Askold's Grave (opera)

Main article: History of music in Russia

Actors

The action takes place in Kievan Rus at the end of the 10th century during the reign of Svyatoslav (Prince Vladimir, canonized, could not be mentioned in the play).

• Unknown (bass)
• Toropka Golovan, horn (tenor)
• Vseslav, princely vigilante (tenor)
• Alexey, old fisherman (bass)
• Hope, his daughter (soprano)
• Vyshata, boyar (bass)
• Frelaf, Varangian (tenor)
• Stemid, vigilante (tenor)
• Fenkal, Varangian skald (tenor)
• Vakhrameevna, witch (without singing)
• Old Woman (soprano)
• Lyubasha, a young Kyiv woman, Nadezhda's friend (soprano)
• Sentinel (baritone)

Kievans, Slavic and Varangian squads of Prince Svyatoslav, servants, fishermen

History of creation

After the success that accompanied the production on the Moscow stage of the opera Vadim, or The Awakening of the Twelve Sleeping Virgins (1832), Alexei Verstovsky, appointed in 1828 inspector of the repertoire of Moscow theaters, decides to take up a new opera, also from ancient Russian history. His choice fell on the novel by M. Zagoskin (1789-1852) "Askold's Grave" (1833). The romantic plot was based on the Russian annals. According to her, the Varangians Askold and Deer left Rurik, who reigned in Novgorod, and stayed in the town of Kyiv on the Dnieper. In 869, Rurik died, leaving the reign to his young son Igor, whose guardianship he entrusted to his relative Oleg. A few years later, Oleg went on a campaign south and, when he reached Kyiv, killed Askold and Dir and established himself in Kyiv, declaring him the "mother of Russian cities." Near Kyiv there is a mound where Askold is buried, which is why it is called Askold's grave. After Oleg, Igor became the prince of Kyiv, and after his death - the famous princess Olga and her son Svyatoslav. The reign of Svyatoslav's son Prince Vladimir, the baptist of Russia, refers to the time of the novel, in which the chronicle is intertwined with the legend.

The libretto of the opera was written by Zagoskin himself, a famous writer and playwright, the author of many patriotic novels that were widely popular. At the same time, the popular genre principle was strengthened, the action at the request of censorship was transferred from the reign of Vladimir to an earlier one - Svyatoslav (Vladimir, canonized, could not be mentioned in the play), and the tragic ending was replaced by a happy one.

The premiere of "Askold's Grave" took place at the Moscow Bolshoi Theater on September 16 (28), 1835.

"Long before that, excerpts from this opera delighted the society of Moscow!" wrote a contemporary. - Finally, these parts in a slender general were brought to court by the public. She accepted folk opera with some kind of celebration. Her motifs, her melodic songs, her remote, rampant choirs became folk and thundered throughout Russia... We heard... that the sharkmans of London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, often play "Goy you, Dnipro" or "Ah, girlfriends, how sad," as well as other motives... "

The popularity of the opera was unheard of.

"In what theater, in which backstreet of Russia this opera did not sing! It is almost the only Russian opera familiar in all ends of the huge Russian state, "wrote another author.

Plot

On the Dnieper coast near Kyiv, Nadezhda, beloved Vseslava, who converted to Christianity, lives in a fishing village.

Unknown comes to the fishermen. A passionate adherent of pagan antiquity, he glorifies past times and tries to turn the villagers against Prince Svyatoslav. Unknown plots. Vseslav, whom he considers a descendant of Askold, he wants to make a prince and assigns him a date at Askold's grave.

Villagers gather to celebrate the cheerful Usladov day. Girls start games and round dances.

The princely squad feasts in the tower of the boyar Vyshaty. Vyshata calls everyone to go to Askold's grave. He knows that Christians will gather there, and according to the cunning plan of the Neizvestny, he wants to kidnap Hope for Prince Svyatoslav.

On the banks of the Dnieper at Askold's grave at midnight, Christians gather near the hidden church, including Nadezhda. Aside, the Unknown reveals to Vseslav that he is Askold's great-grandson and rightfully must occupy the princess's table, once captured by Oleg. Vseslav honestly serves his prince and does not want to oppose him. Princely vigilantes appear; they abduct Nadezhda at Vyshata's instigation. In the heated battle, Vseslav kills one of them, now he needs to hide from the anger of the prince.

The village of Predislavino. The concubines of Prince Svyatoslav languish in the tower. Hope in longing and sadness. In addition to her fate, the unknown torments her: something became with Vseslav. Horn Toropka, in order to entertain the girls, sings a song in which he talks about how the release of Hope is being prepared. He deftly distracts the attention of those present, and at this time Vseslav frees the girl. The escape is discovered and Vyshata orders a search for the fugitives.

In her hut, the witch Vakhrameevna brews a magic potion. Vyshata arrives and asks the old woman to show where the fugitives are hiding. A vision is shown through a foggy haze - Nadezhda and Vseslav on the banks of the Dnieper.

Again, the bank of the Dnieper at Askold's grave. Lovers took refuge here. Night, storm. An unknown person convinces Vseslav to go on a campaign against Svyatoslav: he will be supported by everyone who cares about old customs and faith in ancient deities. Vseslav resolutely refuses. Suddenly, a sent prince appears, who declares forgiveness to Vseslav for the murder of a vigilante and permission to marry a Christian. An unknown person rushes into the shuttle to swim away, but the storm intensifies, the Unknown dies in the Dnieper waves^[1]

Music

"Askold's Grave," like all Russian operas of the pre-Linkin period, is built on conversational dialogues. Musical numbers stop the action, characterize the characters, become nodal moments in drama. The music of the "Askold Grave" is distinguished by freshness, wealth and expressiveness of melodies, the use of rhythms widespread in everyday life - mazurka, march, polonaise, intonations of the city song. The opera is replete with choral episodes, in which ancient customs and rites are displayed, round dance, game, labor songs are heard. The musical forms used by the composer are simple - these are songs of a verse structure, numbers of a romance character.

In Act I, the song of the Neizvestny, which has gained wide popularity, "Grandfathers lived in the old days," stands out. The best in opera is Act III. It opens with a gentle, plaintive chorus of girls, "Ah, girlfriends, how sad," written in the rhythm of polonaise. Toropka is represented by three numbers - the cheerful, carefree song "How the breeze blows," the widely sung ballad "Close to the city of Slavyansk," the dull and dashing feast "The Enchants Came on the Table" ^[2].

Discography

CD: Consonance. Conductor Nikonenko, Neizvestny (Verestnikov), Toropka (Kuznetsov), Vseslav (Miroshnichenko), Nadezhda (Simkina), Alexey (Markelov), Vyshata (Bezhko), Frelaf (Salnikov).

Notes