Chelsea Opera Group’s subsequent live performance at Cadogan Hall shall be The Oprichnik (The Guardsman), an early, hardly ever carried out opera by Tchaikovsky. Written within the early 1870s, it premiered on the Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg, on 24 April 1874.
The opera is a romantic tragedy set in sixteenth century Moscow through the reign of Tsar Ivan the Terrible and his feared bodyguards, the Oprichniki. At the centre of the dramatic narrative is younger boyar Andrey Morozov, who decides to hitch the Oprichniki – Ivan the Terrible’s private guards–in order that he might acquire justice from the Tsar for the wrongs dedicated by Prince Zhemchuzhnïy, who killed Andrey’s father, thus leaving the boy and his mom, Princess Morozova, residing in poverty. Andrey is also secretly in love with Zhemchuzhnïy’s daughter Natalya, whom her father has promised to the aged Molchan (a destiny she is determined to flee). Andrey succeeds in driving off Zhemchuzhnïy, however when Morozova learns that her son has taken the blood oath of the Oprichniki, she disowns him, laying a deathly curse on his head. Nevertheless, Natalya and Andrey are glad collectively eventually–that’s till Andrey is named upon to meet his oath by submitting to the Tsar’s demand for a personal go to together with his new bride. Andrey revolts and is executed for his disloyalty. Morozova’s curse is fulfilled.
Despite the composer’s personal reservations, the primary manufacturing of The Oprichnik in St Petersburg was a major triumph.
This is a superb alternative to listen to this thrilling work by one of many world’s best composers, within the first UK efficiency this century.
The conductor shall be James Ham, with Yvonne Howard as Boyarinya Morozova, the widow, Stephen Richardson as Prince Zhemchuzhnyi, Brian Smith Walters as Andrey Morozov, Seljan Nasibli as Natalya, Aidan Smith as Molchan Mitkov, the bridegroom of Natalya, Emma Stannard as Basmanov, a younger oprichnik, and Elinor Rolfe Johnson as Zakharyevna.
There shall be a pre-performance discuss within the corridor for ticket holders at 5.45pm, to be given by Bruno Bower.
The Oprichnik – a live performance efficiency in Russian with English surtitles – Cadogan Hall, 7pm Saturday eleventh March 2023 (length: approx. 3 hours incl. interval).
Boyarïnya Morozova, the widow – Yvonne Howard
Andrey Morozov, a boyar, her son – Brian Smith Walters
Prince Zhemchuzhnïy – Stephen Richardson
Natalya, his daughter – Seljan Nasibli
Molchan Mitkov, the meant bridegroom of Natalya – Aidan Smith
Basmanov, a younger oprichnik – Emma Stannard
Prince Vyazminsky – Nicholas Lester
Zakharyevna, a nurse – Elinor Rolfe Johnson
The orchestra and refrain of Chelsea Opera Group
James Ham – conductor