The queen of spades moscow state stanislavsky music. A oneinamillion voice arrives at the met opera the new. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the queen of spades by alexander pushkin. Jan 14, 2019 e xperiencing the royal operas new queen of spades is like trying to watch a fireworks display stuck behind a tall person filming it on their mobile. Pushkin wrote the story in autumn 1833 in boldino, and it was first published in the literary magazine biblioteka dlya chteniya in march 1834.
Why the queen of spades is tchaikovskys lesserknown. He seems obsessed with gambling, watching his friends play all. New york city the queen of spades the metropolitan opera 112919 t he november 29 met season premiere of the queen of spades offered the eagerly awaited chance to hear the company debut of lise davidsen as lisa. Renowned tenor neil shicoff is the loveobsessed hermann. Noted russian poet alexander pushkins story pikovaya dama the queen of spades, 1836 drew accolades as soon as it was published readers were intrigued by its fantastical subject matter and precisely captured zeitgeist. E xperiencing the royal operas new queen of spades is like trying to watch a fireworks display stuck behind a tall person filming it on. The tchaikovsky brothers made sure that queen of spades was a powerful, consuming opera to start with, but the original director, richard jones, chose to heighten and exaggerate the drama. The queen of spades is a short story with supernatural. Feb 16, 2020 the queen of spades plays through march 1 at lyric opera, 20 n. Both the tenor and soprano beautifully to the conducting of mstislav rostropovich. Read the libretto, translated to english, of the russian opera the queen of spades by peter ilyich tchaikovsky on. Production the queen of spades latvian national opera. Sometimes it is known by its german title pique dame.
The queen of spades is playing at the lyric opera house through march 1st and it made me a fan of opera. Mar 28, 2020 tchaikovsky is undeniably one of the greatest composers of all time and there is no doubt that his two greatest operas are eugene onegin and the queen of spades. Feb 12, 2020 the queen of spades as staged by the canadian opera company, will be presented at lyric opera starting feb. Opera pyotr tchaikovsky the queen of spades opera in three acts brilliant classical stanislavsky ballet and opera theatre established 1887, founded by stanislavsky running time. Queen of spades metropolitan opera vasily petrenko. Nov 22, 2019 lise davidsen, a 32yearold soprano starring in the queen of spades, has swiftly risen to the top of the field. A more traditional queen of spades was the first opera andrew davis conducted as lyrics music director. Pikovaya dama is a short story with supernatural elements by alexander pushkin about human avarice. In a park, sourin and tchekalinsky discuss the strange behavior of their fellow officer hermann. Lyrics the queen of spades, tchaikovskys punk rock.
In the era of the international superstar, major companies are more likely to try to fill the house by advertising a. Opera at its best takes the universal themes of humanity and brings them to life in the space and time of a live performance. Lise davidsen as lisa in tchaikovskys the queen of spades. A work of extreme moods and colors, the queen of spades explores lifes frivolities as well as the darkest impulses of obsession, addiction, madness, and self. The opera retains its original structure, comprised of three acts, seven scenes, and the one and only queen of spades. Aleksandrs antonenko performing nov 29, dec 2,5,8,14,21. In many ways, tchaikovsky is one of operas best kept secrets. The queen of spades 3 cd hvorostovsky met opera shop. Arts, opera, the metropolitan opera, pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky, yusif eyvazov, elijah moshinsky. Read the libretto, translated to english, of the russian opera the queen of spades by peter ilyich tchaikovsky on opera. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The queen of spades will next be performed wednesday february 19 at 7pm, and then in 2pm matinees on february 23 and 26 and march 1. The queen of spades as staged by the canadian opera company, will be presented at lyric opera starting feb. Lise davidsen, a 32yearold soprano starring in the queen of spades, has swiftly risen to the top of the field.
