Opera "Snegurochka" Rimsky-Korsakov: a summary and the history of creation

The opera takes place in pre-historic times in the country of the Berendeys. Characters: Spring-red, Frost, neighbor boyar Bermyat, Bakula, shepherd Lel, Berendey. In the scenes also participate Snegurochka, Kupava, Mizgir, Leshiy and others. The work is written on the fairy tale of the same name by Ostrovsky.

How was the opera "The Snow Maiden" created?

Rimsky-Korsakov first became acquainted with the work of Ostrovsky in the early seventies of the 19th century. I must say that at that time the fairy tale did not impress the composer very much. In the late seventies Rimsky-Korsakov re-read it again. And then, as the composer himself says, "seemed to see into her amazing poetic beauty." In the summer of 1880 he began to write the opera. Subsequently, the composer recalled that no work was written by him with such ease and speed as the opera "The Snow Maiden." By the next year, 1881, the work was completed. In 1882, the first premiere took place at the Mariinsky Theater. She passed with great success. Ostrovsky himself enthusiastically accepted the production. He said that the music to his fairy tale was so amazing that he could not imagine anything more suitable and exceptionally vividly expressing the entire poetic nature of the pagan Russian cult.

Libretto of the opera "Snow Maiden"

Statement based on the fairy tale of Ostrovsky is a glorification of life-giving powerful natural forces that bring happiness to people. The idea of the work goes back to folk poetry. In the production, in addition, the idea of the greatness of the power of art is embodied. In the production, the real world is contrasted with the fantastic, personifying, as the composer himself said, "periodically acting, the eternal forces of nature." The shepherd Lel, the Snow Maiden, Berendey are semi-real, semi-fantastic characters. "The creative beginning, the origin of life in people and nature," is opposed by the severe Frost. The daughter of Spring and Frost - Snow Maiden - stretches all his soul to the sun, people. The composer truthfully, very artistically shows the triumph of warmth and love, leading the girl to death. This is the idea and the summary of the opera "The Snow Maiden". Next, you should tell more about the narrative itself.

The Magic Kingdom of Berendey

The plot of the opera "Snow Maiden" unfolds on a moonlit night. On the ground surrounded by a suite of birds descends Spring-red. The country is cold, the forest is covered with snow. 15 years ago, Moroz and Spring had a daughter, the Snow Maiden. Since that time, the Sun-Yarilo, angered, began to give the earth a little heat and light; Winter has become severe and long, and summer - short. On the stage appears Frost, promising to leave the kingdom of the kingdom. But leaving one daughter was dangerous - Yarilo only waited to light a love fire in the soul of a girl who would melt it, and she would die. Parents decide to send the Snow Maiden to the childless Bakule-bobyl, to the village of Berendeyevka. The girl is happy - she has long been attracted to people by the wonderful singing of the shepherd Lelya. Frost and Spring leave, instructing to protect their daughter Leshem. A crowd of Berendeyes is approaching. They are cheerful - they accompany Maslenitsa and greet the arrival of spring. Appears from the forest thicket Snow Maiden. Bobyl is glad of her request to take her to her daughter.

Mizgir and Kupava

At the request of the Snow Maiden, Lel sings her songs, but when she hears the call of her friends, he runs away, throwing the flower she gave him. The girl is offended. At this time, Kupava, who is in love with Mizgir, approaches the Snow Maiden. She hurries to share her happiness, says that soon their wedding should take place. According to an old tradition, Mizgir must buy his bride from his girlfriends. But having appeared and having seen the Snow Maiden, he, captivated by the beauty of the girl, refuses Kupava. Outraged by this behavior of Mizgir, the people advise Kupava to ask for intercession with the just and kind king Berendey.

The Royal Palace

Wise Berendey glorified guslar. But the tsar's heart is restless: Yarilo was angry with the Berendeyev for something. To soften the terrible deity, Berendey decides the next day to marry all the bride and groom. Kupava runs into the king at this time and talks about his grief. The irresponsible Berendey orders to bring Mizgir to him and condemns the youth to eternal exile. A young man is not justified, but only asks the king to look at the Snow Maiden. The beauty of the girl amazes Berendey. The king learns that the Snow Maiden does not know the feelings of love, understands what Yarilo is angry for. Berenday decides to announce that the young man who can ignite the feeling in the soul of a girl before dawn will receive her as a wife. Mizgir swears that he can make the Snow Maiden fall in love with him, and asks him to postpone the expulsion.

Lel and Kupava

The next action takes place in the protected forest. In the clearing the dawn burns, Berendey with the people celebrates the onset of summer. Lel sings songs. As a reward for them Berendey offers a young man to choose a girl after his heart. The shepherd approaches Kupava, which upset Tears of the Snow Maiden. Appears Mizgir. He anxiously turns to the Snow Maiden, tells her about his love. But the girl can not respond to his feelings. At this moment, Leshiy blocks the way to Mizgir, enchants the forest and teases the young man with the ghost of the charming girl. Lel and Kupava go out into the empty glade. The girl tenderly thanks the shepherd for saving her from shame. The Snow Maiden who saw this scene is in despair. She hurries to Mother Spring to ask for warmth.

