (material for Yaroslavna's arioso and Igor's aria), No.3 (Prologue: The eclipse), No.4 (Act 3: The trio), and No.8 (Act 4: The closing chorus). [Abraham and Lloyd-Jones (1986: p. 67).]

Borodin returned to "Prince Igor" in 1874, inspired by the success of his comrades Rimsky-Korsakov and Mussorgsky in the staging of their historical operas, "The Maid of Pskov" (1873) and "Boris Godunov" (1874). This period also marks the creation of two new characters, the deserters Skula and Yeroshka, who have much in common with the rogue monks Varlaam and Misail in "Boris Godunov".

In his memoirs, Rimsky-Korsakov mentions an 1876 concert at which Borodin's "closing chorus" was performed, the first public performance of any music from "Prince Igor" identified by him:

The idea of a choral epilogue in the original scenario was no doubt inspired by the example of "A Life for the Tsar" by Glinka, to whose memory "Prince Igor" is dedicated. Borodin's primary occupation was chemistry, including research and teaching. However, he also spent much time in support of women's causes, much to the consternation of his fellow composers, who felt he should devote his time and talent to music. [Rimsky-Korsakov (1923: p. 194)] In 1876, a frustrated Stasov gave up hope that Borodin would ever finish "Prince Igor", and offered his scenario to Rimsky-Korsakov. [Rimsky-Korsakov (1923: p. 134)] Rimsky-Korsakov instead assisted Borodin in orchestrating important numbers in preparation for concert performance – for example, the "Polovtsian Dances" in 1879:

quote|"There was no end of waiting for the orchestration of the "Polovtsian Dances", and yet they had been announced and rehearsed by me with the chorus. It was high time to copy out the parts. In despair I heaped reproaches on Borodin. He, too, was none too happy. At last, giving up all hope, I offered to help him with the orchestration. Thereupon he came to my house in the evening, bringing with him the hardly touched score of the Polovtsian Dances; and the three of us — he, Anatoly Lyadov, and I — took it apart and began to score it in hot haste. To gain time, we wrote in pencil and not in ink. Thus we sat at work until late at night. The finished sheets of the score Borodin covered with liquid gelatine, to keep our pencil marks intact; and in order to have the sheets dry the sooner, he hung them out like washing on lines in my study. Thus the number was ready and passed on to the copyist. The orchestration of the closing chorus I did almost single-handed..." [Rimsky-Korsakov (1923: p. 211)] |Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov, "Chronicle of My MusicalLife", 1909

Borodin worked on "Prince Igor", off and on, for almost 18 years.

Posthumous Completion and Orchestration: 1887 - 1888

Borodin died suddenly in 1887, leaving "Prince Igor" incomplete. Rimsky-Korsakov and Stasov went to Borodin's home, collected his scores, and brought them to Rimsky-Korsakov's house.

The often-repeated account that Glazunov reconstructed and orchestrated the overture from memory after hearing the composer play it at the piano is true only in part. The following statement by Glazunov himself clarifies the matter:

Performance history

The world premiere was given in St. Petersburg on November 4 (23 October O.S.), 1890 at the Mariinsky Theatre. Set designers were Yanov, Andreyev, and Bocharov, while Lev Ivanov was balletmaster.

Moscow premieres followed later. The first was given in 1892 by the Russian Opera Society, conducted by Iosif Pribik. The Bolshoy Theatre premiere was given in 1898 and wasconducted by Ulrikh Avranek

Other notable premieres were given in Prague in 1899, and in Paris in 1909, with a Sergey Dyagilev production and featuring Fyodor Shalyapin as Galitsky. London saw the same production in 1914 conducted by Thomas Beecham, again with Shalyapin as Galitsky. In 1915 the New York premiere took place at the Metropolitan Opera, but staged in Italian and conducted by Giorgio Polacco.

