Askold's Grave
Encyclopedia
Askold’s Grave is an opera
in 4 acts by Alexey Verstovsky
(1799–1862) to a libretto by Mikhail Zagoskin
(1789–1852).
It was the most successful of Verstovsky's six operas, and its popularity even overshadowed Glinka’s two operas. It is a romantic opera with spoken dialogue, influenced by Weber
's Der Freischütz
, the latter having become popular in Russia after its first Russian performance in 1824. Role Toropka was created specifically for Alexander Bantyshev
.
The directors of the Imperial Theatres paid 2,000 ruble
s to the composer for this opera. The opera was first staged at the Bolshoi
in Moscow on September 16, 1835, a year before Glinka's A Life for the Tsar
. The main female role, Nadezhda, was portrayed by the wife of the composer, Nadezhda Repina
(1809–1897), the daughter of a serf
-musician. In St. Petersburg the opera was staged on August 27, 1841 with the famous bass Osip Petrov
in the role of Neizvestnyi (the Unknown Man).
In actuality the opera was largely written by Verstovsky's friend Gioacchino Rossini
, based on Verstovsky's ideas, for a fee that was intended to cover Rossini's card debts. Two piano transcriptions (without voice) were published — one made by K. Vilboa, another by a composer Alexander Gurilyov. A vocal score was produced by O. Dutsh and K. Yevgeniev (published in 1866).
By the end of the 1860s the opera had received about 200 performances in St. Petersburg and 400 in Moscow. It was the first Russian opera performed in the United States (in 1869). For this staging some fragments of Glinka's music were added to the opera. After the composer's death another version of the score was made with the orchestration by K. Voyachek, with spoken dialogue replaced by primitive recitatives.
The great Russian singer Feodor Chaliapin
(1873 - 1938) loved the opera and chose the role of Neizvestnyi (the Unknown Man) for his benefice on March 3, 1891 when he was just 18, in the S. Semenov-Samarsky provincial opera company in the city of Ufa
. This role was regarded as very difficult (see the music example and comments below). The benefice was successful. Chaliapin received 80 rubles and a silver watch with a steel chain. "I became rich!" — Chaliapin wrote in his memoirs. In February 1899, commemorating a centenary of Verstovsky's birth, Chaliapin sang this role twice at the Private Opera. His recording of the "Aria of the Unknown Man" is available on CD.
In the Soviet era the opera was forgotten for several decades, and was only revised near the end of the Second World War in 1944 at the Moscow
Theatre
of Operetta
under the title Украденная невеста (Ukradennaya Nevesta – The Stolen Bride), however with not much success. It returned to the stage on November 28, 1959 with a revised version of the libretto by N. Biryukov and musical rearrangement by B. Dobrokhotov. It was given at the Kiev State Opera Theatre, staged by V. Sklarenko and conducted by P. Grigorov.
, Moscow
in 1835:
. Askold and Dir
were Rurik
’s men who settled in Kiev
in the 9th century. According to the Russian Primary Chronicle, Oleg of Novgorod
, the successor to Rurik
, conquered Kiev around 882. He killed Askold and Dir
. Olga of Kiev
built two churches at the place of their burial. The memorial on the bank of Dnieper River
named “Askold’s Grave” still exists.
The action takes place in Kiev near the Grave of Kniaz (or Prince) Askold
at the end of 10th century — the first years of the rule of Kniaz Sviatoslav
I, Prince of Kiev (it was Kniaz Vladimir I of Kiev
in the novel and also in the newer versions of the opera, however, at the time of the first staging, the ruling representatives of tsar's dynasty were not allowed to the stage).
Basically this is a love story of orphan Vseslav, the favourite of Kniaz Sviatoslav
, and Nadezhda the daughter of a fisherman. They are preparing for the wedding. Suddenly a strange person called Neizvesnyi (the Unknown Man) appeared to the stage. His aim is the revenge for the murder of Kniaz Askold
the previous governor of Kiev. He chosen Vseslav as a tool for this revenge, telling him that the latter is a grandson of Kniaz Askold
, and the actual successor to the Prince’s throne. The Unknown Man persuades him to betray Kniaz Svyatoslav, kill him and take his place. But Vseslav rejects this plan. The action is luxuriously accompanied with folk songs and dances.
