The Tsar's Bride (Russian: Царская невеста, Tsarskaya nevesta) is an opera in four acts by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, the composer's tenth opera. The libretto, by Ilia Tyumenev, is based on the drama of the same name by Lev Mey. Mey's play was first suggested to the composer as an opera subject in 1868 by Mily Balakirev. (Alexander Borodin, too, once toyed with the idea.) However, the opera was not composed until thirty years later, in 1898. The first performance of the opera took place in 1899 at the Moscow theater of the Private Opera of S.I. Mamontov.
Librettist | Ilia Tyumenev (Based on the drama "The Tsar's Bride" by Lev Mey) |
Date of composition | 1898 |
Premiered | 1899 (Private Opera Society) in Moscow, Russia |
Type | Opera |
Approx. duration | 150 minutes |
Spoken language | Russian |
Instruments |
Voice (Bass)
- Vasily Stepanovich Sobakin, Novgorodian merchant
Voice (Soprano) - Marfa, Sobakin's daughter Voice (Baritone) - Grigory Gryaznoy, an oprichnik Voice (Bass) - Malyuta Skuratov, an oprichnik Voice (Tenor) - Boyar Ivan Sergeyevich Lïkov Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Lyubasha Voice (Tenor) - Yelisey Bomeliy, the Tsar's physician Voice (Soprano) - Domna Ivanovna Saburova, a merchant woman Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Dunyasha, Saburova's daughter, Marfa's girlfriend Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Petrovna, the Sobakins' housekeeper Voice (Bass) - The Tsar's stoker Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - A maiden Voice (Tenor) - A young lad Chorus/Choir - Two distinguished horsemen, riders, oprichniki, male and female choristers, dancers, boyars and boyarïnyas, maidens, servants, people. Orchestra |
Autotranslations beta |
Nikolaï Rimski-Korsakov: The Tsar's Bride Nikolaj Andreevič Rimskij-Korsakov: The Tsar's Bride Nikolai Andrejewitsch Rimski-Korsakow: The Tsar's Bride |