Askold’s Grave (Russian Аскольдова могила – Askol’dova mogila) is an opera by Alexey Verstovsky to a libretto by Mikhail Zagoskin (1789-1852).
It was the most successful of Verstovsky's six operas, and its popularity even overshadowed both of the Glinka’s operas. It is a romantic opera with spoken dialogue, influenced by Weber's Der Freischütz. The latter became popular in Russia after its first Russian performance in 1824. In Askold's Grave the musical characterization of such personages as Vseslav or his fiancé Nadezhda belong to the sphere of sentiment romance. The style of chorus writing is near to Russian folk music.
Performance history
The opera was first staged in Moscow on September 16, 1835, a year before Glinka's A Life for the Tsar. The main femele role was given to the wife of the composer Nadezhda Repina (1809-1897). In St. Petersburg the opera was staged on August 27, 1841 with the famous bass Osip Petrov in the role on Neizvestnyi (Unknown). Until the end of the 1860s the opera received about 200 performances in St. Petersburg and 400 in Moscow. It was still popular during the Soviet era. This was the first Russian opera performed in the United States (in 1869).
A great Russian singer Feodor Chaliapin (1873 - 1938) chosen the part of Unknown for his benefice on March 3, 1891 when he was just 18. This role was regarded as very difficult. The benefice was successful. Chaliapin received 8o rubles and the silver watches. "I became rich!" — Chalyapin wrote in his memoirs.
Roles
- Nadezhda – dramatic soprano
- Lyubasha, her friend – soprano
- Vseslav – lyrical tenor
- Stemid, druzhinnik (combatant) – lyrical tenor
- Neizvestnyi (Unknown) – high bass or baritone
- Torop, young gorozhanin – dramatic tenor
- Vyshata, boyarin – bass
- Yurka, chelyadinetz (servant) of Vyshata – baritone
- Sadko, chelyadinetz (servant) of Vyshata – baritone
- Frelaf , varyag – tenor
- Vakhrameyevna, witch – contralto
- Ghost of Rogneda – dramatic soprano
- Buslayevna, mamka – soprano
- Old visitor – speaker
- Young visitor – speaker
- Third visitor – speaker
- First druzhinnik (combatant) – speaker
- Second druzhinnik (combatant) – speaker
- Tudosha, the girl from the village Predislavin – speaker
- Chorus
Plot
The action takes place in Kiev an the end of 10th century — the first years of the rule of Prince Vladimir; at theGrave of Prince Askold.
Plot
The action takes place in ancient Kiev near the Grave of Prince Askold. The orphan Vseslav, the favourite of Prince Svyatoslav, learned from the Unknown that he is grandson of Prince Askold, the previous governor, and the actual successor to the Prince’s throne. Unknown wants him to betray Prince Svyatoslav, but has no success.
Music samples
listen to the midi at the following links:
Recordings
Score
More external links
Bibliography
- Abraham G.: The Operas of Alexei Verstovsky, 19-th Century Music, 7(1983) no. 3, 326-335.
- Shcherbakova M.: Introduction to piano score of Askold's Grave, 1983.