The Queen of Spades

The Queen of Spades (??????? ???? in Russian, Pikovaya dama in transliteration) is an opera in three acts by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to a Russian libretto by the composer's brother Modest Tchaikovsky, based on a short story by the poet Aleksandr Pushkin. First performance: Maryinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg, 19 December,1890.

History

The management of the Imperial Theatre offered a commission to Tchaikovsky to write an opera to a plot by I. A. Vsevolozhskyi in 1887/88. Originally Tchaikovsky refused, but later in 1889, he accepted. Toward the end of that year, he met with theatre managers to discuss the script, the lay-out of the scenes, and the elements of performance.

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He sketched out the opera from January to March in Florence in only 44 days. From July to December of 1890, Tchaikovsky completed a set of changes to the literary text, recitatives, and voice parts. Working with the tenor Figner, he created two versions of Herman?s aria from the seventh scene, including different tonalities. All of these changes are found in the proof sheets and inserts for the first and second editions.

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While composing the music, Tchaikovsky actively edited the libretto. He substantially changed the text, entered scenic notes, made reductions, and wrote his own lyrics for arias for Yeletsky, Lisa, and the chorus.

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The composer himself took part in the preparation of the Saint Petersburg premiere. Critics gave rave reviews. "Figner's bright temperament has given to each phrase in the powerful moments the needed relief. In the lyrical parts... Figner?s singing was awe-inspiring with a charming softness and sincerity." Tchaikovsky later wrote, "Figner and the Saint Petersburg orchestra... have made true miracles."

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The success of The Queen of Spades, as its author had well expected, was tremendous. It continued that success twelve days later at the Kiev premiere. On November 4, 1891, it was performed in Moscow at the Bolshoy Theatre. Tchaikovsky was extremely pleased with the opera. In an eloquent self-estimation, he said, "...either I am terribly mistaken, or The Queen of Spades really is a masterpiece...." This appraisal truly was prophetic.

Related Topics:
Kiev - Moscow - Bolshoy Theatre

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