Publication history

*1888, piano-vocal score, edition by Rimsky-Korsakov & Glazunov, M. P. Belyayev, Leipzig
*1888, full score, edition by Rimsky-Korsakov & Glazunov, M. P. Belyayev, Leipzig
*1953, piano-vocal score, edition by Rimsky-Korsakov & Glazunov, Muzgiz, Moscow
*1954, full score, edition by Rimsky-Korsakov & Glazunov, Muzgiz, Moscow

Roles

"Note:"
*"The actual given name of the historical Yaroslavna is Yefrosinya ( _ru. Ефросинья, _en. Euphrosina). "Yaroslavna" is a patronymic, meaning "daughter of Yaroslav". Konchakovna's name is similarly derived."
*"Yaroslavna's brother, Vladimir Yaroslavich, is often called "Prince Galitsky" ( _ru. Князь Галицкий), leading to the misconception that he was a prince by the name of Galitsky. In fact, he was a son of Prince of Galich Yaroslav Osmomysl. "Prince Galitsky" is a title meaning "Prince of Galich"."

ynopsis

"Time": The year 1185

"Place": The city of Putivl (prologue, Acts 1 & 4); a Polovtsian camp (Acts 2 & 3)

Note: "As discussed above, Borodin's final decision on the order of the first two acts is unclear. The traditional grouping presented here is that of the Rimsky-Korsakov-Glazunov edition. In many productions, Act 3 is omitted."

Prologue

"The cathedral square in Putivl"

Prince Igor is about to set out on a campaign against the Polovtsy and their Khans who have previously attacked the Russian lands. The people sing his praise and that of his son, the other leaders and the army ("Chorus: "Glory to the beautiful Sun"). A solar eclipse takes place to general consternation. Two soldiers Skula and Yeroshka desert feeling sure that Vladimir Yaroslavich, Prince Galitsky, will offer them work more to their liking. Although Yaroslavna, Igor's wife, takes the eclipse for a bad omen, Igor insists that honour demands that he go to war. He leaves her to the care of her brother, Prince Galitsky, who tells of his gratitude to Igor for sheltering him after he was banished from his own home by his father and brothers. The people sing a great chorus of praise ("Chorus: "Glory to the multitude of stars") as the host sets out on their campaign against the Polovtsy.

Act 1

"Scene 1: Vladimir Galitsky's court in Putivl"

Galitsky's followers sing his praise. Skula and Yeroshka are now working as gudok-players. They entertain the followers and all sing of how Galitsky and his men abducted a young woman and how she pleaded to be allowed to return to her father without being dishonoured. The prince arrives and sings of how, if he were Prince of Putivl, he would drink and feast all day while dispensing judgment and have the prettiest maidens with him all night ("Galitsky's Song"). The treasury would be spent on himself and his men while his sister would be praying in a monastery. A group of young women beg the prince to restore their abducted friend. He threatens them and drives them away, saying how she now lives in luxury in his quarters and does not have to work. The prince returns to his rooms having sent for wine for his followers. The gudok players and the prince's followers mock the women. They wonder what might happen if Yaroslavna hears of what happens, but then realise she would be helpless with all her men gone to war. They sing of how they are all drunkards and are supported by Galitsky. The men decide to go to the town square to declare Galitsky the Prince of Putivl, leaving just the two drunk musicians behind.

"Scene 2: A room in Yaroslavna's palace"