Yarilina Valley

Opera "Snow Maiden" ends with a scene at dawn. Spring wears a magic wreath at her daughter. From that moment the girl knows the feeling of love and, meeting again with Mizgir, answers him with fervent recognition of reciprocity. However, soon the sun should rise and the Snow Maiden, remembering the instructions of her parents, hurries the beloved to run away from the rays of Yarila, who can destroy her. At the same time Berendey appears in the valley with his retinue. With the first rays of the sun, the king blesses the brides and grooms. Mizgir and Snow Maiden appear in the valley. The girl speaks about the feeling that has arisen in her soul. But her happiness does not last long - the daughter of Moroaz and Vesna, having learned love, became vulnerable to Jaryla. The sunbeam, dissipating the fog, falls on the girl. Snow Maiden, even anticipating his death, gratefully refers to his mother for the love she gave him. Mizgir throws himself desperately into the lake. The people in the valley are amazed. However, the wise Berendey understands that the existence of the Snow Maiden violated the laws of nature. With her death, Jarilo will no longer be angry and will return the country's warmth and sun, and life in the kingdom will again become happy. The shepherd Lel and with him all the people sing praises to the Sun.

Music

The most poetic work of all created by the author is the opera "Snow Maiden". Rimsky-Korsakov himself even called it his best creation. In all scenes amazingly sensitive and lovingly reproduced pictures of folk life, wonderful images of folk tales, rites of ancient paganism. The whole opera "Snow Maiden" is imbued with the wise simplicity and unfading freshness of Russian songs, permeated with spring tones of awakening nature and soft lyrics. The introduction of the orchestra to the prologue is a colorful musical picture, vividly describing the flowering of nature, its awakening after the winter: the melancholy, severe melody of Frost replaces the tender, charming melodies of Spring. The composer very subtly and accurately conveyed the moods and characters of the characters. So, the Snow Maiden's song from the opera "The Snow Maiden" "With the bridesmaids to walk around" is a graceful flush of light and gentle voices, echoing the chilly and transparent melodies of the flute. Ritual colorful scene, showing off the Maslenitsa, includes a number of episodes of the folklore folklore. Song Lelya from the opera "The Snow Maiden" - "The strawberry-berry" and the merry dance "As the woods rustle through the forest", opening the first act, depict the people's closeness to nature, fun, and the free life of the people.

The second-third act

In the second part, along with the choral episodes in a fairly large number there are scenes-dialogues. Majestic, calm, unhurried song, which the guslars sing, reminds ancient epic tunes. In the duo of Kupava and Berendeya, the girl's agitated speech is highlighted by the calm and gentle remarks of the tsar. The hymn of the Berendeyes is epically majestic and very solemn. Against the backdrop of the dimensional accompaniment of the orchestra in the Cavatina of Berendeya, a poetic, dreamy melody flows smoothly. In the third act, a large mass stage begins. Young men and girls sing a round-the-clock song, and Bobyl dashingly danced to the melody "The Beaver Bathed." "Dance buffoons" is a virtuoso, full of orchestral colors, a symphonic episode with fascinating folk rhythms. With the shepherd's scribbling of the clarinet, Lelya's third song begins. Behind it is a large, free melody. Inspired by the lyrical arioso, performed by Mizgir.

Final Scenes

In the fourth act, the melody is transmitted by the strengthening of the lyrical feelings of the Snow Maiden. A gentle caressing ear of a girl and her beloved Mizgir pours easily and freely. In the aria, the melody from the prologue is heard again (arietta "I Heard"). But this time the music sounds excited and warm. One of the most touching episodes of opera literature in the world is the Snow Maiden's melting scene. The fragile tenderness of her image is shone with the radiant, majestic sound of the final choral hymn to the divine Yarila. This praise ends the opera "The Snow Maiden".

Sketches for the production

Scenery for the opera "Snow Maiden", made according to Vasnetsov's sketches, were the most interesting of all the set of presented illustrations. First, the artist designed the play based on Ostrovsky's play in the beginning of 1882. Three years later Vasnetsov became the official of the opera production at the Savva Mamontov Theater. When creating sketches, Vasnetsov used architectural elements of ancient Russian architecture, motifs of folk embroideries, paintings and carvings. The artist, using original techniques, created a fairly harmonious image of the royal chambers, presenting them brightly and picturesquely. The basis for costumes served as homespun white canvas. In combination with him, various color solutions of ornaments gave expressive character traits and a decorative effect to the entire production as a whole. Vasnetsov managed to catch the national originality of the work, which quite firmly linked the visual images created by him, with folk song motifs.