As it is known, the opera was not a success, and the response by the press was unfavourable. Apparently Ivan Vsevolozhsky and Modest Tchaikovsky persuaded the composer to write, as a way to turn around his fortunes, an opera on the subject of The Queen of Spades ; while Vsevolozhsky assured Tchaikovsky that Nikolay Klenovsky had declined its composition.

Feeling bitter about the failure of The Enchantress , the composer was inclined to accept the proposal but, arriving at Maydanovo , changed his mind. He understandably suspects nothing concerning the subject of our conversation, and is by no means in a position to decline to write the opera himself, especially so because Vsevolozhsky himself has commissioned him. Personally I am sure that Pyotr Ilyich would decline to discuss the opera any further, as soon as he learns all the facts of the matter" [8].

On the same day Modest Tchaikovsky wrote to his brother: He in fact has not even considered declining this subject. As I've said already, now you should not bother with such a petty matter as this subject, but concentrate if not on Romeo , than on some other thing as equally great and splendid" [9]. This tour is very necessary. Without it I would have now as when I have faced failures in the past been busy thinking of how to rid myself of the shame, started to write a new opera, straining myself to exhaustion, and the overall result would have been a poor hastily-written opera.

Ii is most fortunate that my present situation precludes me from commencing a new large-scale work" [10]. In his reply Vsevolozhsky wrote: Your Queen of Spades would beat the 'jacks' [11] that are causing you troubles right now" [12]. Nevertheless it was not Tchaikovsky but Nikolay Klenovsky who commenced writing the opera. Having received the scenario, he told Modest Tchaikovsky: Would you be so kind to start as soon as possible writing the first or another act, as it would be desirable to finish the opera before my summer trip abroad" [13].

Modest Tchaikovsky began to compose the libretto. I am very happy the way this scene looks in general. Had you been writing music for this libretto, I would have been scribbling my poems ten times as enthusiastically" [14]. In all probability Modest Tchaikovsky 's idea of persuading his brother to write the opera based on this subject grew stronger and stronger. After the failure of The Enchantress , I wanted to turn around my fortunes, and was ready to grab any plot, and at the time I was jealous that somebody else was writing it.

Right now though that's all in the past, and first of all in the summer I will certainly be writing a symphony. I will be writing an opera only if a subject becomes available that can deeply warm my heart. Such a plot as The Queen of Spades does not excite me, and I would be able to complete only a mediocre writing" [15]. Advising Modest Tchaikovsky on his work on sketching the first two scenes of the opera, Nikolay Klenovsky wrote: The Princess resembles "Tatiana", as melancholic as she is.


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Herman is energetic, impulsive. The Count is clear-headed, a cold fish. The Prince is grand, noble. Vera is talkative, a real Olga in "Onegin". Have I got all that right? Awaiting your approval …" [16]. He has written already music for the first two scenes. I consider this job almost complete, as it should be very easy to write the last two scenes" [17].

In the letter he reports: Over the summer I will do my utmost to complete it and prepare the orchestral score … The music has already been written for all four scenes that you had sent. It would take no more than two to three weeks to tidy them up. Afterwards I will be able to start composing the music for new scenes … If you have already written the new scenes, send them over …" [18].

In November when Tchaikovsky was in Petersburg , the issue of commissioning him to write an opera on the subject of The Queen of Spades was raised again. The composer gave his agreement. The libretto was discussed at a management meeting, and apparently on the composer's initiative, another one scene was included, that at the Winter Canal. Tchaikovsky himself wrote about this in a letter to Yuliya Shpazhinskaya: In the end I was not just tired, I was completely worn out … On the other hand I have gradually begun to feel the urge to set about my true calling, i.

And right now I. Vsevolozhsky is urging me to compose an opera, based on the subject of The Queen of Spades. The libretto has already been done by none other than my brother Modest for a certain Mr Klenovsky who by the way has not written a thing. I had read the libretto and liked it. And so one nice day I decided to flee everything: Petersburg , Moscow , many cities in Germany, Belgium, France, where I was invited for concert tours, and go somewhere abroad, so I could work with no interference.

I have to tell you that in line with a request by Vsevolozhsky , as well as obeying my own desire, I made a heroic decision: It is difficult, but I like it when something is urgently expected of me, when I write not only to satisfy my urge as an author, but also for the sake of the wishes or requirements of others … I am staying in Florence..

It is 8 days since I started work.

I am working with great fervour, realising that I still can write, despite that feeling I had earlier on; and the opera will be good, if God will extend my life over the next few months" [19]. The composer actively participated in the process of producing the scenario and libretto of the opera.

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He also did the scenario, but with assistance and support from I. Vsevolozhsky , while I was involved as well. And I provided my own versions for some extracts" [20]. At a meeting held in mid-December by the Directorate of the Imperial Theatres, a decision was made to shift the timing of the action of the opera towards the end of the reign of Catherine II. This entailed a complete change to the scenario of the 3rd scene of the opera.

Besides this, on Tchaikovsky's insistence, the scene at the Winter Canal was added. Besides, the audience must know has happened to Liza. It would not be possible to conclude her role in the fourth scene" [21]. The objective of reaching a concise and laconic libretto is supported by expressions made by Tchaikovsky on this subject. Please be as brief and laconic as possible. I'd leave things out". He went on "… the libretto is excellent , and it can be seen that you know music and musical requirements, — and this is very important for a librettist" [22].