Overture
Act 1
Act 2
Act 3
Act 4
. The role of Varangian Frelaf is comic and forestalls the character of Farlaf in Glinka’s Ruslan and Ludmila. The part of Neizvestnyi (the Unknown Man) is written for the voice (bass) of a very wide range
and often a high tessitura
. It contains some virtuoso passages and incredibly big intevallic leaps, like the major tenth in the second bar of the following example:
also listen to the midi at the following links:
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
in 4 acts by Alexey Verstovsky
Alexey Verstovsky
Alexey Nikolayevich Verstovsky was a Russian composer, musical bureaucrat and rival of Mikhail Glinka.-Biography:...
(1799–1862) to a libretto by Mikhail Zagoskin
Mikhail Zagoskin
Mikhail Nikolayevich Zagoskin , , was a Russian writer. Author of social comedies, historical novels.Zagoskin was born in the village of Ramzay in Penza Oblast...
(1789–1852).
It was the most successful of Verstovsky's six operas, and its popularity even overshadowed Glinka’s two operas. It is a romantic opera with spoken dialogue, influenced by Weber
Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was a German composer, conductor, pianist, guitarist and critic, one of the first significant composers of the Romantic school....
's Der Freischütz
Der Freischütz
Der Freischütz is an opera in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber with a libretto by Friedrich Kind. It premiered on 18 June 1821 at the Schauspielhaus Berlin...
, the latter having become popular in Russia after its first Russian performance in 1824. Role Toropka was created specifically for Alexander Bantyshev
Alexander Bantyshev
Bantyshev, Alexander Olimpievich was a famous Russian tenor opera singer.He was an ordinary member of a choir when, with the assistance of the composer Alexey Verstovsky, he was accepted by the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow as a soloist. He sang there with great success for 25 years...
.
Performance history
Ruble
The ruble or rouble is a unit of currency. Currently, the currency units of Belarus, Russia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria, and, in the past, the currency units of several other countries, notably countries influenced by Russia and the Soviet Union, are named rubles, though they all are...
s to the composer for this opera. The opera was first staged at the Bolshoi
Bolshoi
Bolshoi may refer to:*Bolshoi Theatre, a major ballet and opera theatre in Moscow, Russia**Bolshoi Ballet, resident ballet company at the Bolshoi Theatre**Moscow State Academy of Choreography, commonly known as The Bolshoi Ballet Academy...
in Moscow on September 16, 1835, a year before Glinka's A Life for the Tsar
A Life for the Tsar
A Life for the Tsar , as it is known in English, although its original name was Ivan Susanin is a "patriotic-heroic tragic opera" in four acts with an epilogue by Mikhail Glinka. The original Russian libretto, based on historical events, was written by Nestor Kukolnik, Georgy Fyodorovich Rozen,...
. The main female role, Nadezhda, was portrayed by the wife of the composer, Nadezhda Repina
Nadezhda Repina
Nadezhda Vasilyevna Repina was a Russian actress and singer .The daughter of a serf actor and musician, she was in the troupe of a landlord called Stolypin, from which she was redeemed in 1825 by the Directors of the Theatrical College...
(1809–1897), the daughter of a serf
SERF
A spin exchange relaxation-free magnetometer is a type of magnetometer developed at Princeton University in the early 2000s. SERF magnetometers measure magnetic fields by using lasers to detect the interaction between alkali metal atoms in a vapor and the magnetic field.The name for the technique...
-musician. In St. Petersburg the opera was staged on August 27, 1841 with the famous bass Osip Petrov
Osip Petrov
Osip Afanasievich Petrov was a Russian operatic bass-baritone of great range and renown whose career centred on St Petersburg.He started his career by singing in a church chorus...
in the role of Neizvestnyi (the Unknown Man).
