S. Rachmaninov. "Aleko". "The Miserly Knight"
The Dmitry Hvorostovsky Festival is a tribute to one of the greatest Russian baritones of all time. It takes place in Krasnoyarsk, the singer's hometown. In 2019, two operas by Sergei Rachmaninoff were performed as part of the festival: "The Miserly Knight" and "Aleko". Both operas are rarely performed.
In August 1903, Rachmaninoff turned to one of the short tragedies of Alexander Pushkin, "The Miserly Knight". The composer adapted the plot, shortening it a little. This is how the libretto appeared, based on which a one-act opera was written. It was first performed on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater on January 11, 1906, under the direction of Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Young Albert, the son of a rich baron, is poor. Usually, a moneylender helped the young man out, but he stopped lending money and advised Albert to poison his father in order to seize the inheritance. In a rage, Albert throws out the moneylender and decides to seek protection from the Duke.
The Baron sits alone in front of chests filled with gold. The miser enjoys the consciousness of his power. Only one thought gnaws at him and makes him shudder - what will happen to these treasures after his death.
The Duke agreed with Albert's complaint and promised to make the miser see reason. He wants to talk to the old man alone, without noise, and asks his son to retire to the next room. Albert, hiding there, hears his father slandering him in front of the Duke; he hears the old man talking about his son's alleged attempt to rob and murder his father. Enraged, Albert bursts into the room and, beside himself with rage, accuses his father of lying. The Baron challenges his son to a duel, who accepts the challenge. The indignant Duke expels Albert and indignantly reproaches the Baron. But the old man does not listen to reproaches - he feels sick, he feels the approach of death. One thought possesses the Baron even at this terrible moment - the thought of the riches hidden in the cellars of the castle. - Where are the keys? The keys, my keys! - with this cry the miser dies...
PERFORMERS:
Baron - Sergey Leiferkus
Albert - Vsevolod Grivnoy
Duke - Andrey Baturin
Jew - Maxim Paster
Servant - Mikhail Golovushkin
Krasnoyarsk Academic Symphony Orchestra
Conductor - Vladimir Lande
"Aleko" is the first opera by Sergei Rachmaninoff, which became his diploma work at the Moscow Conservatory. The opera is written to a libretto by Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko based on the poem "Gypsies" by A.S. Pushkin. The opera was written in the shortest possible time - in 17 days, and was awarded the highest mark by the examination committee. The opera premiered on April 27, 1893 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.
A gypsy camp is spread out on the river bank. Among the gypsies is Aleko. He has been wandering with the camp for two years. The old gypsy, father of the beautiful Zemfira, recalls the days of his youth and his unhappy love. Mariula was faithful to him for only a year: leaving her little daughter, she went to another. The old man's story causes a stormy response from Aleko: he would not forgive betrayal and tried to take revenge. Zemfira, who had recently been burning with passion for Aleko, is sick of his love. While the camp is settling down for the night, the girl arranges a date with her new lover, a young gypsy. Rocking the cradle, Zemfira sings about her old, jealous and unloved husband. "I'm singing a song about you," she throws at Aleko. As night falls, Zemfira leaves. Aleko plunges into bitter thoughts. A young gypsy can be heard singing in the distance. It's getting light. Zemfira says goodbye to her lover. She's in a hurry, but Aleko is already here. He tries in vain to return Zemfira's love and, overcome with jealousy, kills the lovers.
The gypsies come running to the noise. Zemfira's father and the entire camp demand that the killer leave them. Aleko is in despair: he is alone again.
PERFORMERS:
Aleko - Sergey Leiferkus
Young gypsy - Mikhail Pirogov
Old man, Zemfira's father - Mikhail Golovushkin
Zemfira - Elena Guseva
Old gypsy - Olga Basova
Krasnoyarsk Academic Symphony Orchestra
Conductor - Vladimir Lande
Student Choir of the Siberian State Institute of Arts named after D. Hvorostovsky
Krasnoyarsk, 2019