Join us for a trip to the Bavarian State Opera on this week’s Sunday Opera (9/22 3:00 p.m.) and their recent production of Tchaikovsky’s “Pique Dame” (The Queen of Spades)” which had its world premiere in St. Petersburg on December 7, 1890.
The opera features a libretto by Tchaikovsky’s brother, Modest, and is based on the novella by Pushkin, however, the plot is extensively altered especially surrounding the relationship between the leading man, Herman, and Lisa which disappears very early on in Pushkin’s work.
Hermann (Brandon Jovanavich) seems to be fascinated by gambling although he never gambles himself. However, after hearing stories about an aging countess (Violeta Urmana) who holds the secret to a winning three-card combination in the game Faro, he finds himself compelled to learn that secret.
In order to gain access to the countess, Herman feigns interest in her granddaughter, Lisa (Asmik Grigorian) who is already engaged to Prince Yeletsky (Boris Pinkhasovich). Herman’s world changes as he becomes more and more obsessed with the secret, and he confronts the countess who refuses to tell him anything. He responds by threatening her with his pistol which frightens her so badly that she dies.
Lisa realizes that she has lost Herman to his obsession, and she drowns herself in St. Petersburg’s Winter Canal.
When Herman goes to the casino, he begins betting, for the first time, on the combination that was given to him by the specter of the dead countess: three, seven, and ace. He wins his first two bets with which he becomes more deranged. However, instead of the ace for the final card, it’s the queen of spades, and Herman imagines he sees the dead countess’ face staring at him from the card.
Horrified beyond reason, he begs forgiveness from Lisa and Prince Yeletsky and shoots himself to end his torment.
The cast also includes Roman Burdenko as Count Tomsky, Kevin Conners as Chekalinsky, Balint Szabo as Surin, Tansel Alczeybek as Chaplitsky, Nikita Vokov as Narumov, Victoria Karkacheva as Polina, and Natialie Lewis as the governess. Aziz Shokhakimov conducts the Bavarian State Opera Chorus and Orchestra.
After the opera, we’ll have another treat for you featuring music of Tchaikovsky, reportedly in one of his favorite compositions: the incidental music to Alexander Ostrovsky’s “The Snow Maiden.” Known mostly by a suite of four pieces from this score, this nearly complete version features mezzo Irina Mishura-Lektman and tenor Vladimir Grishko. They’re joined by the University Musical Society Choral Union and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. The conductor in this recording is Neeme Jarvi.
Please join us for an afternoon of glorious music from the pen of Tchaikovsky.
