Tale of seduction, revenge at the National Opera
The National Opera dives into Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s tragic love story «The Czar’s Bride,» with an impressive production of the opera at the Olympia Theater. The first performance is tonight, and then on Sunday and March 13, 15 and 17. Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) wrote 15 operas, the most famous of which is «The Golden Cockerel,» though he was more known for his rich orchestral works. He wrote «The Czar’s Bride» in 1853, inspired by Ivan the Terrible’s marriage to Marfa Sobakina, a merchant’s daughter. The plot of the opera revolves around Marfa, who was initially betrothed to Lykov. Gryaznov – a rather objectionable character – flirts with her but, unable win her from Lykov, resorts to a love potion. His attentions to Marfa awaken the envy of his own mistress, Lyubasha, who, in turn, sells her body to buy another potion, meant to make Marfa ugly, to replace the first. In the meantime, the czar has taken a liking to Marfa and chooses her for his wife without knowing that she has been poisoned. The curtain falls on a dramatic scene in which Gryaznov and Lyubasha confess their deeds to one another, Gryaznov kills his evil lover and Marfa goes mad, all to the melodic and richly orchestrated score by Rimsky-Korsakov. «The Czar’s Bride» was first performed in 1899 at the Soldovnikov Theater and initially, its Italian-style realism was greeted with skepticism by the Russian world of fine arts. While writing the opera, Rimsky-Korsakov was attempting to create a new musical language by breaking away from the Russian musical forms of the time while also retaining elements of historical traditions. What is rather surprising is that while the female characters are very vivid and energetic, Ivan the Terrible has no lines and appears only once. The music for the National Opera’s production of «The Czar’s Bride» is directed by Alkis Baltas and stage direction is by Spyros A. Evangelatos. The sets and costumes are designed by Giorgos Patsas and the choreography is by Olympia Gelodari, with the choir directed by Fani Palamidi. The role of Gryaznov will be performed by Yuri Ivshin, Marfa will be alternately played by Maria Mitsopoulou and Gina Poulou, Lyubasha is portrayed by Victoria Maifatova and Lykov by Stamatis Beris. «The Czar’s Bride,» Olympia Theater, 59-61 Academias, tel 010.361.1516.
