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Sadko (opera)

 

 
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Sadko (opera)
 
 
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Sadko (, the name of the main character) is an operaOpera

Opera is a dramatic art form, originating in Italy, in which the emotional content or primary entertainment is conveyed to ...
 in seven scenes by Nikolai Rimsky-KorsakovNikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov, also Nikolay, Nicolai, and Rimsky-Korsakoff, was a Russian composer, one of...
. The librettoLibretto

A libretto is the complete study of words used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or sec...
 was written by the composer, with assistance from Vladimir Belsky, Vladimir Stasov, and others. Rimsky-Korsakov was first inspired by the bilinaBylina

Bylina is a traditional epic, heroic narrative poetry of early East Slavs of Kievan Rus, the tradition continued in Russia a...
 of SadkoSadko

----Sadko was a mythical hero of a Russian bylina with the same name, a merchant and gusli musician from Novgorod....
 in 1867, when he completed a tone poemSymphonic poem

A symphonic poem or tone poem is a piece of orchestral music, in one movement, in which some extra-musical programme p...
 on the subject, his Op.Opus Overview

Opus is a Latin word for work....
 5. After finishing his second revision of this work in 1892, he decided to turn it into a dramatic work. The opera was completed in 1896.

The music is highly evocative, and Rimsky-Korsakov's famed powers of orchestrationOrchestration

----Orchestration is the study and practice of adapting music for an orchestra or musical ensemble....
 are abundantly in evidence throughout the score.

Performance history

The world premiere took place on 7 January 1898 presented by the Russian Private Opera at the Solodovnikov Theatre in MoscowMoscow

Moscow is the capital of Russia and the country's principal political, economic, financial, educational, and transportation...
. Its conductor was Michele EspositoMichele Esposito

Michele Esposito was an Italian-born musical composer and pianist who lived most of his professional life in Dublin, Ireland...
 and scenic designers Konstantin KorovinKonstantin Korovin

Konstantin Alekseyevich Korovin was a leading Russian Impressionist painter. ...
 and Sergey Malyutin.

The St. Petersburg premiere followed 26 January 1901 at the
Mariinsky TheatreMariinsky Theatre

The Mariinsky Theatre, formerly known as the Kirov Opera and Ballet Theatre and as the National Academy of Opera and...
 conducted by Eduard NápravníkEduard Nápravník

Eduard Frantsovitch N?pravn?k was a Czech conductor and composer, who settled in Russia and is best known for his leading ro...
 with scenic design by Apollinary VasnetsovApollinary Vasnetsov

Apollinary Mikhailovich Vasnetsov was a Russian painter and graphic artist whose elder brother was the more famous Viktor Va...
.

In 1906, the opera was presented at the Bolshoy Theatre in Moscow conducted by Vyacheslav SukVyacheslav Suk

Vyacheslav Suk was a Czech-born Russian conductor and composer....
 with scenic design by Konstantin KorovinKonstantin Korovin

Konstantin Alekseyevich Korovin was a leading Russian Impressionist painter. ...
.

Roles

RoleVoice typePremiere cast
Moscow, 7 January 1898		Premiere cast
St. Petersburg, 26 January 1901
Foma Nazarich, doyen, elder of NovgorodtenorTenor

In music, a tenor is a male singer with a high vocal range....
  
Luka Zinovich, governor, elder of Novgorodbasso  
Sadko, gusliGusli

The Gusli is an ancient Slavic musical instrument, most common in Russia....
-player and singer in Novgorod		tenorAnton Sekar-RozhanskyDavďdov
Lyubava Buslayevna, his young wifemezzo-sopranoMezzo-soprano

A mezzo-soprano is a female singer with a range usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above....
RostovtsevaFride
Nezhata, young gusli-player from KievcontraltoStrakhovaMariya Dolina
Duda, skomorokhSkomorokh Summary

The skomorokhs were medieval East Slavic harlequins, i.e., actors, who could also sing, dance, play musical instruments, and...
bassAleksandr Brevi 
Sopel, skomorokhtenor  
The VarangianVarangians Overview

