Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844–1908) was a naval officer who served for three years on the Almaz clipper, traveled half the world on it, a brilliant Russian composer, who wrote 15 operas, a music teacher and critic.
Ninth Opera
By the time, in 1894, Nikolai Andreevich began to write The Tsar’s Bride on the verses of Leo May’s drama, he was at the top of his creative powers. There were lengthy discussions with a co-author, whose name was Ilya Tyumenev, and other subjects. I. Tyumenev himself once studied with Nikolai Andreevich, and then became a librettist, and a composer, and an author of travel essays, since 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 inserted and lyrical scenes.
Drama L. May
The plot is based on a real episode from the life of Ivan the Terrible, taken from Karamzin’s “History”. The king chose his third wife from the girls of noble and noble families. The contenders gathered about two thousand. Ivan Vasilievich first selected 24 girls, then left 12 and began to compare them.
The Novgorod merchant Vasily Sobakin was awarded the great honor: his daughter Martha became the bride of the formidable king, but for unknown reasons the girl became seriously ill. The king, suspecting that she had been poisoned, took the life of all those whom his suspicion fell on, but married a sick Martha. The young wife died immediately after the wedding feasts.
L. May interpreted this story as an artist, drawing vivid dramatic characters that were deepened by brilliant music. The names of the main characters will be indicated in the text of the article.
Overture
This piece for orchestra is written in the form of a sonata allegro and is built on two themes. The first and main one tells about the tragedy that will later appear before the audience, the second, secondary, creates a bright image of Martha. The peculiarity of this overture is that its themes will no longer be heard in the opera.
The Tsar’s Bride (opera), libretto: beginning
The first action takes place at a revel. In the large, rich room, dearly standing by the window, beloved tsarist guardian Grigory Gryaznoy stands. He misses immeasurably the girl Martha, whom her father flatly refused to marry him.
From childhood, she was caught up for another, for Ivan Lykov. Terrible thoughts are crowded in the head of a young oprichnik, he is plotting how he should plague an opponent. Therefore, it is waiting for guests, and first of all the royal healer Bromeliad, who knows a lot about different potions.
One after another, guests appear: Malyuta with the guardsmen, Ivanushka Lykov and Bromeliad, who returned from distant lands. The feast is noisy, the guslars are playing, there is talk, cups are rising for the king. Suddenly, Skuratov recalls the beautiful mistress of Gregory, and Lyubasha is summoned to a feast to sing. Finally, in the morning the guests disperse, only one Bromeliad detains Dirty. He asks the doctor for a love potion for a friend. Bromeliad promises to fulfill the request.
Their conversation eavesdrops on Lyubasha, who finally understood why her master had cooled her. She wonders how to return Gregory’s love, and also, seething with hatred for an unknown rival, she wants to get a love potion.
So begins the opera The Tsar’s Bride. The content that is presented here is the plot of all the intricacies of history.
Action two
For the first time in the Alexandrov settlement, Ivan the Terrible sees the painted beauty Marfa Sobakin on the street and examines her so that the girl’s heart breaks off from fear. Meanwhile, Lyubasha, who has tracked down her unfaithful Gregory, is also examining Martha and marveling at her beauty. She does not forget that she is going to Bromeliad, and asks the sorcerer for a potion in order to bring out beauty.
He demands an exorbitant price - Lyubasha’s love, and threatens to tell Grigory Gryazny about her request. Lyubasha, with disgust and fear, agrees to the condition of the warlock. Thus the opera The Tsar’s Bride continues, the contents of which we are considering.
Action Three
Guests came to the house of the merchant Vasil Stepanovich Sobakin: Lykov and Gryaznoy. Vasily Stepanovich talks about a large family that remained in Novgorod. Ivan Lykov, dreaming of a wedding, hints that it is time to determine the life of Martha. Sobakin agrees, but not yet. He, to the horror of both young people, says that his daughter was called to the bride's wedding, and leaves to order a treat. Sobakin returns with the honey that guests drink.
And then Marfa, her friend Dunyasha and her mother Domna Saburova, a merchant's wife, appeared from the royal bride. The girls went to change clothes, and meanwhile Domna Ivanovna tells that the tsar spoke with her daughter Dunyasha, and it seems to everyone that Ivan Vasilyevich will choose this girl. Lykov is incredibly delighted, and everyone decides to drink because the cloud flashed over their heads.
It gets dark, and Gregory the Dirty goes to the window to fill the cups. He turns his back on everyone and secretly pours the potion.
Girls appear, Gregory takes a tray with cups, and each takes the one that is intended for him. Everyone is happy for Ivan and Martha, they drink for their happiness and health. But then the worried key keeper of the Sobakins, Petrovna, runs in and says that they are favored by the boyars, bearing the royal word. Malyuta Skuratov appears, accompanied by the boyars. He announces that the sovereign chose Martha. Everyone is shocked. Sobakin bowed down.
Unexpectedly and dramatically, the opera The Tsar’s Bride develops events. Their content does not bode well to anyone.
Action four
Vasily Sobakin, broken by grief, sits in the chamber in the royal tower. He sees a terminally ill daughter and suffers. Dirty appears and reports that under the torture the poisoner confessed, but the royal healer will undertake to cure Martha. Who does not come, Dirty yet does not tell. The girl herself rushes out of the chambers to say that there is no damage to her. Here Malyuta Skuratov enters, and with him Gregory tells that the poisoner of Martha is Ivan Lykov, and the tsar ordered him executed. Gregory himself fulfilled the royal will.
Hearing this, Martha falls almost dead. When she is brought to her senses, it is clear that she has lost her mind. The unfortunate girl in Gregory sees her beloved Ivanushka, and Dirty suffers from the futility of her efforts. He is in complete despair. And suddenly he admits that he slandered Ivan Lykov and inadvertently poisoned Martha. And the girl all the time talking with Gregory, seeing him as his beloved Ivan. Dirty can no longer endure this, asks Malyuta to pick him up and condemn him.
Then Lyubasha appears and confesses that she replaced the love spell with poison. Gregory cannot bear it and stabs Lyubasha with a knife. He is eager to bid farewell to Martha, and she asks her Vanya to come to her the next day.
Everything is in turmoil. The turbulent whirlwind of the orchestra ends with the opera The Tsar’s Bride, the contents of which are fully considered. Not a single spectator can leave indifferent the opera.
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov created a lyrical drama in ten months, which is full of sharp conflicts. She is incredibly popular. It is staged by all Russian theaters.