The Oprichnik

The Oprichnik («Опричник», ), also translated as The Guardsman, is an opera in 4 acts, 5 scenes, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to his own libretto after the tragedy The Oprichniks (Опричники) by Ivan Lazhechnikov (1792–1869). The subject of the opera is the oprichniks. It is set in Ivan the Terrible's court during the oprichnina times (1565–1573).

Tchaikovsky worked on the opera from February 1870 - March 1872. It includes music from his early opera The Voyevoda (1869). The work is dedicated to the Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich Romanov. It was given its premiere performance at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg on 24 April 1874, followed by the Moscow premiere on 16 May 1874 at the Bolshoi Theatre.

Instrumentation
Source: Tchaikovsky Research
 * Strings: Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Cellos, and Double Basses
 * Woodwinds: Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets (1 in B-flat, 1 in A), 2 bassoons
 * Brass: 4 Horns (in F), 2 Trumpets (in D, F, and C), 3 Trombones, Tuba
 * Percussion: Timpani, Triangle, Cymbals, Bass Drum
 * Other: Harp

Synopsis

 * Introduction.

Act 1

 * No. 1 &mdash; Scena
 * No. 2 &mdash; Chorus of Maidens
 * No. 2a – Natalya's Song
 * No. 3 &mdash; Scena & Chorus
 * No. 4 &mdash; Scena & Chorus
 * No. 5 &mdash; Recitatives
 * No. 5a – Basmanov's Arioso
 * No. 6 &mdash; Natalya's Arioso
 * No. 6a – Chorus of Maidens

Act 2
Entr'acte
 * No. 7 &mdash; Scena & Morozova's Aria
 * No. 8 &mdash; Scena & Duet
 * No. 9 &mdash; Prelude, Scena & Finale
 * No. 9a – Prince Vyazminsky's Aria
 * No. 9b – Andrey's Aria

Act 3
Entr'acte
 * No. 10 - Chorus of People
 * No. 11 - Recitatives, Chorus of Boys & Duet
 * No. 12 - Scena
 * No. 12a-Natalya's Arioso
 * No. 13 - Finale

Act 4

 * No. 14 - Wedding Chorus
 * No. 15 - Dances of Oprichniks & Women
 * No. 16 - Recitatives, Chorus & Duet
 * No. 17 - Chorus & Scena
 * No. 18 - Scena & Quartet
 * No. 19 - Closing Scena

Note: The entr'acte to Act II may have been written and scored by Vladimir Shilovsky.

Derived works
Arrangements by the composer


 * Numbers from the opera for voices with piano accompaniment (1873)
 * Funeral March on Themes from the Opera The Oprichnik (1877, lost)

Recordings

 * 1948, Alexei Korolyov (Prince Zhemchuzny), Natalya Rozhdestvenskaya (Natalya), Vsevolod Tyutyunnik (Molchan Mitkov), Lyudmila Legostayeva (Boyarina Morozova), Dmitri Tarkhov (Andrei Morozov), Zara Dolukhanova (Basmanov), Konstantin Polyaev (Prince Vyazminsky), Antonina Kleschtschova (Zakharyevna). Moscow Radio Choir and Orchestra, Aleksander Orlov (conductor). Melodiya, reissued Pristine Classics
 * 1980, Evgeny Vladimirov (Prince Zhemchuzny), Tamara Milashkina (Natalya), Vladimir Matorin (Molchan Mitkov), Larisa Nikitina (Boyarina Morozova), Lev Kuznetsov (Andrei Morozov), Raisa Kotova (Basmanov), Oleg Klyonov (Prince Vyazminsky), Nina Derbina (Zakharyevna). Chorus and Orchestra of the Central Television and Radio of the USSR, Gennady Provatorov (conductor). Aquarius.
 * 2003, Vassily Savenko (Prince Zhemchuzhny), Elena Lassoskaya (Natalya), Dmitri Ulyanov (Molchan Mitkov), Irina Dolzhenko (Boyarina Morozova), Vsevolod Grivnov (Andrei Morozov), Alexandra Durseneva (Basmanov), Vladimir Ognovienko (Prince Vyazminsky), Cinzia de Mola (Zakharyevna). Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, Gennady Rozhdestvensky (conductor). Dynamic, reissued Brilliant.