Prince Igor
| Work data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Prince Igor |
| Original title: |
Князь Игорь (Knjaz Igor) |
| Shape: | Thoroughly composed |
| Original language: | Russian |
| Music: | Alexander Borodin |
| Libretto : | Alexander Borodin |
| Literary source: | Medieval igor song |
| Premiere: | November 4, 1890 |
| Place of premiere: | St. Petersburg |
| Playing time: | about three hours |
| Place and time of the action: | In the town of Putywl and in the Polovtsian camp in 1185 |
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Prince Igor is an opera in four acts with a prologue by Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin . The composer was also his own librettist . The libretto is based on the medieval Igor song . The work had its world premiere on October 23rd . / November 4th 1890 greg. in the court opera of Saint Petersburg . The information on the day of the premiere is not uniform in the literature, which is probably due to the fact that the Julian calendar still applied in Russia at that time.
Emergence
When Alexander Borodin decided to compose a first own opera, he played with the idea of the drama The Tsar's Bride by Lev Mei set to music. This opera was composed by his friend Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov ( The Tsar's Bride ) almost thirty years later . In 1869, the art critic and historian Wladimir Wassiljewitsch Stassow suggested that a scenario he had designed based on the medieval song of Igor be expanded into an opera. Borodin was so impressed by the template that he got to work straight away. However, he did not stick to the matter, instead taking longer breaks to compose works for the concert hall. His main occupations as a doctor and chemistry professor, which took up a lot of time, also hindered his work. As Borodin on 15 jul. / February 27, 1887 greg. died of vascular disease, 18 years had passed and the opera was still not finished. It is thanks to Borodin's friend Nikolai Rimski-Korsakow and his student Alexander Konstantinowitsch Glasunow that we can still hear them today . In two years of work they completed the work in the interests of the deceased.
orchestra
Piccolo , 2 flutes , 2 oboe , English horn , 2 clarinets , bass clarinet , 2 Fagotte ; 4 horns , 3 trumpets , 3 trombones , tuba ; Timpani , percussion , piano ad libitum , harp ; Strings. Stage music : 2 cornets , 2 alto horns , 2 tenor horns , baritone horn , tuba, snare drum .
action
prolog
Image: Place in Putywl
The Russian border town of Putywl is haunted again and again by marauding polovets from the steppe, from which the population has to suffer severely. The reigning Prince Igor no longer wants to accept this and, with his son Vladimir, puts together an army that is supposed to go into battle against the Polovets. For the duration of the absence, he gives his land and his young wife Yaroslavna, with whom he is married in a second marriage, into the care of Prince Galitzky , his brother-in-law.
first act
Image: At Galitzky's court
Galitzky does not adhere to the order given. He would prefer to see himself as the ruling prince. With his numerous cronies, he organized binge drinking at the expense of the state treasury. He harasses the peasants and desecrates the women.
Metamorphosis - Picture: Yaroslavna's room
Yaroslav is sad because many weeks have passed and she still has not heard from her husband. When she learns of the shameful behavior of her brother and therefore confronts him, the latter demands of her to be appointed Igor's successor; but Yaroslavna refuses this request.
Finally a message arrives from the enemy territory. But it does not contain the glad tidings longed for; rather, the princess is told that the Russian troops had been defeated by the Polovets and that Igor was a prisoner.
Second act
Image: Camp
In the Polovtsian camp Konchakovna, the daughter of the great Khan, met Igor's son Vladimir and immediately felt drawn to him. Vladimir is also very impressed by the young beauty, so it doesn't take long before both of them confess their love to each other and swear eternal loyalty to each other.
The baptized Polovtsian Owlur is happy to help Prince Igor escape, but the latter rejects the offer because he has promised the Khan that he will not flee. Even the Khan would be ready to let Igor go if he promised him never to go into the field again. However, Igor cannot reconcile this with his conscience.
Third act
Image: border wall of the camp
Time and again, new Polovtsian troops from Putywl return to the local camp with captured Russians, including women and children. Now Igor decides to break his promise; because the concern for the misery in his homeland weighs more heavily. When Konchakovna learns of the escape plan, she begs Vladimir to take her with her. But your lover hesitates. Then she rings the storm bells. In the confusion that now arises, Igor manages to escape with the help of Owlur. But Vladimir has to stay behind. Khan Konschak is noble and orders his troops not to pursue the Russian prince. He allows his daughter to marry Vladimir.
Fourth act
Image: In Putywl
Princess Yaroslavna laments her grief in front of the destroyed walls of Putywl and looks sadly into the distance. Then she sees two riders approaching, in whom she soon recognizes her husband and his savior Owlur. Released, the two spouses embrace each other. The people rush to cheer their prince. The bells of the city herald the joyous event.
music
Choirs and ballet occupy a large space in opera. The latter has its most important task at the end of the second act in the famous Polovtsian dances , which are often performed by ballet troupes - detached from the actual work. In acts two and three, which deal with the polo-makers, the music is strongly oriental in color, while echoes of Russian church music cannot be ignored in the other acts.
Web links
- Prince Igor : Sheet Music and Audio Files in the International Music Score Library Project
- Description of the work and genesis at Musikproduktion Jürgen Höflich
- Plot and libretto by Prince Igor in German on Opera-Guide's target page due to URL change currently not available
- Libretto in the Russian original language from Либретто опер [Libretto oper]