Send to a friend Popup Player Buy this now on Amazon

Scene from: A Life for the Tsar

Composer: Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka
Conductor: Alexander Lazarev

Glinka, the father of Russian music, wrote only two operas; the intrinsically Russian A Life for the Tsar, a 'national heroic-tragic opera' as the composer described it, and by contrast Ruslan and Lyudmila, a brilliant fairy-tale. To both these works, Glinka brought a narrative strength which became the foundation of the Russian style for both ballet and opera. He pointed the way for the most important group of composers, perhaps in all European music, the Moguchaya Kuchka (the 'Mighty Handful' of Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin, Cui, and their putative leader, Balakirev).

Prior to 1917, A Life for the Tsar was performed at the start of every new opera season in Moscow and St Petersburg. Following the Russian Revolution, the Communist regime renamed the opera after the main character 'Ivan Susanin', and the emphasis was changed from the peasant's life given to save the Tsar for the Russian people, to the idea of Susanin delivering Russia when threatened with attack from the Polish enemy in 1613. The original title has now been restored.

The setting for A Life for the Tsar is Russia and Poland in 1613, a time when the country is threatened by attack from Poland. The central character is Ivan Susanin, a peasant. His daughter Antonida is betrothed to Sobinin, who has just returned from the wars to the village of Domnin, bringing news that the Polish army, which had been advancing on Moscow, has been repulsed.

Sobinin and Antonida wish to marry immediately, but Susanin will not give their union his blessing during their country's current instability. He wishes them to wait until a new Tsar has been elected. Sobinin announces that a Tsar has in fact been chosen; their own landlord, Romanoff. The couple marry amid general rejoicing.

At the Polish headquarters, there is much confidence about the success of the forthcoming campaign against the Russians and a magnificent ball is held. But when a messenger arrives to announce the Polish defeat and the election of Romanoff as Tsar of Russia, the Poles plan to capture the young Tsar at the monastery where he is living. Polish troops arrive at Susanin's house and try to force him to tell them the way to the monastery where the Tsar lives. At first Susanin refuses, but is able to convey to his son, Vanja, that he must ride ahead to warn the Tsar of the danger, while Susanin himself pretends to accept the bribe and leads the Poles off on a different route. When Sobinin hears what has happened, he gathers together a group of peasants and sets off in a fruitless attempt to rescue Susanin.

Vanja arrives at the monastery and is able to convince the servants of the danger which threatens the Tsar's life. Meanwhile, Susanin who has lead the Poles deep into the forest, in a famous scene, makes up his mind that it is his duty to give his life for his country. As day dawns, Susanin admits to the Poles that he has deliberately deceived them. Realising that the Tsar is beyond their reach, they kill Susanin. In Moscow, the crowds are festively dressed and sing the praises of the Tsar, whose procession can be seen entering the capital. Recorded at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, in June 1992.

Cast:
Ivan Susanin: Evgeny Nesterenko
Antonida: Marina Mescheryakova
Sobinin: Alexander Lomonosov
Vanja: Elena Zaremba

Catalogue: 4509920512

Comments

0

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login Now

Search videos:



Videos