Yaraslavna is alone worrying about why she has not heard from Igor and his companions ("Yaroslavna's Arioso"). She sings of her tearful nights and nightmares and reminisces about when she was happy with Igor by her side. The nurse brings in the young women who tell Yaroslavna of their abducted friend. They are reluctant at first to reveal the culprit but eventually name Galitsky and talk of how he and his drunken followers cause trouble around Putivl. Galitsky enters and the women run away. Yaroslavna questions him as to the truth of their story and he mocks her saying she should treat him as a guest in her house. She threatens him with what Igor will do on his return, but Galitsky replies that he can seize the throne whenever he wants. Yaroslavna accuses him of repeating the betrayal that he carried out against their father, but he replies that he was only joking and asks if she has a lover now her husband is away. She threatens him with sending him back to their father. He replies that he will return the girl but will take another later and leaves. The council of boyars arrive to inform Yaroslavna that the Polovtsy under Khan Gzak are about to attack Putivl. Igor's army has been utterly destroyed and he has been wounded and captured with his son and brother. After a moment of faintness, Yaroslavna orders messengers sent to the city's allies, but the Boyars report that the roads are cut, some towns are in revolt and their princes will be captured. The Boyars say that they will organise the defence but Galitsky returns with his followers to demand that a new Prince be chosen. His retinue say it should be him as he is Yaroslavna's brother and Igor's brother-in-law. The boyars refuse. The argument is interrupted by the sight of flames and the sound of crying women. Some of the boyars flee; some join the battle, others guard the Princess. They call the attack God's judgment.

Act 2

"Evening in the Polovtsian Camp"

Polovtsian maidens sing comparing love to a flower that droops in the heat of the day and is revived ay night. They dance together ("Dance of the Polovtsian Maidens"). Konchakovna joins in the singing hoping that her own lover will join here soon ("Konchakovna's Cavatina"). The Russian prisoners arrive from their day's work and express their gratitide when fed. Their guards retire for the night leaving just Ovlur, a Christian, in charge. by Konchakovna and the maidens. Vladimir, son of Igor, sings of his hope that his love will soon join him now that the day is fading ("Vladimir's Cavatina"). His love is Konchakovna. She comes and the two sing of their love and their desire to marry ("Love Duet"). While her father will consent to the marriage, they know that his will not. They part when they hear Igor coming. He sings of his disgrace and torment at being captured with his followers dead ("Prince Igor's Aria"). Only his wife, he feels will be loyal. He hopes for the chance to regain his honour. Ovlur urges Igor to escape and the prince agrees to think about it. Khan Konchak asks him if all is well ("Konchak's Aria") and he replies that the falcon cannot live in captivity. Konchak says that as Igor did not ask for mercy he is not a prisoner but an honoured guest equal to a Khan. Igor reminds him that he too knows what it is to be a captive. Konchak offers Igor freedom if he will promise not to wage war on him again, but he refuses saying he cannot lie. Konchak regrets that they were not born to be allies. They would then have captured all of Russia. He summons the Polovtsian slaves to entertain Igor and himself and offers Igor his choice of them. As the slaves dance the Polovtsy sing of Konchak's glory("Polovtsian Dances").

Act 3

"The Polovtsian camp"

The Polovtsian army returns in triumph singing the praise of Khan Gzak ("Polovtsian March"). Konchak sings of the sack of Putivl and other victories and confidently predicts that they will soon capture all of Russia. Igor and his son Vladimir have their worst fears confirmed by the new captives. Vladimir and the other prisoners urge Igor to escape, but he is at first reluctant, singing of his shame and saying that it is the duty of the other Russian princes to save the homeland ("Igor's Monologue", Mariinsky edition only). Ovlur now arrives to say thay he has prepared horses for Igor and Vladimir and Igor now agrees to escape. The distressed Konchakovna comes, challenging Vladimir to show his love by either taking her with him or by staying. Igor urges his son to come, but Vladimir feels unable to leave Konchakovna who threatens to wake the camp. Eventually Igor flees alone and Konchakovna sounds the alarm. She and her father refuse to let the Polovtsy kill Vladimir. Instead Konchak orders the death of the guards and marries Vladimir to his daughter. As for Igor, Konchak thinks more of him for his escape.

