Dimitrij

Antonín Dvořák
Operas Alfred (1870) King and Charcoal Burner (1874) The Stubborn Lovers (1874) Vanda (1875) The Cunning Peasant (1877) Dimitrij (1882) The Jacobin (1887) The Devil and Kate (1898) Rusalka (1901) Armida (1904)
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Dimitrij is an opera by Antonín Dvořák in 4 acts, set a libretto by Marie Červinková-Riegrová. More specifically, it belongs to the genre of Grand Opera. The work was first performed in Prague, at the Nové České Divadlo (New Czech Theatre) on 8 October 1882, after Dvořák began composition during May 1881. The work was first performed in the United States on March 24, 1984 in a concert format presented at Carnegie Hall in New York City by conductor Robert Bass and the Collegiate Chorale with Martina Arroyo as Marina.

The libretto was originally written for Karl Šebor to set, but he proved highly unwilling to do so, so Červinková-Riegrová offered her work to Dvořák, who proved much more enthusiastic, but requested plenty of modifications to the libretto as it stood, including the introduction of more opportunities for ensembles. The form of the opera was largely in imitation of Eugene Scribe, and the plot was derived from Ferdinand Mikovec’s Dimitr Ivanovič, itself based upon Schiller's incomplete Demetrius.

With Dimitrij, Dvořák scored a great popular success, though he later persuaded his librettist to rework Act 4, and this revised version was given in 1885. Later still, he heavily reworked the opera along Wagnerian lines, and this radical version was performed during 1892.

Roles

Scenes from Dimitrij, pictured by Emil Zillich for the Světozor journal, 1883

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, October 8, 1882 (Conductor: - )
Jov, the patriarch of Moscow	bass	Ferdinand Koubek
Prince Vasilij Šujský	baritone	Josef Lev
Petr Fedorovič Basmanov	bass	Frantisek Hynek
Xenie Borisovna	soprano	Irma Reichová
Dimitrij Ivanovič	tenor	Václav Soukup
Marfa Ivanovna	contralto	Eleonora Gayerová
Marina Mníškova, Dmitrij's wife	soprano	Marie Zofie Sittová
Něborský	baritone	J. Christl
Bučinský	baritone	Mikolas

Synopsis

After the death of Boris, the Russian people are split between the followers of the Godunov family (led by Shuisky) whilst others (led by General Basmanov) support Dmitrij, assumed son of Ivan the Terrible and husband to the Polish Marina of the Sandomir family. If Marfa (widow of Ivan the Terrible) publicly recognises Dimitrij as her son, he will triumph. Despite knowing that this is not the case, she does this to use him as a pawn for her revenge on her old enemies.

In Act 2, Dimitrij is seen breaking up altercations between Poles and Russians and rescuing Xenia, with whom he forms a relationship. He also breaks up a conspiracy led by Shuisky, who is to be executed.

In Act 3, Xenia begs Dimitrij to have mercy on Shuisky. Marina realises the link between the two and reveals Dimitrij's humble origins, but he nevertheless intends to remain ruler.

Finally, in Act 4 Xenia mourns her betrayed love. Marina, however, has Xenia killed and reveals Dimitrij's origins. Dimitrij is finally shot by Shuisky.

References

• Jan Smaczny. "Dimitrij", Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (accessed 29 September 2007), grovemusic.com (subscription access).