Rogneda (opera)

Rogneda (

The premiere of the opera proved to be a resounding hit, and the work remained extremely popular through the end of the Russian Empire.

Roles

• (
  Vladimir) Krasnoye Solnyshko [i.e., Bright Sun], prince of the capital Kiev: baritone
• Rogneda, one of his wives: mezzo-soprano
• Izyaslav, her 13-year-old son: contralto
• Dobrynya Nikitich, the prince's uncle: bass
• Rual'd, a young
  Varangian, a Christian: tenor
• Ingerd: tenor
• Drulav: bass
• Old Man Wanderer: bass
• Supreme Priest of Perun: bass
• The Prince's Jester, a merry skomorokh: tenor
• Skul'da, a Varangian witch: mezzo-soprano
• Mal'frida, one of Rogneda's slaves: soprano
• Izyaslav's Nurse: soprano
• Master of Hounds: baritone
• 1st Hunter: tenor
• 2nd Hunter: bass
• Pechenegs, Varangians
  ; people.

Time: The end of the 10th century

Place: In and around

Kiev

Note: Acts 1 and 5 may contain more than one set of stage decor

Act 1

Inside Skul'da's cave, the Supreme Priest of Perun, concerned about Prince Vladimir's failure to protect the native religion from encroaching Christianity, has decided that Rogneda—upon Skul'da's influence—must kill him. Rogneda enters, already prepared to avenge her father's death at Vladimir's hands. Skul'da's sorcery produces a knife with which Rogneda can perform the deed. The scene changes to a public rite of human sacrifice to the god Perun. When Rual'd, a Christian, prevents the priest from killing the first victim, he is at first threatened with death by the priests; but, after the Supreme Priest finds out that Rual'd, too, has a grievance with Vladimir, Rual'd is spared. (Vladimir kidnapped Rual'd's bride, Olava.)

Act 2

At a banquet there is celebration with Vladimir, who has returned from his successful campaign. News arrives of a failed attempt by Rual'd to rescue Olava, and Vladimir commands that Rual'd be apprehended and killed. When Dobrynya Nikitich defends Rual'd's honorable devotion to his bride, Vladimir at first threatens Dobrynya with banishment, but the court jester manages to calm the situation.

Act 3

In a forest, Rual'd comes upon some itinerant Christians. An Old Man dissuades him from taking revenge on the Prince—who, by chance, comes on the scene with his retinue on a hunting expedition from Kiev. When Vladimir is attacked by a bear, Rual'd saves his life at the expense of his own. This sacrifice, as well as the words of the Old Man—which mention a miracle of salvation during the coming night—makes a deep impression on the Prince. Due to the late hour, Vladimir decides to stay with Rogneda, whose abode stands nearby.

Act 4

In her tower, Rogneda is disconsolate until she hears that Vladimir is arriving. After he settles in, the Prince dismisses his retinue and falls asleep. Rogneda, knife in hand, approaches him, but Vladimir suddenly awakens (he has had a dream of danger) and stops her, threatening with execution the next day.

Act 5

Back at Skul'da's cave, the Supreme Priest in distress consults the sorceress again. Skul'da shows him a vision in which Vladimir commands the people to drown the idol of Perun into the river. Meanwhile, in Rogneda's tower, Izyaslav (Vladimir and Rogneda's young son) intercedes for his mother, causing the Prince to leave his wife's fate in the hands of the people. Called to a veche, the people demand Rogneda's death. Izyaslav's further entreaties persuade Vladimir to forgive Rogneda, whereupon the wandering Christians appear and thank God for Vladimir's conversion.

Publication history

• 1866, Piano-vocal score, Stellovsky, St. Petersburg

Important excerpts

• Varangian Ballad (Act 4): the basis for the Viking song in Sadko (opera)

Recordings

• Sofia Kiseleva (mezzo-soprano) extracts

See also

• Judith (1863)
• The Power of the Fiend (1871)

References

Notes

Sources

• Bernandt, G.B. Словарь опер впервые поставленных или изданных в дореволюционной России и в СССР, 1736-1959 [Dictionary of Operas First Performed or Published in Pre-Revolutionary Russia and in the USSR, 1836–1959] (Moscow: Советский композитор, 1962), pp. 246–247.
• Serov, Alexander. Рогнеда: опера в пяти действиях. Арранжированная для пения с фортепиано. [Rogneda: opera in five acts. Arranged for voice and piano.] Moscow: у П.Ю Юргенсона, дозволено цензурою, 22 July 1881.
• Taruskin, Richard. Opera and Drama in Russia As Preached and Practiced in the 1860s. New ed. Rochester: University of Rochester Press, 1993.
• _______. "Serov, Alexander Nikolayevich", Grove Music Online (accessed 11 January 2006), <http://www.grovemusic.com>^{[clarification needed]}
• _______. "Rogneda", Grove Music Online (accessed 11 January 2006), <http://www.grovemusic.com>^{[clarification needed]}

External links

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