Natalka Poltavka
Encyclopedia
Natalka Poltavka is a Ukrainian
play written by Ivan Kotlyarevsky
.
, first performed in 1821 in the city of Kharkiv
, though it was not available in print until 1838. The play served as the basis for the operetta
Natalka Poltavka
by Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko
, and it has also been made into a number of films in Ukraine and abroad. The play has the features of classicist poetics and also, in keeping with the spirit of Ukrainian national rebirth of the period in which it was written, a distinct interest in the lives of the common Ukrainian people and peasant
s. This latter element accounts for its great popularity in Ukraine both at the time of its writing to the present day, and also its influence on the development of Ukrainian dramatic literature in the 19th century.
Ultimately, true love triumphs over all.
that was released on December 24, 1936 in Ukraine
. The film was directed by Ivan Kavaleridze. This film was the first adaptation of an operetta produced in the former Soviet Union
. Another film, directed by Ukrainian American Vasyl Avramenko
, was released a year later on February 14, 1937 in the United States
. This was the first Ukrainian language film produced in the United States.
musician A. Barsytsky and was published in 1833. Simultaneously the play starring M. Shchepkin as Vyborny was premiered in Moscow
in the 1830s with music arranged by the head violinist and later conductor A. Gurianov. Later arrangements were made by A. Yedlichka, M. Vasyliev and others.
In 1889 a version by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko
premiered. This version upstaged all the previous versions of the work. Lysenko took the original songs from the play, which were lengthened and wrote orchestral accompaniments to these folk songs and dances in the play. He enlarged the musical tapestry producing background music to some parts. The songs were transformed into aria
s, an overture and musical entracts were added which stayed true to the spirit of Kotliarevsky's play. Although Lysenko's version is usually categorised as an operetta
, it is more close to an opera-comique
, containing long stretches of spoken dialogue.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
play written by Ivan Kotlyarevsky
Ivan Kotlyarevsky
Ivan Petrovych Kotlyarevsky , was a Ukrainian writer, poet and playwright, regarded as the pioneer of modern Ukrainian literature. Kotliarevsky was a veteran of the Russo-Turkish War.- Biography :...
.
History
The play was written in 1819 in the Ukrainian languageUkrainian language
Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet....
, first performed in 1821 in the city of Kharkiv
Kharkiv
Kharkiv or Kharkov is the second-largest city in Ukraine.The city was founded in 1654 and was a major centre of Ukrainian culture in the Russian Empire. Kharkiv became the first city in Ukraine where the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed in December 1917 and Soviet government was...
, though it was not available in print until 1838. The play served as the basis for the 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:...
Natalka Poltavka
Natalka Poltavka (opera)
Natalka Poltavka is an opera in three acts by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko, based on the play Natalka Poltavka by Ivan Kotlyarevsky, first performed in 1889.-Background:...
by Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko
Mykola Lysenko
Mykola Vitaliiovych Lysenko was a Ukrainian composer, pianist, conductor and ethnomusicologist.- Biography :Lysenko was born in Hrynky, Kremenchuk Povit, Poltava Governorate, the son of Vitaliy Romanovich Lysenko . From childhood he became very interested in the folksongs of Ukrainian peasants and...
, and it has also been made into a number of films in Ukraine and abroad. The play has the features of classicist poetics and also, in keeping with the spirit of Ukrainian national rebirth of the period in which it was written, a distinct interest in the lives of the common Ukrainian people and peasant
Peasant
A peasant is an agricultural worker who generally tend to be poor and homeless-Etymology:The word is derived from 15th century French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside, ultimately from the Latin pagus, or outlying administrative district.- Position in society :Peasants typically...
s. This latter element accounts for its great popularity in Ukraine both at the time of its writing to the present day, and also its influence on the development of Ukrainian dramatic literature in the 19th century.
Plot
The play follows the trials and tribulations of Natalka and Peter (Petro). The sweethearts planned to get married; however, Natalka's father does not approve of the marriage because Petro was not affluent enough to keep Natalka in the manner he thought that she should be kept. Petro goes off to earn the required fortune. In the meantime, Natalka's father passes away, the family is left destitute and they are forced to move into poor peasant accommodations. With no news from Petro for 5 years, Natalka succumbs to her mothers wishes and finally accepts the very next offer of marriage, which happens to come from an old, but relatively affluent Government official. In the meantime Petro returns with the small fortune he has earned to discover that his beloved has promised herself in marriage to someone else. Tension increases until the lovers are once again united. Amongst the apparent tragic circumstance of the lover's plight is the village comedy relief of the Russified Ukrainian government official who speaks in a broken language trying to unsuccessfully emulate the language of the Russian officials of the day.Ultimately, true love triumphs over all.
Film adaptations
The play was made into a filmFilm adaptation
Film adaptation is the transfer of a written work to a feature film. It is a type of derivative work.A common form of film adaptation is the use of a novel as the basis of a feature film, but film adaptation includes the use of non-fiction , autobiography, comic book, scripture, plays, and even...
that was released on December 24, 1936 in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. The film was directed by Ivan Kavaleridze. This film was the first adaptation of an operetta produced in the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Another film, directed by Ukrainian American Vasyl Avramenko
Vasyl Avramenko
Vasyl Kyrylovych Avramenko was a Ukrainian actor, dancer, choreographer, balletmaster, director, and film producer, credited with spreading Ukrainian folk dance across the world...
, was released a year later on February 14, 1937 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. This was the first Ukrainian language film produced in the United States.
Opera adaptation
Although the first version of the play in 1819 contained a number of Ukrainian folk songs which were sung at different points throughout the work, the first known musical adaptation of the play was made by KharkivKharkiv
Kharkiv or Kharkov is the second-largest city in Ukraine.The city was founded in 1654 and was a major centre of Ukrainian culture in the Russian Empire. Kharkiv became the first city in Ukraine where the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed in December 1917 and Soviet government was...
musician A. Barsytsky and was published in 1833. Simultaneously the play starring M. Shchepkin as Vyborny was premiered in 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 the 1830s with music arranged by the head violinist and later conductor A. Gurianov. Later arrangements were made by A. Yedlichka, M. Vasyliev and others.
In 1889 a version by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko
Mykola Lysenko
Mykola Vitaliiovych Lysenko was a Ukrainian composer, pianist, conductor and ethnomusicologist.- Biography :Lysenko was born in Hrynky, Kremenchuk Povit, Poltava Governorate, the son of Vitaliy Romanovich Lysenko . From childhood he became very interested in the folksongs of Ukrainian peasants and...
premiered. This version upstaged all the previous versions of the work. Lysenko took the original songs from the play, which were lengthened and wrote orchestral accompaniments to these folk songs and dances in the play. He enlarged the musical tapestry producing background music to some parts. The songs were transformed into aria
Aria
An aria in music was originally any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. The term is now used almost exclusively to describe a self-contained piece for one voice usually with orchestral accompaniment...
s, an overture and musical entracts were added which stayed true to the spirit of Kotliarevsky's play. Although Lysenko's version is usually categorised as an 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:...
, it is more close to an opera-comique
Opéra-Comique
The Opéra-Comique is a Parisian opera company, which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with, and for a time took the name of its chief rival the Comédie-Italienne at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, and was also called the...
, containing long stretches of spoken dialogue.