The Maid of Orleans (Russian: Орлеанская дева, Orleanskaja deva) is an opera in 4 acts, 6 scenes, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It was composed during 1878–1879 to a Russian libretto by the composer, based on several sources: Friedrich Schiller’s The Maid of Orleans as translated by Vasily Zhukovsky; Jules Barbier’s Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc); Auguste Mermet’s libretto for his own opera; and Henri Wallon’s biography of Joan of Arc. Dedicated to conductor Eduard Nápravník, this work represents the composer's closest approach to French grand opera, albeit in the Russian language, notably with its inclusion of a ballet in Act 2.
| Librettist | Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Based on several sources: "The Maid of Orleans" by Friedrich Schiller; "Jeanne d’Arc" (Joan of Arc) by Jules Barbier; Auguste Mermet’s libretto for his own opera; and Henri Wallon’s biography of Joan of Arc.) |
| Date of composition | 1879 (1878-1879) |
| Premiered | 1881, February 25th (Mariinsky Theatre) in Saint Petersburg, Russia |
| Dedicated to | Dedicated to Eduard Nápravník |
| Type | Opera |
| Approx. duration | 156 minutes |
| Spoken language | Russian |
| Instruments |
Voice (Tenor)
- King Charles VII
Voice (Bass) - The Archbishop Voice (Tenor) - The Pope Voice (Baritone) - Dunois, a French knight Voice (Baritone) - Lionel, a Burgundian knight Voice (Bass) - Thibaut d'Arc, Joan's father Voice (Tenor) - Raymond, Joan's betrothed Voice (Bass) - Bertrand, a peasant Voice (Bass) - Soldier Voice (Soprano) - (or mezzo-soprano) Joan of Arc Voice (Soprano) - Agnès Sorel Voice (Soprano) - Angel, solo voice in the choir of angels Chorus/Choir - Mixed Chorus ; Courtiers and ladies, French and English soldiers, knights, monks, Gypsies, pages, buffoons, dwarfs, minstrels, executioners, people Orchestra |
| Autotranslations beta |
Piotr Ilitch Tchaïkovski: The Maid of Orleans Pëtr Il'ič Čajkovskij: The Maid of Orleans Pjotr Iljitsch Tschaikowski: The Maid of Orleans |