FULL Askold’s Grave (Verstovsky) Documentary Moscow 2023 Bolshoi Theatre
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: Askold's Grave (also: Askold's Tomb, Russian: Аскольдова могила – Askol’dova mogila)
- Composer: Verstovsky Alexey
- Libretto: Mikhail Zagoskin
- Venue & Opera Company: Chamber Stage of Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, Russia
- Recorded: April 2023
- Type: Other
- Singers: Alexander Polkovnikov, Mikhail Yanenko, Azamat Tsaliti, German Yukavsky, Alexandra Nanoshkina, Igor Yanulaitis, Kirill Filin, Alexey Smirnov
- Conductor: Ivan Velikanov
- Orchestra: Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre
- Chorus: Chorus of the Bolshoi Theatre
- Stage Director: Maria Fomicheva
- Stage Designer: Alyona Glinskaya
- Costume Designer:
- Lighting Designer: Evgeny Podezdnikov
Information about the Recording
- Published by: Bolshoi Theatre
- Date Published: 2023
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
- Subtitles: yessubs, rusubs
- Video Recording from: YouTube FULL VIDEO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
Quote from Wikipedia:
Askold’s Grave (also: Askold’s Tomb, Russian: Аскольдова могила – Askol’dova mogila) is an opera in four acts by Alexey Verstovsky (1799-1862) with a libretto by Mikhail Zagoskin.
It was the most successful of Verstovsky’s six operas, and its popularity even overshadowed Glinka’s two operas. It is a romantic opera with spoken dialogue, influenced by Weber’s Der Freischütz, the latter having become popular in Russia after its first Russian performance in 1824. The role of Torop was created specifically for Alexander Bantyshev.
Synopsis
The opera is based on the events of the early history of Russia. Askold and Dir were Rurik’s men who settled in Kyiv in the 9th century. According to the Russian Primary Chronicle, Oleg of Novgorod, the successor to Rurik, conquered Kyiv around 882. He killed Askold and Dir. Olga of Kiev built two churches at the place of their burial. The memorial on the bank of Dnieper River named “Askold’s Grave” still exists.
The action takes place in Kyiv near the Grave of Kniaz (or Prince) Askold at the end of 10th century — the first years of the rule of Kniaz Sviatoslav I, Prince of Kiev (it was Kniaz Vladimir I of Kiev in the novel and also in the newer versions of the opera, however, at the time of the first staging, the ruling representatives of tsar’s dynasty were not allowed to the stage).
Basically this is a love story of orphan Vseslav, the favourite of Kniaz Sviatoslav, and Nadezhda the daughter of a fisherman. They are preparing for the wedding. Suddenly a strange person called Neizvesnyi (the Unknown Man) appeared to the stage. His aim is the revenge for the murder of Kniaz Askold the previous governor of Kyiv. He chosen Vseslav as a tool for this revenge, telling him that the latter is a grandson of Kniaz Askold, and the actual successor to the Prince’s throne. The Unknown Man persuades him to betray Kniaz Svyatoslav, kill him and take his place. But Vseslav rejects this plan. The action is luxuriously accompanied with folk songs and dances.