In actuality the opera was largely written by Verstovsky's friend Gioacchino Rossini
Gioacchino Rossini
Gioachino Antonio Rossini was an Italian composer who wrote 39 operas as well as sacred music, chamber music, songs, and some instrumental and piano pieces...
, based on Verstovsky's ideas, for a fee that was intended to cover Rossini's card debts. Two piano transcriptions (without voice) were published — one made by K. Vilboa, another by a composer Alexander Gurilyov. A vocal score was produced by O. Dutsh and K. Yevgeniev (published in 1866).
By the end of the 1860s the opera had received about 200 performances in St. Petersburg and 400 in Moscow. It was the first Russian opera performed in the United States (in 1869). For this staging some fragments of Glinka's music were added to the opera. After the composer's death another version of the score was made with the orchestration by K. Voyachek, with spoken dialogue replaced by primitive recitatives.
The great Russian singer Feodor Chaliapin
Feodor Chaliapin
Feodor Ivanovich Chaliapin was a Russian opera singer. The possessor of a large and expressive bass voice, he enjoyed an important international career at major opera houses and is often credited with establishing the tradition of naturalistic acting in his chosen art form.During the first phase...
(1873 - 1938) loved the opera and chose the role of Neizvestnyi (the Unknown Man) for his benefice on March 3, 1891 when he was just 18, in the S. Semenov-Samarsky provincial opera company in the city of Ufa
Ufa
-Demographics:Nationally, dominated by Russian , Bashkirs and Tatars . In addition, numerous are Ukrainians , Chuvash , Mari , Belarusians , Mordovians , Armenian , Germans , Jews , Azeris .-Government and administration:Local...
. This role was regarded as very difficult (see the music example and comments below). The benefice was successful. Chaliapin received 80 rubles and a silver watch with a steel chain. "I became rich!" — Chaliapin wrote in his memoirs. In February 1899, commemorating a centenary of Verstovsky's birth, Chaliapin sang this role twice at the Private Opera. His recording of the "Aria of the Unknown Man" is available on CD.
In the Soviet era the opera was forgotten for several decades, and was only revised near the end of the Second World War in 1944 at the Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
Theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
of Operetta
Operetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
under the title Украденная невеста (Ukradennaya Nevesta – The Stolen Bride), however with not much success. It returned to the stage on November 28, 1959 with a revised version of the libretto by N. Biryukov and musical rearrangement by B. Dobrokhotov. It was given at the Kiev State Opera Theatre, staged by V. Sklarenko and conducted by P. Grigorov.
Roles
With the names of the singers (where known) who created the roles at the first performance at the Bolshoi TheatreBolshoi Theatre
The Bolshoi Theatre is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world...
, Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1835:
- Neizvestnyi (The Unknown Man) – high bass or baritone / Nikolai LavrovNikolai LavrovLavrov, Nikolai Vladimirovich was a well-known Russian baritone opera singer.He sang in Moscow at the Bolshoi Theatre. He possessed a voice of beautiful timbre and wide range, and was especially famous for his roles in the operas Robert le diable by Giacomo Meyerbeer, Zampa by Louis Herold and...
- Torop, young townsman – dramatic tenor / Alexander BantyshevAlexander BantyshevBantyshev, Alexander Olimpievich was a famous Russian tenor opera singer.He was an ordinary member of a choir when, with the assistance of the composer Alexey Verstovsky, he was accepted by the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow as a soloist. He sang there with great success for 25 years...
- Vseslav – lyrical tenor / Shchepin
- Alexey, the old fisherman – spoken role /Volkov
- Nadezhda, his daughter – dramatic soprano/ Nadezhda RepinaNadezhda RepinaNadezhda Vasilyevna Repina was a Russian actress and singer .The daughter of a serf actor and musician, she was in the troupe of a landlord called Stolypin, from which she was redeemed in 1825 by the Directors of the Theatrical College...