Act 4

"Dawn in Putivl"

Yaroslavna weeps at her spearation from Igor and the defeat of his army, blaming the very elements themselves for helping the enemy ("Yaroslavna's Lament"). Peasant women blame not the wind but Khan Gzak for the devastation. As Yaroslavna looks around to acknowledge the destruction, she sees two riders in the distance who turn out to be Igor and Ovlur. The two lovers sing of their joy of being reunited and of the expectation that Ivan will lead the Russians to victory against the Khan. Unaware of Igor's return, Skula and Yeroshka, the drunken gudok players, sing a song that mocks him. Then they notice him in the distance. After a moment of panic about what will happen to them, Skula says that they should rely on their cunning and decides on a plan that will save them. They ring the church bells to summon a crowd. Although people at first treat them with suspicion, the gudok players manage to convince the crowd that Igor has returned and the boyars that they are loyal followers of the true prince and not Galitsky. All joyously celebrate Igor's return.

Principal arias and numbers

:OverturePrologue:Chorus: "Glory to the beautiful Sun" («Солнцу красному слава!»):Chorus: "Glory to the multitude of stars" («Частым звёздочкам слава!»)Act 1:Galitsky's Song: "If only I had the honor" («Только б мне дождаться чести»):Yaroslavna's Arioso: "A long time has passed" («Немало времени прошло с тех пор»)Act 2:Dance: "Dance of the Polovtsian Maidens" («Пляска половецких девушек»):Konchakovna's Cavatina: "The light of day fades" («Меркнет свет дневной»):Vladimir's Cavatina: "Slowly the day died away" («Медленно день угасал»):Love Duet: "Is that you, my Vladimir?" («Ты ли, Владимир мой?»):Igor's Aria: "No sleep, no rest for my tormented soul" («Ни сна, ни отдыха измученной душе»):Konchak's Aria: "Are you well, Prince?" («Здоров ли, князь?»):Polovtsian Dances: "Fly away on the wings of the wind" («Улетай на крыльях ветра»)Act 3:March: "Polovtsian March" («Половецкий марш»)Act 4:Yaroslavna's Lament: "Oh, I weep" («Ах, плачу я»):Chorus: "God heard our prayers" («Знать, господь мольбы услышал»)

Both the Overture to "Prince Igor" and the "Polovtsian Dances" (from Act II) are well-known concert standards. Together with the "Polovtsian March", they form the so-called "suite" from the opera.

Critical analysis

"Prince Igor" is a staple of Russian Opera, but has not travelled well abroad. One obvious reason is the Russian language, although translation into Italian was once a solution.

Another explanation for the failure to gain acceptance is its lack of unity resulting from its unfinished state. Despite the skill and efforts of editors Rimsky-Korsakov and Glazunov, the opera is still episodic and dramatically static, a problem of which the composer himself was aware when he embarked on composition (see quote above in "Composition History"). This is largely a consequence of Borodin's failure to complete a libretto before beginning composition of the music [Abraham and Lloyd-Jones (1986: p.69).] —the same problem that plagued his comrade Mussorgsky in the composition of "Khovanshchina". Both composers wrote their librettos piece by piece while composing the music, both lost sight of the overall narrative thread of their operas, and both wound up with pages and pages of music that needed to be sacrificed to assemble a cohesive whole. Also, both died before finishing their operas, leaving the task of completion, editing, and orchestration to Rimsky-Korsakov.

It is a pity that "Prince Igor" is not performed more often, as it has a colorful setting, marvellous moments of drama and characterization, and music of sumptuous beauty [Hofmann (date unknown: The title).] . It does not, however, have a well-constructed or tightly integrated plot. "The chief appeal of "Prince Igor" lies in the quality of its individual numbers rather than its whole shape or ability to involve an audience in the narrative." [Abraham and Lloyd-Jones (1986: p.69).]

