Iolanta, Op. 69, (Russian: Иоланта) is a lyric opera in one act by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. It was the last opera he composed. The libretto was written by the composer's brother Modest Tchaikovsky, and is based on the Danish play Kong Renés Datter (King René's Daughter) by Henrik Hertz, a romanticised account of the life of Yolande de Bar. In the original Danish play, the spelling of the princess's name was "Iolanthe", later adopted for the otherwise unrelated Gilbert and Sullivan operetta of that name. The play was translated by Fyodor Miller and adapted by Vladimir Zotov. The opera received its premiere on 18 December 1892 in Saint Petersburg.
Librettist | Modest Tchaikovsky (Based on the Danish play "King René's Daughter" by Henrik Hertz, a romanticised account of the life of Yolande de Bar) |
Date of composition | 1891 |
Premiered | 1892, December 18th (Mariinsky Theatre) in Saint Petersburg, Russia |
Type | Opera |
Catalogue | Op. 69 |
Approx. duration | 90 minutes |
Spoken language | Russian |
Instruments |
Orchestra
Voice (Bass) - René, King of Provence Voice (Baritone) - Robert, Duke of Burgundy Voice (Tenor) - Count Vaudémont, a Burgundian knight Voice (Baritone) - Ibn-Hakia, a Moorish physician Voice (Tenor) - Alméric, armor-bearer to King René Voice (Bass) - Bertrand, doorkeeper of the castle Voice (Soprano) - Iolanta, blind daughter of King René Voice (Contralto) - Marta, Bertrand's wife, Iolanta's nursemaid Voice (Soprano) - Brigitta, Iolanta's friend Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Laura, Iolanta's friend Chorus/Choir - Mixed Chorus ; Iolanta's servant-girls and friends, the king's retinue, the Burgundian Duke's regiment, men-at-arms |
Autotranslations beta |
Piotr Ilitch Tchaïkovski: Iolanta, Op. 69 Pëtr Il'ič Čajkovskij: Iolanta, Op. 69 Pjotr Iljitsch Tschaikowski: Iolanta, Op. 69 |