The Varangians or Varyags were Scandinavians who travelled eastwards and southwards, mainly from the present areas of ...
, overseas guest		bassAleksanovAleksandr Antonovsky
The IndianIndia

India , officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia....
, overseas guest		tenorKarklinMitrofan Chuprďnnikov
The VenetianVenice

Venice is the capital of the region of Veneto and the province of the same name in Italy....
, overseas guest		baritoneI. PetrovSmirnov
Ocean-Sea, the Sea KingbassBedlevichSerebryakov
Volkhova, the beautiful princess; his youngest, favorite daughtersopranoNegrin-Shmidt (Schmidt)Bolska
The Apparition, a mythic mighty warrior in the guise of a pilgrimbaritone  
Chorus, silent roles: Merchants of Novgorod, wandering minstrels, sailors, maidens, inhabitants of the undersea kingdom, people

Synopsis


Time:

Place:

Note: Instead of traditional acts, Sadko is divided in seven scenes, and, as that type of structure would suggest, is more loosely constructed than a traditional opera. The opera is usually performed in three or five acts, depending on how the scenes are grouped:
  • Three acts – 1-2, 3-4, 5-6-7
  • Five acts – 1, 2-3, 4, 5-6, 7


Scene 1

Scene 2 - The shores of Lake IlmenLake Ilmen

Ilmen is a historically important lake in the Novgorod Oblast of Russia, formerly a vital part of the Trade route from the V...


Scene 3

Scene 4

Scene 5

Scene 6

Scene 7

The opera tells the story of SadkoSadko Summary

----Sadko was a mythical hero of a Russian bylina with the same name, a merchant and gusli musician from Novgorod....
, a gusliGusli

The Gusli is an ancient Slavic musical instrument, most common in Russia....
 player (guslar), who leaves his wife, Lubava, and home in Novgorod and eventually returns a wealthy man. During his years of travel he amasses a fortune, weds the daughter of the King and Queen of the Ocean and has other adventures. Upon his return, the city and Lubava rejoice.

Principal Arias and Numbers


  • Song of the Varangian Guest, ????? ?????????? ?????
  • Song of the Indian Guest, ????? ?????????? ?????
  • Song of the Venetian Guest, ????? ??????????? ?????
  • Volkhova's Lullaby, ??????????? ???????


Note: The Song of the Varangian Guest is commonly rendered Song of the Viking Guest. The Song of the Indian Guest became famous under the name Song of India (arrangement by Tommy DorseyTommy Dorsey

*Ship Ahoy*Presenting Lily Mars*Girl Crazy...
).

Selected recordings

1952, Nikolai Golovanov (conductor), USSR Bolshoi Theatre Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra, Georgi Nalepp (Sadko), Vera Davydova (wife), Sergei Krasovsky (King of the Sea), Yelizaveta Shumskaya (Princess), Yelizaveta Antonova (gusli-player), Sergei Koltypin (Buffoon 1), Alexei Peregudov (Buffoon 2), Tikhon Chernyakov (Novgorod head), Stephan Nikolau (voyvode), Mark ReizenMark Reizen

Mark Osipovich Reizen, also Reisen or Reyzen was a Russian and Ukrainian opera singer, lyrical bass....
 (Viking merchant), Ivan KozlovskyIvan Kozlovsky

For the asteroid 4944 Kozlovskij, 1987 RP3 named after Ivan Kozlovsky, see Meanings of asteroid names...
 (Indian merchant), Pavel Lisitsian (Venetian merchant), Ilya Bogdanov (Mighty Old Man). (Melodiya LP M10 01480, 4 records).

Related works

  • Tone Poem Sadko


Rimsky-Korsakov's earlier tone poem Sadko, Op. 5, may be regarded as a precursor to the opera, as it is based on the same story. There are three versions:

  1. Episode from the BďlinaBylina

    Bylina is a traditional epic, heroic narrative poetry of early East Slavs of Kievan Rus, the tradition continued in Russia a...
     of Sadko (1867)
  2. Musical Picture–Sadko (1869)
  3. Musical Picture–Sadko (1892)

Sources