Сharacters in the play
Boris Statsenko performs the role of Robert
René, King of Provence — bass
Robert, Duke of Burgundy — baritone
Vaudémont, Count, a Burgundian knight — tenor
Ibn-Hakia, a Moorish physician — baritone
Alméric, armor-bearer to King René — tenor
Bertrand, doorkeeper to the castle — bass
Iolanta, blind daughter of King René — soprano
Marta, Bertrand’s wife, Iolanta’s nursemaid — contralto
Brigitta, Iolanta’s friend — soprano
Laura, Iolanta’s friend — mezzo-soprano
Iolanta’s servant-girls and friends, the king’s retinue, the Burgundian Duke’s regiment, men-at-arms — chorus, silent roles
Creation
This article is about the Tchaikovsky opera. For the similarly named (but unrelated) comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, see Iolanthe. Iolanta (sometimes Iolanthe) is a lyric opera, Opus 69, in one act by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. The libretto was written by the composer’s brother Modest Tchaikovsky, and is based on the Danish play Kong Renés Datter (King René?s Daughter) by Henrik Hertz. The play was translated by Fyodor Miller and adapted by Vladimir Zotov. The opera received its premiere in 1892 in St. Petersburg.
Composition history
Composed after the completion of The Queen of Spades, Tchaikovsky worried that he had lost his creative inspiration after such a large project. He started Iolanta with the final duet in June of 1891, and despite his worries, finished composition in September and orchestration in November. The public reception was quite favorable, though Tchaikovsky was disappointed and felt he was repeating himself, especially when compared to his earlier work, The Enchantress.
Сontents
Scene 1
Iolanta has been blind from birth, but no one has ever told her. In a beautiful garden on the king’s estate, her friends bring flowers and sing to her.
Scene 2
After announcing the king’s arrival, Alméric is warned by Bertrand not to speak of light with Iolanta or to reveal that Iolanta’s father is the king. She is betrothed to Robert, who is also unaware of her misfortune. The king arrives with a physician who states Iolanta can be cured, but only if she is told and desires to see. The king refuses the treatment, fearing for Iolanta’s happiness.
Scene 3
Wishing to avoid the marriage, Robert and Vaudémont escape to the garden where they encounter Iolanta. Robert, convinced she is a sorceress, leaves to prepare his troops. Vaudémont stays and discovers her blindness. They fall in love, after he explains light and color to her.
Scene 4
The couple is discovered. Vaudémont pledges his love, whether Iolanta is blind or not. The king threatens to kill Vaudémont if the physician’s treatment fails. Robert returns, having fallen in love with another. The king cancels the wedding contract, and gives Iolanta to Vaudémont. The treatment works and Iolanta can see!
Music
- Strings: Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Cellos, and Double Basses
- Woodwinds: Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, Cor Anglais, 2 Clarinets (B-flat & A), 2 Bassoons
- Brass: 4 Horns (all in F), 2 Trumpets (B-flat, A), 3 Trombones, Tuba
- Percussion: Timpani
- Other: 2 Harps