The composer reworked the finale of the 3rd scene, wrote the texts for the Prince's aria [23] , Liza's arioso, the chorus "Darling Masha let you Besides the verses of the librettist and the composer, the opera includes lines by Derzhavin in Tomsky's Song , an extract from Zhukovsky 's elegy Evening the duet "It's already evening" , verses and prose by Pushkin from The Queen of Spades in the 4th, 5th and 6th scenes , and also verses by Pyotr Karabanov.

Tchaikovsky explained his wish to include Tomsky's Song by the desire to present "a short characteristic episode in the scene that portrays the customs related to the end of the last century" [25]. The composer himself was involved with writing a foreword to the libretto, having changed it substantially in comparison with the first version, written by Modest , and in particular he provided "the reason as to why Liza was elevated to a Princess" [26]. The story is set in late eighteenth-century Saint Petersburg.

It is good for seven days of work. I feel that the result is not bad… I think I will finish the entire first act in the first half of February, i. Not too pleased about it" [32]. In the sketches at the end of the 2nd scene he wrote: After the 2nd scene, Tchaikovsky worked on the 4th scene, as he had received its libretto from Modest Tchaikovsky prior to that of the 3rd scene.

Sometimes it is very easy for me to write, sometimes an effort is needed. However that doesn't matter. The effort is perhaps a result of my desire to write in the best possible way; and not to be content with the first idea that comes to mind" [33]. On the following day the composer wrote to Anna Merkling: For the intermezzo Modest Tchaikovsky sent his brother two texts to choose from: Tchaikovsky chose the latter: I don't think it will take me more that 5 or 6 days".

Somehow I'm not entirely satisfied with it, — some of its passages are disagreeable, but I haven't been able to change them" [41].

The Queen of Spades (opera) - Wikipedia

Thus the whole scene was more or less composed on 20 and 21 February. The arioso is written" [42]. In a letter to Modest Tchaikovsky of that date he reported: I should be very upset if the 7th scene does not arrive tomorrow. I would hate to interrupt this particular draft. I suspect that the sixth scene has come out right, and I am very happy now that it has been done—without it the work would be unbalanced" [43].

But on the following day Tchaikovsky received the libretto of the 7th scene and started to compose the music for it, having set the introduction aside for the time being [44]: The Brindisi needs another couplet [45]. I will try to write it, and for your part could you come up with something and send it over? Tchaikovsky wrote in his diary: The master of ceremonies announces a tableau of shepherdesses. Liza slips Herman the key to her grandmother's room, saying the old woman will not be there the next day, but Herman insists on coming that very night.

Thinking fate is handing him the Countess' secret, he leaves. The guests' attention turns to the imminent arrival of Catherine the Great, for which a polonaise by O. Kozlovsky is played and sung in greeting. Herman slips into the Countess' room and looks in fascination at the portrait of Muskovite Venus and how their fates, he feels, are linked: He lingers too long before he can go to Liza's room and hears the Countess' retinue coming, so he conceals himself as the old lady approaches.

As she dozes off, Herman stands before her. She awakens in horror as he pleads with her to tell him her secret. When she remains speechless, he grows desperate and threatens her with a pistol — at which she dies of fright. Liza rushes in, only to learn that the lover to whom she gave her heart was more interested in the Countess's secret. She orders him out and falls sobbing.

In his room at the barracks, as the winter wind howls, Herman reads a letter from Liza, who wants him to meet her at midnight by the river bank. He imagines he hears the chorus chanting at the old Countess' funeral, then is startled by a knock at the window. The old woman's ghost appears, announcing that against her will she must tell him the secret so that he can marry and save Liza. Dazed, Herman repeats the three cards — three, seven, ace.

By the Winter Canal, Liza waits for Herman: At last he appears, but after uttering words of reassurance, he starts to babble wildly about the Countess and her secret. No longer even recognizing Liza, he rushes away. Realizing that all is lost, she commits suicide. At a gambling house, Herman's fellow officers are finishing supper and getting ready to play faro. Yeletsky, who has not gambled before, joins the group because his engagement has been broken: Then Chekalinsky leads a traditional gamblers' song. Settling down to play, they are surprised when Herman arrives, wild and distracted.

Yeletsky senses a confrontation and asks Tomsky to be his second if a duel should result. Herman, intent only on betting, starts with a huge bet of 40, rubles. He bets the three and wins, upsetting the others with his maniacal expression. Next he bets the seven and wins again.


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At this he takes a wine glass and declares that life is but a game. Yeletsky accepts his challenge to bet on the next round. Herman bets everything he has on the ace but when he shows his card he is told he is holding the queen of spades.

Seeing the Countess' ghost laughing at her vengeance, Herman takes his own life and asks Yeletsky's and Liza's forgiveness. The others pray for his tormented soul.

The Queen of Spades

List of compositions by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Tchaikovsky with Nikolay and Medeya Figner , who sang the roles of Herman and Liza in the premiere in It is popularly assumed to be the French title. However, the actual French title is Dame de Pique. See Latham p. The New York Times.

Alexander Pushkin 's " The Queen of Spades " Retrieved from " https: Views Read Edit View history. In other projects Wikimedia Commons. This page was last edited on 24 June , at By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Opera by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The Queen of Spades by Alexander Pushkin. Nursemaids, governesses, wet-nurses, strollers, children, gamblers. Cupid , Hymen , shepherds and shepherdesses.