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Program

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Iolanta, Op. 69

Introduction

Scene, "Moi Ptenchik, Iolanta..."

Iolanta's Arioso, "Atchevo eta prezhde ne znala?"

Scene, "Polno, ne nado, rodnaia"

Girl's Chorus, "Vot tebe liutiki..."

Scene, "Brigitta, eto ty?"

Lullaby, Terzetto and Chorus, "Spi, pust' zvuki kolybel'noi..."

Scene, "Prizyvnyi Rog"

Scene, "Tvoe litso besstrastno"

Ibn-Hakkia's Monologue, "Dva Mira"

Vaudemont's Romance, "Net! Chary lask krasy miatezhnoi"

Scene, "Moi Bog! Robert!"

Scene, "Vy mne predstali kak viden'e..."

Scene, "Tvoe molchan'e ne poniatno"

Vaudemont's Arioso, "Chudnyi pervenets..."

Duet of Vaudemont and Iolanta, "Chtoby solntse slavit' vechno..."

Scene, "Iolanta! Iolanta!"

Finale, "Gde ya?"

Valery Gergiev conducts Tchaikovsky's Iolanta

With Irina Churilova (Iolanta), Najhmiddin Mavlyanov (Vaudémontthe) and the Mariinsky Orchestra and Chorus

Cast

Irina Churilova — Iolanta

Najhmiddin Mavlyanov — Vaudémont

Alexei Markov — Robert

Stanislav Trifomov — René

Yevgeny Nikitin — Ibn-Hakia

Yuri Vorobiev — Bertrand

Andrei Zorin — Alméric

Natalia Evstafieva — Martha

Program notes

With the generous support of Madame Aline Foriel-Destezet

A blind princess who thinks that eyes are only for crying is isolated by her father from the world. Her only chance to see and to be united with her love is to learn the one thing her father hopes she never will know…that she is blind! Discover Tchaikovsky’s little-known final operatic masterpiece Iolanta in a concert version performed by a stellar cast and interpreted by the virtuosic baton of Valery Gergiev at the head of the Mariinsky Orchestra and Choir!

Premiered in 1892 at the Mariinsky and a companion work to the beloved Nutcracker ballet, Tchaikovsky’s lyrical and psychologically-complex opera Iolanta was inspired by an 1845 play by the Danish poet Henrik Hertz, and it was the composer’s brother Modest who would write the libretto (which he had also provided for The Queen of Spades). To match the mysterious and at times disconcerting tale, Tchaikovsky created a mellifluous score rich in his signature melodic genius and free of form. A thrilling musical and dramatic experience created by one of 19th century Romanticism's most brilliant composers!

Photo: Valery Gergiev © Valentin Baranovsky

A closer look: featured composers

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Further listening: featured works

Iolanta, Op. 69

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Composer)