RIMSKY-KORSAKOV : TSAR'S BRIDE

Radio New Zealand Concert network
Sunday 7th of September 2014 at 6.03 - 
Sunday 13th of October 2013 at 3.03 - 5.35 pm
Sunday 18th of September 2011 at 3.03 - 6.15 pm

INTRODUCTION 
PREVIEW 
SYNOPSIS
RECORDINGS
FILM

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: The Tsar's Bride, an opera in four acts
Vasily Stepanovich Sobakin..... Anatoly Kotscherga
Marfa......................................... Olga Peretyatko
Grigory Gryaznoy..................... Johannes Martin Kränzle
Malyuta Skuratov...................... Tobias Schabel
Boyar Ivan Sergeyevich Lykov. Pavel Cernoch
Lyubasha................................... Marina Pridenskaya
Yelisey Bomelius...................... Stephan Rügamer
Domna Ivanovna Saburova....... Anna Tomowa-Sintow
Dunyasha................................... Anna Lapovskaya
Petrovna..................................... Carola Höhn
La Scala Chorus & Orch, Milan/Daniel Barenboim  
(recorded in La Scala, Milan by Italian Radio)

These notes apply particularly to the film version (1966),
Tsarskaya Nevesta (The Tsar's Bride) (1898)

Vasily Stepanovich Sobakin, Novgorodian merchant     bass
Marfa, his daughter     soprano
Grigory Gryaznoy, an oprichnik     baritone
Malyuta Skuratov, an oprichnik     bass
Boyar Ivan Sergeyevich Lïkov     tenor
Lyubasha     mezzo-soprano
Yelisey Bomelius, the Tsar's physician     tenor
Domna Ivanovna Saburova, a merchant woman     soprano
Dunyasha, her daughter, Marfa's girlfriend     mezzo-soprano
Petrovna, the Sobakins' housekeeper     mezzo-soprano

The Tsar is Ivan IV (the “Terrible”). The deaths  occur in Act 4. The drama is set in Moscow in 1572.
This is a “film”, in which actors mouth the words of the singers. Russian with English subtitles.
Orchestra and choir of the Bolshoi Theatre (Moscow), Yevgeni Svetlanov conductor.
Note that the Tsar neither sings nor speaks whenever he appears; he simply gives everyone the evil eye.
Time: Autumn, 1572
Place: Aleksandrovsky settlement, Moscow, Russia

ACT 1  Grigory GRYAZNOY, a bodyguard (oprichnik), has unrequited love for  MARFA (Martha), daughter of  the Novgorodian merchant Vasily Stepanovich SOBAKIN. His current mistress is LYUBASHA, who is feeling neglected. Marfa is already loved by the boyar Ivan Sergeyevich LYKOV, and in jealousy Gryaznoy arranges to cast a spell on Marfa with a magic potion from Yelisey BOMELIUS, the Tsar’s physician; and Lyubasha has overheard this.

(1) Overture (2) I can think of nothing (3) Malyuta [Skuratov, a bodyguard] has come to see me
(4) Summon your singers (5) Greetings, godddaughter (6) Bomelius, I have a request  (7) Why are you here?

ACT 2   MARFA is talking about her beloved IVAN, with her friend DUNYASHA, daughter of  Domna Ivanova Saburova, a merchant woman (8-10). The TSAR comes riding  by and pauses to gaze at Marfa (11). Ivan arrives  and they go by boat to the Sobakin home (12). Lyubasha  walks through the fields (13); she wants to know what Marfa looks like, and to consider how strong a rival she is (14); she spies Dunyasha at the window of the house, and is somewhat reassured, but then she sees the real Marfa. So Lyubasha also obtains a potion from Bomelius, designed to remove Gryaznoi’s feelings of love towards Marfa, but the price to be paid by Lyubasha is an intimate session with Bomelius.

(8) Introduction (9) Have you seen Ivan? (10) We were neighbours in Novgorod (11) What could that mean? (12) Be patient, dear daughter (13) Intermezzo  (14) Aha! So this is where the dear dove’s nest is (15) See what I’ve come to, Gregory (16) You’ve come. Where is the powder? (17) Those were not falcons gathering on high.

ACT 3   The Tsar inspects a line-up of beautiful Russian aristocratic maidens. (This would be where the craze for Russian brides originated?) Back at the Sobakin homestead, the celebration of the betrothal of Marfa and Ivan Lykov is taking place. Gryaznoy slips a powder into Marfa’s drink, believing it to be the philtre he obtained from Bomelius. (How do these love potions work? How do the chemicals know  that  when they arouse love they are only to apply to the person who had the prescription made up and the person who receives the philtre?) Surprise and horror, Boyars bring tidings of the Tsar’s chosen bride: it is Marfa.

(18) Opening (19) Here’s the mead and the cups (20) Did I not say there was no need (21) You get more, and she gets less (22) Let us sing the praises (23) The Boyars are coming

ACT 4   Marfa, now installed in the Tsar’s palace, has become seriously ill. The Tsar  has been unlucky in love again.  Gryaznoy brings news: Ivan Lykov was accused of attempting to kill Marfa, and  he was executed (at the instigation of Gryaznoi).  When Marfa hears that her Ivan is dead, she goes insane, but sings on happily (the last of the operatic mad scenes for soprano, 1899?)  Gryaznoy admits that he had put a powder in Marfa’s cup, and now that he realizes it was poison he asks to be executed also. Lyubasha confesses that she substituted her potion from Bomelius, and that concoction was given to Marfa. Enraged, Gryaznoy slays Lyubasha, and he is arrested for eventual execution. Marfa thinks he is Ivan, and she invites him to  visit her again on the morrow. Then she dies, and the bodies of the two women are lying on the cold palace floor.

(24) Introduction  (25) Greetings to Boyar Vasily Stepanovich (26) The poor Tsarina’s life is ruined
(27) Let’s go to the orchard, Ivan  (28) It’s more than I can bear

Sunday 13th of October 2013 at 3.03 - 5.35 pm
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: The Tsar's Bride, an opera in four acts
Vasily Stepanovich Sobakin...... Pyotr Migunov
Marfa......................................... Inga Kalna
Grigory Gryaznoy...................... Samsons Izjumovs
Malyuta Skuratov...................... Romans Polisadovs
Boyar Ivan Sergeyevich Likov.. Andris Ludvigs
Lyubasha.................................... Ilona Bagele
Elisa Bomelius........................... Viesturs Jansons
Domna Ivanovna Saburova....... Aira Rurane
Dunyasha................................... Ieva Parsa
Petrovna..................................... Kristine Zadovska
Tsar's stoker............................... Romans Polisadovs
Young Lad................................. Raimonds Bramanis
Latvian National Opera Chorus & Orch/Martins Ozolins
(recorded in the Latvian National Opera House, Riga by Latvian Radio)
Sunday 18th of September 2011 at 3.03 - 6.15 pm 
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: The Tsar's Bride, an opera in four acts
Vasily Sobakin.............. Paata Burchuladze
Marfa............................ Marina Poplavskaya
Grigory Gryaznoy.......... Johann Reuter
Malyuta Skuratov.......... Alexander Vinogradov
Ivan Lïkov..................... Dmitry Popov
Lyubasha...................... Ekaterina Gubanova
Bomelius....................... Vasily Gorchkov
Saburova...................... Elizabeth Woollett
Dunyasha...................... Jurgita Adamonyte
Petrovna....................... Anne-Marie Owens
Orch of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Mark Elder  
(recorded in Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, by BBC)
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