The Oprichnik

The Oprichnik (Russian: «Опричник», IPA: [ɐˈprʲitɕnʲɪk] ^ⓘ), also translated as The Guardsman, is an opera in 4 acts, 5 scenes, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to his own libretto after the tragedy The Oprichniks (Russian: Опричники) by Ivan Lazhechnikov (1792–1869). The subject of the opera is the oprichniks. It is set in Ivan the Terrible's court during the oprichnina times (1565–1573).

The Oprichnik
Opera by Tchaikovsky
Apollinary Vasnetsov's set design for a 1911 production at Bakhrushin Museum, Moscow
Native title	Russian: Опричник
Librettist	Tchaikovsky
Language	Russian
Based on	The Oprichniks by Ivan Lazhechnikov
Premiere	24 April 1874 (1874-04-24) Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg

Tchaikovsky worked on the opera from February 1870 - March 1872. It includes music from his early opera The Voyevoda (1869). The work is dedicated to the Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich Romanov. It was given its premiere performance at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg on 24 April 1874, followed by the Moscow premiere on 16 May 1874 at the Bolshoi Theatre.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere cast, St. Petersburg 24 April (12 April O.S.) 1874 (Conductor: Eduard Nápravník)	Premiere cast, Moscow 16 May (4 May O.S.) 1874 (Conductor: Eduard Merten[1])
Prince Zhemchuzhnïy	bass	Vladimir Vasilyev	Demidov
Natalya, his daughter	soprano	Wilhelmina Raab	Smelskaya
Molchan Mitkov, the bridegroom of Natalya	bass	V. F. Sobolev
Boyarïnya Morozova, the widow	mezzo-soprano	Aleksandra Krutikova	Kadmina
Andrey Morozov, her son	tenor	D. A. Orlov	Aleksandr Dodonov
Basmanov, a young oprichnik	contralto	V. M. Vasilyev	Aristova
Prince Vyazminsky	baritone	Ivan Melnikov	Radonezhsky
Zakharyevna	soprano	Olga Shreder (Schröder)
Chorus, silent roles: People

Instrumentation

Source: Tchaikovsky Research

• Strings: Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Cellos, and Double Basses
• Woodwinds: Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets (1 in B-flat, 1 in A), 2 bassoons
• Brass: 4 Horns (in F), 2 Trumpets (in D, F, and C), 3 Trombones, Tuba
• Percussion: Timpani, Triangle, Cymbals, Bass Drum
• Other: Harp

Synopsis

Introduction.

Act 1

No. 1 — Scena

No. 2 — Chorus of Maidens

No. 2a – Natalya's Song

No. 3 — Scena & Chorus

No. 4 — Scena & Chorus

No. 5 — Recitatives

No. 5a – Basmanov's Arioso

No. 6 — Natalya's Arioso

No. 6a – Chorus of Maidens

Act 2

Entr'acte

No. 7 — Scena & Morozova's Aria

No. 8 — Scena & Duet

No. 9 — Prelude, Scena & Finale

No. 9a – Prince Vyazminsky's Aria

No. 9b – Andrey's Aria

Act 3

Entr'acte

No. 10 - Chorus of People

No. 11 - Recitatives, Chorus of Boys & Duet

No. 12 - Scena

No. 12a-Natalya's Arioso

No. 13 - Finale

Act 4

No. 14 - Wedding Chorus

No. 15 - Dances of Oprichniks & Women

No. 16 - Recitatives, Chorus & Duet

No. 17 - Chorus & Scena

No. 18 - Scena & Quartet

No. 19 - Closing Scena

Note: The entr'acte to Act II may have been written and scored by Vladimir Shilovsky.

Derived works

Arrangements by the composer

• Numbers from the opera for voices with piano accompaniment (1873)
• Funeral March on Themes from the Opera The Oprichnik (1877, lost)

Recordings

• 1948, Alexei Korolyov (Prince Zhemchuzny), Natalya Rozhdestvenskaya (Natalya), Vsevolod Tyutyunnik (Molchan Mitkov), Lyudmila Legostayeva (Boyarina Morozova), Dmitri Tarkhov (Andrei Morozov), Zara Dolukhanova (Basmanov), Konstantin Polyaev (Prince Vyazminsky), Antonina Kleschtschova (Zakharyevna). Moscow Radio Choir and Orchestra, Aleksander Orlov (conductor). Melodiya, reissued Pristine Classics
• 1980, Evgeny Vladimirov (Prince Zhemchuzny), Tamara Milashkina (Natalya), Vladimir Matorin (Molchan Mitkov), Larisa Nikitina (Boyarina Morozova), Lev Kuznetsov (Andrei Morozov), Raisa Kotova (Basmanov), Oleg Klyonov (Prince Vyazminsky), Nina Derbina (Zakharyevna). Chorus and Orchestra of the Central Television and Radio of the USSR, Gennady Provatorov (conductor). Aquarius.
• 2003, Vassily Savenko (Prince Zhemchuzhny), Elena Lassoskaya (Natalya), Dmitri Ulyanov (Molchan Mitkov), Irina Dolzhenko (Boyarina Morozova), Vsevolod Grivnov (Andrei Morozov), Alexandra Durseneva (Basmanov), Vladimir Ognovienko (Prince Vyazminsky), Cinzia de Mola (Zakharyevna). Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, Gennady Rozhdestvensky (conductor). Dynamic, reissued Brilliant.

References

1. Eduard Merten became 2nd conductor at the Bolshoi Theatre shortly before 1870. He was "a talented pianist and composed romances, but was completely inexperienced as a conductor" (Kashkin, Erinerrungen, 64, 66) Edward H. Tarr, East Meets West; The Russian Trumpet Tradition from the Time of Peter the Great

External links

• Опричник: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Tchaikovsky Research