Performance practice

One of the main considerations when performing "Prince Igor" is the question of whether to include Act 3, much of which was composed by Glazunov. The practice of omitting it was mentioned as early as 1909 in Rimsky-Korsakov's memoirs. [Rimsky-Korsakov (1923: p.309).] Many productions leave Act 3 out because it "fails to carry conviction both musically and dramatically." [Abraham and Lloyd-Jones (1986: p.70).] On the other hand, maintaining the act has certain benefits. It contains some fine pages (e.g., the "Polovetsian March"), provides an important link in the narrative (Igor's escape, Vladimir's fate), and is the origin of some of the memorable themes first heard in the overture (the trio, brass fanfares). Fortunately, the option of omitting the fine overture, also known to have been composed by Glazunov, is seldom if ever considered.

Recently, the question of the best sequence of scenes in which to perform the opera has gained some prominence. Borodin did not complete a libretto before composing the music to "Prince Igor". [Abraham and Lloyd-Jones (1986: pg. 69).] The opera has traditionally been performed in the edition made by Rimsky-Korsakov and Glazunov. It will be obvious that the positions to which they assigned the Prologue, Act 3, and Act 4 cannot be changed if the story is to make sense. However, because the events of Act 1 and Act 2 overlap and are independent of one another, Act 2 may just as well precede Act 1 without any loss of coherence. Soviet musicologists Pavel Lamm and Arnold Sokhor reported the existence of a written plan (now lost), in Borodin's hand, that specified this sequence of scenes: [Malkiel and Barry (1994: p.16).]

#The omen from heaven (Prologue)
#Imprisonment (Act 2)
#Galitsky's court (Act 1, Scene 1)
#Yaroslavna's palace (Act 1, Scene 2)
#Escape (Act 3)
#Return (Act 4)

Sokhor assessed the plan as not written later than 1883. [Malkiel and Barry (1994: p.16)] The 1993 recording of "Prince Igor" by Valery Gergiev with the Kirov Opera features a new edition of the score with additions commissioned from composer Yuri Faliek for a production at the Mariinsky Theatre, adopting this hypothetical original sequence. The authors of the notes to the recording assert that this order better balances the musical structure of the score by alternating the acts in the Russian and Polovtsian settings with their distinctive musical atmospheres.

Despite this justification, there is good reason for maintaining the traditional sequence. Act 2 contains most of the numbers for which the work is known and beloved today, with Igor's brooding and impassioned aria ("Oh give me freedom") at the center, flanked by Vladimir's cavatina and Konchak's aria, not to mention the rousing conclusion provided by the "Polovtsian Dances." Relocating its wealth of arias and dances from the center of the work to the beginning concentrates too much of the opera's rich melodic invention towards the front of the work.

The "Mariinsky edition" makes other important changes and additions to the score. Although much of the material composed or orchestrated by Glazunov and Rimsky-Korsakov is retained, there are additions culled from the unpublished vocal score by Pavel Lamm, orchestrated and linked by Faliek. The changes include: [Malkiel and Barry (1994: p.17).]

*About 200 bars added to the scene in Yaroslavna's palace which make explicit Galitsky's rebellion
*Various additions and removals from Act 3, including the restoration of a monologue for Igor composed by Borodin in 1875. A review in "Gramophone" highlights how the newly added monologue "helps to give a weighty focus to Act 3, otherwise a phenomenal feat of reconstruction on Glazunov's part, but somehow insubstantial". [" DN" [http://www.gramophone.co.uk/gramofilereview.asp?reviewID=9504141&mediaID=54854 review of Gergiev 1993 recording] "Grammophone", April 1995. p.119. Link checked 24 September 2007]
*A different final chorus for Act 4, "Glory to the multitude of stars", a repeat of material from the Prologue. This idea is historically justified, as Borodin had originally placed this chorus at the end of the opera in the form of an epilogue [see the quote by Rimsky-Korsakov above under Composition history] . This regrettably necessitates the elimination of Borodin's subsequent chorus, "God heard our prayers".

