Snow Maiden (Opera)

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Work data
Title: Snowflake
Original title: Снегурочка / Sneguročka
Original language: Russian
Music: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Libretto : Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Literary source: Alexander Ostrowski : Sneguročka
Premiere: January 29th jul. / February 10, 1882 greg.
Place of premiere: Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg
Place and time of the action: Land of the Berendeans in legendary times
people
  • The Spring Fairy ( mezzo-soprano )
  • King Frost ( bass )
  • Snow Maiden ( soprano )
  • The forest spirit ( tenor )
  • Häusler Bakula and his wife (tenor, mezzo-soprano)
  • The carnival popanz (bass)
  • Tsar Barendej (tenor)
  • Bermata, a boyar (bass)
  • Lel, a shepherd ( old )
  • Kupawa, a rich young girl (soprano)
  • Misgir, a merchant ( baritone )
  • Jarilo, the sun god (silent role)
  • Boyars and retinue, singers, minstrels, retinue of the tsar, servants, forest spirits, callers ( choir )

Snowflake ( Russian Снегурочка , wiss. Transliteration Sneguročka ) is an opera in a prologue and four acts by Nikolai Rimski-Korsakow , who also wrote the libretto . The opera is based on the fairy tale drama of the same name by Alexander Ostrowski , in which the heroine Sneguročka from the Russian fairy tale is at the center of the plot. The first version of the opera was premiered in St. Petersburg in 1882 , Rimsky-Korsakov himself revised the opera to a second version, which was premiered there in 1898. The second version of the opera is played today. Ballet plays a major role in opera, transporting the fairytale elements.

action

prolog

On a hill near Berendei village

A forest spirit announces at midnight that spring is just around the corner. The spring fairy appears and complains to the birds of their suffering: she has to part with her daughter Snow Maiden, whose father is King Frost. The sun god Jarilo has condemned snowflakes to death by melting. This judgment will be carried out as soon as Snowflake surrenders to an earthly person in love. Only if she spends the summer in innocence, Snow Maiden can see the next winter.

King Frost and the Spring Fairy leave their daughter with a peasant couple. Snowflake feels at home in the village, she especially likes the young shepherd Lel. She has no inkling of the danger in which she hovers due to love that is unknown to her. King Frost disappears to Siberia , and Mardi Gras pops up with the happy villagers. Everyone welcomes spring.

first act

In Berendei

The shepherd Lel sings a song for Snow Maiden, but is too shy to speak to her. Snow Maiden is sad when her friend Kupawa comes by. Kupawa has become engaged to Misgir, who is also joining. Misgir is now making the Snow Maiden beautiful eyes. The indignant bride asks the bees to take revenge on her faithless fiancé. However, the people advise Kupawa to ask the tsar for help.

Second act

Tsar's Palace based on a stage design by Ivan Bilibin

Interior of the Tsar's Palace

Music by Gusli players is played in honor of the Tsar of Berendei. The tsar is worried because the sun god Jarilo is angry with his people. In order to appease him, the tsar decides to declare the following day “Day of Jarilo”, on which the young people in the village traditionally get married.

Kupawa appears before the tsar and reports on their misfortune. The tsar summons the faithless fiancé Misgir, who defends his actions with the beauty of Snow Maiden. In order to increase the plausibility of this argument, he brought Snow Maiden to view. Snowflake also expresses itself, in her innocence it becomes clear that she knows neither love nor the danger that comes from it. The tsar now understands Jarilo's anger and decides that every young man in the village should try to win Snow Maiden for himself. The winner may marry her. That is how long Misgir stays free, and Kupawa and Snow Maiden are also reconciled.

Third act

In the holy forest

The villagers celebrate the beginning of summer in a clearing in the sacred forest of Berendei. Shepherd Lel wins a singing competition. As a price, the tsar determines the privilege of choosing a bride of his choice. Lel chooses Kupawa, he is suspicious of the more beautiful Snow Maiden. Kupawa generously leaves her new groom Lel to the sad Snow Maiden. Misgir is now courting Snow Maiden, but she does not understand his request. When Snow Maiden also observed Kupawa and Lel together, she was completely confused.

Fourth act

In the valley of Jarilo

Snowflake runs to her mother and asks what love is all about. The spring fairy wreaths her daughter and sends her to Misgir. Now Snow Maiden feels love. The Tsar blesses the new couple, but the rising sun endangers the love-filled Snow Maiden. She can just thank her mother for the love, that's when it happened to her. Snowflake passes. The terrified Misgir throws himself desperately into the lake. Lel sings a hymn to the sun, the villagers join in.

Trivia

The asteroid (2998) Berendeya was named after the location of the action.

literature

Web links

Commons : Snegurochka  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Volume 1 in the Google Book Search