Iolanta
- This article describes the Tchaikovsky opera. For the similarly named opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, see Iolanthe.
Iolanta (sometimes called Iolanthe in English) is an opera in one act by Pyotr Tchaikovsky to a Russian libretto by the composer's brother Modest Tchaikovsky, based the Danish play Kong Renés Datter (King René’s Daughter) by Henrik Hertz. The play was translated by Fyodor Miller and adapted by Vladimir Rafailovich Zotov. First performance: Maryinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg, 1892.
There are only a few recordings of the opera, and it is rarely performed.
History
Composed after the completion of The Queen of Spades, Tchaikovsky worried that he had lost his creative inspiration after such a large project. He started Iolanta with the final duet in June of 1891, and despite his worries, finished composition in September and orchestration in November. The public reception was quite favorable, though Tchaikovsky was disappointed and felt he was repeating himself, especially when compared to his earlier work, The Enchantress.
Noted arias
- "Why did I not know this before?" (Iolanta)
Roles
| Premiere, December 18, 1892 (Eduard Nápravník) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Iolanta, blind daughter of King René | soprano | Medea Mei-Figner |
| René, King of Provence | bass | |
| Count Vaudémont, 'a Burgundian knight | tenor | Nikolay Figner |
| Ibn-Hakia, Moorish physician | baritone | |
| Robert, Duke of Burgundy | baritone | |
| Alméric, armor-bearer to King René | tenor | |
| Bertrand, doorkeeper to the castle | bass | |
| Martha, Bertrand's wife, Iolanta's nursemaid | contralto | |
| Brigitta, Iolanta's friend | soprano | |
| Laura, Iolanta's friend | mezzo-soprano | |
| Iolanta's servant-girls and girl friends, the king's retinue, the duke's regiment, men-at-arms | ||
Synopsis
- Time: The 15th century.
- Place: The mountains of southern France.
Scene 1. Iolanta has been blind from birth, but no one has ever told her. In a beautiful garden on the king's estate, her friends bring flowers and sing to her.
Scene 2. After announcing the king's arrival, Alméric is warned by Bertrand not to speak of light with Iolanta or to reveal that Iolanta's father is the king. She is betrothed to Robert, who is also unaware of her misfortune. The king arrives with a physician who states Iolanta can be cured, but only if she is told and desires to see. The king refuses the treatment, fearing for Iolanta's happiness.
Scene 3. Wishing to avoid the marriage, Robert and Vaudémont escape to the garden where they encounter Iolanta. Robert, convinced she is a sorceress, leaves to prepare his troops. Vaudémont stays and discovers her blindness. They fall in love, after he explains light and color to her.
Scene 4. The couple is discovered. Vaudémont pledges his love, whether Iolanta is blind or not. The king threatens to kill Vaudémont if the physician's treatment fails. Robert returns, having fallen in love with another. The king cancels the wedding contract, and gives Iolanta to Vaudémont. The treatment works and Iolanta can see!