Summary Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov. The Golden Cockerel
THE GOLDEN COCKEREL
Fiction in the faces, opera in three acts (with introduction and conclusion)
Libretto by VI Belsky on the tale of Alexander Pushkin
Characters:
King Dodon Tsarevich Guidon Tsarevich Afron Voevoda Polkan Amelf’s Cloth Astrologer Shemahan queen The Golden Cockerel | Bass Tenor Baritone Bass Contralto Tenor Altino Soprano Soprano |
The action takes place in the Thirtieth Kingdom.
HISTORY OF CREATION
In October 1906 in the notebooks of NA Rimsky-Korsakov appeared the first musical sketches for the opera “The Golden Cockerel”. At the same time, he announced his intention to a friend, the librettist VI Belsky (1866-1946). The work was very intensive
“Golden Cockerel” – the last, the fifteenth opera of Rimsky-Korsakov, created by him a year before his death. Interest in fairy-tale subjects accompanied the composer in all his creative ways. However, in recent years, he was increasingly saturated with their modern sound, all the more consistently denounced the monarchical power. Already in “Saltan” is shown an absurd, funny and stupid king. Later, “Kashchei the Immortal” takes on an ominous color, becomes a symbol of that gloomy force that destroys all living things, aspiring to freedom – it’s no wonder that in 1905 the execution of this opera resulted in a political demonstration. And, finally, the “Golden Cockerel” sounded like an outspoken satire on the Russian autocracy. The composer did not conceal this idea. In a letter to his disciple, M. O. Steinberg, he wrote: “I want to completely disgrace King Dodon.”
The opera based on the poem of the same name by Pushkin (1834). At the direction
The opera turned out to be really modern: it talks about how rotten the tsarist authorities, creating crimes, violating their promises, torn apart by internal contradictions. These political allusions did not pass by censorship. For the seriously ill composer, the ordeals began, probably accelerating his demise. But for all the requirements to make bills that distort the ideological content of the opera, Rimsky-Korsakov responded with a refusal. “So,” he wrote bitterly, “Cockerel in Russia can not go.” I do not intend to change anything. ” The struggle against censorship continued, the ban on the opera was imposed even by the Moscow Governor-General himself. And yet, after the death of the composer, the premiere of “Petushka” was held. September 14, 1909 in Moscow, at the theater SI Zimin opera was warmly received by the public.
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