In the West, the opera has often been given in languages other than Russian. For example, the 1960 recording under Lovro von Matacic is sung in German, the 1964 recording under Armando La Rosa Parodi is in Italian and the 1982 David Lloyd-Jones recording is in English. On the other hand, the 1990 Bernard Haitink and the 1962 Oscar Danon recordings are Western performances sung in Russian. [Capon, B. [http://www.operadis-opera-discography.org.uk/ALBOPRIN.HTM Discography of Prince Igor] . Link checked 22 September 2007.]

tructure

#This is a sortable table. Click on the button next to the criterion you would like to use to sort the information.
#The numbers are given according to the traditional Rimsky-Korsakov-Glazunov edition.
#The dates refer to composition, not orchestration. Where a pair of dates differ, a large gap (more than one year) may indicate an interruption of composition or a revision of the musical number.
#In No.1 (the Prologue), the Eclipse scene (301 bars) was orchestrated by Rimsky-Korsakov and the remainder by Borodin.

[Album notes to the 1993 Kirov Opera recording, Philips CD 442-537-2. Information compiled by musicologist Marina Malkiel.]

elected recordings

This is a list of studio recordings. A comprehensive list of all recordings of "Prince Igor" may be found [http://www.operadis-opera-discography.org.uk/ALBOPRIN.HTM here.]

Audio

*1952, Aleksandr Melik-Pashayev (conductor), Bolshoy Theatre Orchestra and Chorus, Andrey Ivanov (Igor), Yelena Smolenskaya (Yaroslavna), Sergey Lemeshev (Vladimir), Aleksandr Pirogov (Galitsky), Mark Reyzen (Konchak), Vera Borisenko (Konchakovna)

*1955, Oskar Danon (conductor), Belgrade National Opera Orchestra and Chorus; Dushan Popovich (Igor), Valeria Heybalova (Yaroslavna), Noni Zunec (Vladimir), Zarko Cvejic (Galitsky, Konchak), Melanie Bugarinovic (Konchakovna)

*1966, Jerzy Semkov (conductor), National Opera Theatre of Sofia; Constantin Chekerliiski (Igor), Julia Wiener (Yaroslavna), Todor Todorov (Vladimir), Boris Christoff (Galitsky, Konchak), Reni Penkova (Konchakovna)

*1969, Mark Ermler (conductor), Bolshoy Theatre Orchestra and Chorus; Ivan Petrov (Igor), Tatyana Tugarinova (Yaroslavna), Vladimir Atlantov (Vladimir), Artur Eisen (Galitsky), Aleksandr Vedernikov (Konchak), Yelena Obraztsova (Konchakovna)

*1993, Valery Gergiev (conductor), Kirov Opera Orchestra and Chorus; Mikhail Kit (Igor), Galina Gorchakova (Yaroslavna), Gegam Grigorian (Vladimir), Vladimir Ognovienko (Galitsky), Bulat Minjelkiev (Konchak), Olga Borodina (Konchakovna), Philips 442-537-2.

Notes

References

*Abraham, G. (1939) "On Russian Music", London (via album notes by Richard Taruskin in "Alexander Borodin: Orchesterwerke" Deutsche Grammophon CD 435 757-2)
*Abraham, G. and Lloyd-Jones, D. (1986) "Alexander Borodin" in Brown, D. (ed.) "The New Grove: Russian Masters 1", New York: W. W. Norton & Co., pp.45-76.
*Borodin, A. "Libretto for Prince Igor".
*Hofmann, M. "Une musique d'une somptueuse beauté" (album notes to the 1952 Bolshoy Theatre recording) Le Chant du Monde CD LDC 2781041/43
*Malkiel, M. and Barry, A. (1994) "Authenticity in "Prince Igor":Open Questions, New Answers" (introductory note to 1993 Gergiev recording) pp.13-22 of booklet, Philips CD 442-537-2.
*Rimsky-Korsakov, N. (1923) "Chronicle of My Musical Life", translated by J. A. Joffe, New York: Knopf

External links

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