The Oprichnik (opera)

) 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 Voevoda" (1869). The work is dedicated to the Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich 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
Bolshoy Theatre.

Roles

Instrumentation

Source: [http://www.tchaikovsky-research.net/ www.tchaikovsky-research.net]
*"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

ynopsis

: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 was written and scored by Vladimir Shilovsky. [http://www.tchaikovsky-research.net/en/Works/Operas/TH003/index.html]

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)

elected recording

*1980, Provatorov (conductor), Chorus and Orchestra of the Central Television and Radio of the USSR, with Vladimirov, Milichkina, Nikitina, Matorin, Kuznetsov, Kotov, Klyonov
*2004, Rozhdestvensky (conductor), Cagliari Theater Orchestra, with Savenko, Grivnov, Durseneva, Ognovenko, De Mola, Ulyanov, Doljenko, Lassoskaya

External links

* [http://tchaikovsky-research.org/en/Works/th003.html The Oprichnik]