He plays the terrifyingly obsessed gherman, an unhappy soldier desperate to know a secret hidden by a mysterious old countess the mystery of winning at cards. The queen of spades 3 cd hvorostovsky audio cd january 4, 2019 number of discs. Feb 16, 2020 the tchaikovsky brothers made sure that queen of spades was a powerful, consuming opera to start with, but the original director, richard jones, chose to heighten and exaggerate the drama. This is a concert performance that took place at the grand hall of the moscow conservatory in december 1989 and featured the moscow debut of dmitri hvorostovsky. His and hers intimates queen of spades anklet jewelry hotwife, queen, hot wife, bracelet, infinity,necklace, bbc, qos, mfm, swinger, cuckold, polyamory. The gripping plot is set against the vast elegance and macabre allure of st. A neardefinitive performance of majestic score a neardefinitive performance of. Lise davidsen, a young norwegian soprano who only 10 years ago started singing operas, makes the highly anticipated met opera debut with the role of lisa, an innocent soul who is used by the protagonist in his obsession with the gambling secret known only to the old. The queen of spades 2019 cinemas royal opera house. The queen of spades at royal opera house, in pictures. Anyone familiar with the composers ballets, symphonies, and other operas is sure to revel in a score that.
The queen of spades is one of tchaikovskys most impressive and varied scores, containing grand choruses, intimate arias and duets such as liza and. A commission by the director of the imperial theaters, vsevolozhsky, stirred his creative juices, however, and he finished the operas three acts and five scenes in five months. At first the whole format of reading a teleprompter with the singing was a little weird, but after about 30 minutes it felt pretty natural. Instead, tchaikovsky uses the orchestra, especially the brass section, to full, dramatic effect in the climactic ending of each scene. Pushkin wrote the story in autumn 1833 in boldino, and it was first published in the literary magazine biblioteka dlya chteniya in march 1834 the story was the basis of the operas the queen of spades 1890 by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky. The queen of spades is a short story with supernatural elements by russian author alexander pushkin, written in 1833 and published in 1834 in the literary magazine biblioteka dlya chteniya. What is the deciding factor in a mans fate love, which liberates from obsession, or the magnetic thrill of a game, which subjects the will with an iron fist. The opera was tchaikovskys, the queen of spades, pique dame. A work of extreme moods and colors, the queen of spades explores lifes frivolities as well as the darkest impulses of obsession, addiction, madness, and selfdestruction. Sir andrew davis comes full circle at lyric opera with queen. The tension turns truly unnerving as ghermans obsession. It is rare when four of the bolshois greatest stars appear together in their home theatre in one of russian operas masterpieces. Sometimes it is known by its german title pique dame when tchaikovsky went to paris in 1876, he saw bizets opera carmen. Michael coopercourtesy of canadian opera company theres a big storm.
Pushkin wrote the story in autumn 1833 in boldino, and it was first published in the literary magazine biblioteka dlya chteniya in march 1834 the story was the basis of the operas the queen of spades 1890 by pyotr. These two operas, which not only share a place at the top of the composers creative output, also happen to premiere on march 29. Tchaikovsky is undeniably one of the greatest composers of all time and there is no doubt that his two greatest operas are eugene onegin and the queen of spades. The passion consuming the central figure of the queen of spades illuminates this opera, one of peter ilyich tchaikovskys greatest achievements. The lyric operas revival of peter ilyich tchaikovskys 1890 opera the queen of spades, directed by benjamin davis, will fit into the wtf category for many attendeesbut not necessarily in a bad way.
Stefan herheims spectacular production places tchaikovsky himself at the heart of the action, and. Anyone familiar with the composers ballets, symphonies, and other operas is sure to revel in a score that communicates. The queen of spades is a truly challenging opera to cast, relying on a top tenor that can navigate a complex role. Review of lyric operas queen of spades it appeals more. He plays the terrifyingly obsessed gherman, an unhappy soldier desperate to know a secret hidden by a mysterious old countessthe mystery of winning at cards. Its not often these days that a debut leads the marquee in a performance at the metropolitan opera. Queen of spades was the first opera andrew davis conducted at lyric opera in 2000 so the current revival marks a coming full circle of sorts for the companys outgoing music director.
