“The Queen of Spades”, opera in three acts and seven tableaux, Op. 68

For soloists, chorus and orchestra.

Composition date: 1890.

Libretto by Modest Tchaikovsky with the composer, after Pushkin’s story. Written in 1890, mainly in Florence, with revisions later that...Read more

For soloists, chorus and orchestra.

Composition date: 1890.

Libretto by Modest Tchaikovsky with the composer, after Pushkin’s story. Written in 1890, mainly in Florence, with revisions later that year. Premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre on 7/19 December 1890, conducted by Eduard Nápravník. Literary interpolations include verses by Konstantin Batyushkov, Vasily Zhukovsky, Gavrila Derzhavin, and others.

Synopsis. Herman loves Liza, the old Countess’s granddaughter and Prince Yeletsky’s fiancée. The story of three winning cards turns his desire for wealth into an obsession. He threatens the Countess with a pistol and she dies. Her ghost names three, seven, and ace. Realising that cards have displaced his love, Liza throws herself into the river. At the gaming table Herman finds the queen of spades instead of the ace; after losing to Yeletsky, he kills himself.

Score numbers:
Introduction Andante mosso
No. 1 (Act I, Scene 1) Chorus of Children, Nurses, and Others Allegro comodo
No. 2 (Act I, Scene 1) Scene Moderato; Herman's Arioso Andante
No. 3 (Act I, Scene 1) Chorus of Promenaders Lo stesso tempo (Allegro); Scene Lo stesso tempo (Allegro)
No. 4 (Act I, Scene 1) Quintet Adagio; Scene Allegro non tanto
No. 5 (Act I, Scene 1) Scene Andante; Tomsky's Ballad Allegro con spirito
No. 6 (Act I, Scene 1) Closing Scene. The Storm Allegro moderato
No. 7 (Act I, Scene 2) Duet Andantino mosso
No. 8 (Act I, Scene 2) Scene Allegro non troppo; Polina's Romance Andante; Russian Song with Chorus Allegro
No. 9 (Act I, Scene 2) Scene Andante; Governess's Arioso Allegro moderato
No. 10 (Act I, Scene 2) Closing Scene L'istesso tempo; [ Liza's Aria ] Andante non troppo; [ Herman's Arioso ] Andante
No. 11 (Act II, Scene 3) Entr'acte Allegro brillante ma non troppo; Chorus Allegro brillante ma non troppo
No. 12 (Act II, Scene 3) Scene Lo stesso tempo; Prince Yeletsky's Aria Andante non tanto quasi Moderato
No. 13 (Act II, Scene 3) Scene Andante con moto
No. 14 (Act II, Scene 3) Interlude (The Faithful Shepherdess); Chorus of Shepherds and Shepherdesses Allegro vivace; Dance of Shepherds and Shepherdesses (Sarabande). Andante; Duet for Prilepa and Milovzor Larghetto; Finale Tempo di Minuetto (Andantino)
No. 15 (Act II, Scene 3) Closing Scene Moderato con moto
No. 16 (Act II, Scene 4) Scene Andante mosso; Chorus Allegro moderato
No. 17 (Act II, Scene 4) Closing Scene Moderato con moto
No. 18 (Act III, Scene 5) Entr'acte Largo; Scene Largo
No. 19 (Act III, Scene 5) Scene Moderato con moto
No. 20 (Act III, Scene 6) Scene Moderato assai; Liza's Arioso Andante molto cantabile
No. 21 (Act III, Scene 6) Scene Moderato assai; Duet Andantino mosso
No. 22 (Act III, Scene 7) Chorus Allegro moderato; Scene Sostenuto (ma lo stesso tempo)
No. 23 (Act III, Scene 7) Tomsky's Song Moderato mosso; Gamblers' Chorus Allegro vivo
No. 24 (Act III, Scene 7) Closing Scene Allegro moderato; [ Herman's Aria ] Moderato con moto

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