Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov, opera "Tsar's Bride": content, characters

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) - a naval officer who served three years on the clipper "Almaz", traveled on it half of the world, a brilliant Russian composer who wrote 15 operas, music teacher and critic.

The Ninth Opera

By the time when in 1894 Nikolai Andreevich began to write "The Tsar's Bride" on the verses of the drama of Leo Mey, he was on top of his creative powers. There were lengthy discussions with the co-author, whose name was Ilya Tyumenev, and other subjects. Himself I. Tyumenev once studied with Nikolai Andreevich, and then became a librettist, composer, and author of travel essays, as his talents were diverse. As a result, the "Tsar's Bride" (opera) was conceived, the composer himself sketched the libretto, and entrusted the assistant to work on the false and lyrical scenes.

The drama of L. Meya

The plot is based on a real episode from the life of Ivan the Terrible, taken from the "History" of Karamzin. The king chose himself a third wife from the virgins of noble and ignorant clans. The pretender has gathered about two thousand. Ivan Vasilyevich selected first 24 girls, then left 12 and began to compare them.

Novgorod merchant Vasily Sobakin was awarded a great honor: his daughter Martha became the bride of the terrible king, but for unknown reasons the girl seriously fell ill. The king, suspecting that she had been poisoned, deprived everyone of life for whom his suspicion fell, but married the sick Martha. The young wife died immediately after the wedding feasts.

This story L. Mei interpreted as an artist, drawing bright dramatic characters, which were deepened by genius music. The names of the main characters will be indicated in the text of the article.

Overture

This play for the orchestra is written in the form of a sonata allegro and is built on two themes. The first and main tells about the tragedy that will later appear before the audience, the second, the side, creates a bright image of Martha. The peculiarity of this overture is that its themes will not sound more in the opera.

"The Tsar's Bride" (opera), libretto: the beginning

The first action takes place on a feast. In the large, rich room, the beloved tsar's oprichnik, Grigory Gryaznoy, stands at the window sullenly. He immensely grieves for the girl Martha, who father flatly refused to marry him.

Since childhood she has been married to another, for Ivan Lykov. Terrible thoughts crowd in the head of a young oprichnik, he is plotting how to lime an opponent. Therefore, the guests are waiting, and first of all the king's doctor Bromelia, who knows a lot about different potions.

One after another, the guests appear: Malyuta with oprichniki, Ivanushka Lykov and Bromeliy returned from distant lands. The feast rustles, guslars play, conversations go on, the goblets rise for the tsar. Suddenly Skuratov remembers Grigori's beautiful lover, and Lyubasha is summoned to a banquet so she can sing. Finally, in the morning, the guests disperse, only one Bromelia detains Gryaznoy. He asks a healer of a love potion for a friend. Bromelius promises to fulfill the request.

Their conversation is overheard by Lyubasha, who finally realized why her master had cooled to her. She thinks about how to return the love of Grigory, and too, while boiling with hatred for an unknown rival, wants to get a love potion.

Thus begins the opera The Tsar's Bride. The content, which is set forth here, is the tie of all the intricacies of history.

The second action

In the Alexander settlement, Ivan the Terrible for the first time on the street sees a beautiful beauty Marfa Sobakin and considers it so that the girl's heart breaks with fear. Meanwhile, Lyubasha, who tracked down her unfaithful Gregory, also considers Martha and is amazed at her beauty. She does not forget that she is going to Bromelia, and asks the sorcerer's potion to lime beauty.

He demands an exorbitant payment - love of Lyubasha, and threatens to tell about her request to Grigory Gryaznoy. Lubasha with disgust and fear agrees to the condition of the warlock. Thus, the opera Tsar's Bride continues, the content of which we are considering.

The third action

The guests of the merchant Vasil Stepanovich Sobakin were: Lykov and Gryaznoi. Vasily Stepanovich talks about a large family that has stayed in Novgorod. Ivan Lykov, dreaming of a wedding, hints that it's time to determine the life of Martha. Sobakin agrees, but not yet. He, to the horror of both young people, says that the daughter was called to the bride of the royal bride, and leaves to order about the meal. Sobakin returns with the honey that the guests drink.

And here appeared Marf, her friend Dunyasha and her mother Domna Saburova, a merchant's wife, appeared from the tsar's eyes. The girls went to change their clothes, and in the meantime Domna Ivanovna says that the tsar spoke with her daughter Dunyasha, and it seems to everyone that the choice will be stopped by Ivan Vasilyevich on this girl. Lykov is incredibly pleased, and everyone decides to drink for the fact that the cloud swept over their heads.

It gets dark, and Grigory Gryaznoy goes to the window to fill the cups. He turns to everyone with his back and secretly pours in the potion.

Girls appear, Grigory takes a tray with chalks, and each takes the one that is intended for him. All are happy for Ivan and Martha, drink for their happiness and health. But then the alarmed housekeeper Sobakin, Petrovna, rushes in, and says that the boyars are welcome to them, carrying the word royal. Appears Malyuta Skuratov, accompanied by the boyars. He announces that the sovereign has chosen Martha. Everyone is shocked. Sobakin bowed to the ground.

Unexpectedly and dramatically, the opera "Tsar's Bride" develops. Their content does not bode well for anyone.

Step Four

In the royal chamber in the ward sits broken by grief Vasily Sobakin. He sees an incurably sick daughter and suffers. Gryaznoy appears and reports that the poisoner confessed under torture, but the king's doctor will cure Martha. Whoever is a duckhead, Dirty does not yet tell. The girl runs out of the rooms to say that there is no damage on her. Here comes Malyuta Skuratov, and with him Gregory tells that the poisoner of Martha - Ivan Lykov, and the king ordered him to be executed. Gregory himself fulfilled the royal will.

Hearing this, Martha falls almost dead. When it is brought to life, it is clear that she has lost her mind. The unfortunate girl in Gregory sees his beloved Ivanushka, and Gryaznaya suffers from the futility of her efforts. He is in utter despair. And suddenly he admits that he slandered Ivan Lykov and accidentally poisoned Martha. And the girl always talks with Gregory, seeing in him the beloved Ivan. Dirty can not bear it any longer, asks Malyuta to take him and condemn him.

Then Lyubasha appears and confesses she has changed the spell for poison. Grigory can not bear it and stabs Lyubasha with a knife. He is all eager to say goodbye to Martha, and she asks her Vanya to come to her the next day.

All in confusion. The opera The Tsar's Bride is completed with a violent whirlwind of the orchestra, the content of which is considered in full. To leave indifferent the opera can not any spectator.

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov created in ten months a lyrical drama, which is full of sharp collisions. She's incredibly popular. It puts all the Russian theaters.