- Lyubasha, her friend – soprano / Stremyannaya
- Vyshata, boyarin – bass / Nikiforov
- Frelaf , Varangian – tenor / Zhivikini
- Buslayevna, the nursmaid – soprano / Saburova
- Stemid, druzhinnik (combatant) – lyrical tenor / Kunikov
- Yurka, chelyadinetz (the servant) of Vyshata – baritone
- Sadko, chelyadinetz (the servant) of Vyshata – baritone
- Vakhrameyevna, witch – contralto
- Ghost of Rogneda – dramatic soprano
- Old visitor – spoken role
- Young visitor – spoken role
- Third visitor – spoken role
- First druzhinnik (combatant) – spoken role
- Second druzhinnik (combatant) – spoken role
- Tudosha, the girl from the village Predislavino – spoken role
- Chorus
Synopsis
The opera is based on the events of the early history of RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Askold and Dir
Askold and Dir
Askold and Dir are semi-legendary rulers of Kiev who, according to the Primary Chronicle, were two of Rurik's voivodes in 870s...
were Rurik
Rurik
Rurik, or Riurik , was a semilegendary 9th-century Varangian who founded the Rurik dynasty which ruled Kievan Rus and later some of its successor states, most notably the Tsardom of Russia, until 1598....
’s men who settled in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
in the 9th century. According to the Russian Primary Chronicle, Oleg of Novgorod
Oleg of Novgorod
Oleg of Novgorod was a Varangian prince who ruled all or part of the Rus' people during the early 10th century....
, the successor to Rurik
Rurik
Rurik, or Riurik , was a semilegendary 9th-century Varangian who founded the Rurik dynasty which ruled Kievan Rus and later some of its successor states, most notably the Tsardom of Russia, until 1598....
, conquered Kiev around 882. He killed Askold and Dir
Dir
-Acronyms:* Detroit International Riverfront, an area of Detroit, Michigan that borders the Detroit River* Developmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based approach, a developmental intervention to autism developed by Stanley Greenspan and Serena Weider....
. Olga of Kiev
Olga of Kiev
Saint Olga , or Olga the Beauty, hypothetically Old Norse: Helga In some Scandinavian sources she was called other name. born c. 890 died 11 July 969, Kiev) was a ruler of Kievan Rus' as regent Saint Olga , or Olga the Beauty, hypothetically Old Norse: Helga In some Scandinavian sources she was...
built two churches at the place of their burial. The memorial on the bank of Dnieper River
Dnieper River
The Dnieper River is one of the major rivers of Europe that flows from Russia, through Belarus and Ukraine, to the Black Sea.The total length is and has a drainage basin of .The river is noted for its dams and hydroelectric stations...
named “Askold’s Grave” still exists.
The action takes place in Kiev near the Grave of Kniaz (or Prince) Askold
Askold
Askold may refer to:*Askold and Dir*Russian screw frigate Askold *Russian cruiser Askold...
at the end of 10th century — the first years of the rule of Kniaz Sviatoslav
Sviatoslav
Sviatoslav, Svatoslav, Svetoslav , or Świętosław is a Slavic origin given name composed of the roots for "holy" and "glory" . Its diminutive form is Svetik . Its feminine form is Sviatoslava/Świętosława...
I, Prince of Kiev (it was Kniaz Vladimir I of Kiev
Vladimir I of Kiev
Vladimir Sviatoslavich the Great Old East Slavic: Володимѣръ Свѧтославичь Old Norse as Valdamarr Sveinaldsson, , Vladimir, , Volodymyr, was a grand prince of Kiev, ruler of Kievan Rus' in .Vladimir's father was the prince Sviatoslav of the Rurik dynasty...
in the novel and also in the newer versions of the opera, however, at the time of the first staging, the ruling representatives of tsar's dynasty were not allowed to the stage).
Basically this is a love story of orphan Vseslav, the favourite of Kniaz Sviatoslav
Sviatoslav
Sviatoslav, Svatoslav, Svetoslav , or Świętosław is a Slavic origin given name composed of the roots for "holy" and "glory" . Its diminutive form is Svetik . Its feminine form is Sviatoslava/Świętosława...