The queen of spades opera simple english wikipedia. This elibron classics replica edition is an unabridged facsimile of the edition published by p. Jan 22, 2019 the queen of spades 2019 22 january 2019. Pushkin novel queen of spades and the libretto was done by tchaikovskys brother modest. Tchaikovskys the queen of spades pushkins grim tale of greed and obsession gets even darker in tchaikovskys opera, the queen of. Tchaikovskys the queen of spades pushkins grim tale of greed and obsession gets even darker in tchaikovskys opera, the queen of spades. The queen of spades plays through march 1 at lyric opera, 20 n. Thanks to pyotr tchaikovskys outstanding talent, the love triangle between herman, liza and the countess captivates. Pushkins gothic novella pikovaya dama, written in 1833, had been adapted twice before.
Box set firma melodiya presents a unique live recording of pyotr tchaikovskys the queen of spades. The queen of spades opera simple english wikipedia, the. Davis led the lyric opera in a rich and idiomatic performance of tchaikovskys darkhued score, which in its varied expression and sensitivity was finer than. In its depiction of madness, it is reminiscent of donizettis lucia di lammermoor, yet without the bel canto vocal fireworks. The queen of spades 3 cd hvorostovsky cds met opera shop. Flanking him are a plethora of other signature roles for two baritones, two mezzosopranos, and a soprano.
It is rare when four of the bolshois greatest stars appear together in their home theatre in one of russian opera s masterpieces. Dec 06, 2019 the queen of spades is a truly challenging opera to cast, relying on a top tenor that can navigate a complex role. Based on a short story by aleksandr pushkin, the libretto for the queen of spades was written by the composer in collaboration with his brother modest. The composer was already 11 years older between operas and the second work is far more nuanced in its orchestral colors and how the. Feb 17, 2020 queen of spades was the first opera andrew davis conducted at lyric opera in 2000 so the current revival marks a coming full circle of sorts for the companys outgoing music director. Based on a short story by pushkin and fashioned into a libretto by the composers brother modest, the queen of spades was composed two years tchaikovsky originally rejected the subject as uninspiring. Sir andrew davis comes full circle at lyric opera with. With a libretto written by the composers brother, modest, this tale of terror, with a plot involving obsessive. The queen of spades is one of tchaikovskys most impressive and varied scores, containing grand choruses, intimate arias and duets such as liza and ghermans passionate act i love duet, a masquerade paying tribute to mozart and a terrifying supernatural episode. The summer garden in st petersburg in the time of catherine ii late 18th century it is a fine spring day and everyone is promenading in the park. From lise davidsen on down, everyone involved in queen of spades deserves praise.
The queen of spades is a strange, yet haunting opera. Lise davidsens memorable debut leads strong cast in mets. Tchaikovskys most ambitious opera contains some of his greatest music and is a powerful study of destructive obsession. Lise davidsen and yusif eyvazov in tchakovskys the queen of spades at the metropolitan opera. Language sung in russian with projected english translations. Petersburg, which functions almost as a character itself. As with eugene onegin eleven years prior, tchaikovsky found his inspiration in alexander pushkins work. The story centers on an elderly countess who is a skilled gambler. If you are open to new experiences and want to see things you likely have never seen on a stage, and may never see again, then this may just be the right opera for you. With yelena obraztsova, juri mazurok, vladimir atlantov, tamara malashkina. When tchaikovsky went to paris in 1876, he saw bizets opera carmen.
Jan 04, 2008 tchaikovskys the queen of spades pushkins grim tale of greed and obsession gets even darker in tchaikovskys opera, the queen of spades. Feb 18, 2020 the queen of spades is playing at the lyric opera house through march 1st and it made me a fan of opera. A oneinamillion voice arrives at the met opera the. The young soprano lise davidsen will be a fixture at the metropolitan opera. He seems obsessed with gambling, watching his friends play all night, though he never plays himself. As he heads into his final season in that job hell depart in 2021, this production is an. Finally, a good performance of the queen of spades doesnt just feature solid singing, but an overall visual immersion that can.
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