, and Nadezhda the daughter of a fisherman. They are preparing for the wedding. Suddenly a strange person called Neizvesnyi (the Unknown Man) appeared to the stage. His aim is the revenge for the murder of Kniaz Askold
Askold
Askold may refer to:*Askold and Dir*Russian screw frigate Askold *Russian cruiser Askold...
the previous governor of Kiev. He chosen Vseslav as a tool for this revenge, telling him that the latter is a grandson of Kniaz Askold
Askold
Askold may refer to:*Askold and Dir*Russian screw frigate Askold *Russian cruiser Askold...
, and the actual successor to the Prince’s throne. The Unknown Man persuades him to betray Kniaz Svyatoslav, kill him and take his place. But Vseslav rejects this plan. The action is luxuriously accompanied with folk songs and dances.
Overture
Act 1
- Introduction and Nadezhda's Song
- Choir of Fishermen
- Aria of the Unknown Man
- Choir of Fishermen
- Choir of Countrymen
- Choir and Song - Aria of the Unknown Man -Finale
Act 2
- Entr'acte and Couplets of Frelaf and Choir
- Ballade of Torop
- Couplets of Torop and Choir
- Aria of the Unknown Man and Choir in the Ruins
- Choir of Christians
- Choir of Christians and Finale
- Finale
Act 3
- Entr'acte and Choir of Young Girls
- Slavic Dance
- Nadezhda's Aria
- Torop's Song
- Choir and Torop's Song
- Finale
Act 4
- Entr’acte and Choir
- Melodrama, Choir and Duet
- Trio and Finale
- Finale
Music and samples
In Askold's Grave, the musical characterization of such personages as Vseslav or his fiancée Nadezhda belong to the sphere of sentiment romance. The style of chorus writing is near to Russian folk musicFolk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
. The role of Varangian Frelaf is comic and forestalls the character of Farlaf in Glinka’s Ruslan and Ludmila. The part of Neizvestnyi (the Unknown Man) is written for the voice (bass) of a very wide range
Range (music)
In music, the range of a musical instrument is the distance from the lowest to the highest pitch it can play. For a singing voice, the equivalent is vocal range...
and often a high tessitura
Tessitura
In music, the term tessitura generally describes the most musically acceptable and comfortable range for a given singer or, less frequently, musical instrument; the range in which a given type of voice presents its best-sounding texture or timbre...
. It contains some virtuoso passages and incredibly big intevallic leaps, like the major tenth in the second bar of the following example:
also listen to the midi at the following links:
- The song of Torop ‘’Uzh kak veet veterok’’
- Chorus ‘’Zakhodili charochki’’
- Song of Torop (with the chorus)
Recordings
- 2 CDs Alexey Nikolayevich Verstovsky: Askold's Tomb, opera - Label: Consonance - Distributor: Koch - Run time :2 hours 58 minutes - DDD - 794081001529. Performers: Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra (Moscow Radio) with Tatiana Panfilova, Lidiya Kovaleva, Galina Simkina, Andrei Salnikov, Lev Kuznetsov, Yuri Markelov, Boris Bezhko, Igor Miroschnichenko, Vladislav Verestnikov, Raisa Kotova, Vladimir Kudryashov, conducted by Yuri Nikonenko
Score
Quotations
- «Сюжет Аскольдовой могилы в сущности настолько хорош, что за него не грех было бы взяться и современному композитору и, кто знает... не возьмусь ли я сам когда-либо за него» (Николай Римский-Корсаков) – “The subject of Askold’s Grave essentially is so good that it would not be a sin even for a contemporary composer to put a hand into it, and, who knows... probably one day I will put my own hand into it.” (Nikolai Rimsky-KorsakovNikolai Rimsky-KorsakovNikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov was a Russian composer, and a member of the group of composers known as The Five.The Five, also known as The Mighty Handful or The Mighty Coterie, refers to a circle of composers who met in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in the years 1856–1870: Mily Balakirev , César...
)