请输入您要查询的百科知识:

 

词条 The Marriage (opera)
释义

  1. Television premiere

  2. Stage productions

  3. Roles

  4. Synopsis

  5. Recording

  6. References

  7. External links

{{for|the opera by Mussorgsky on the same subject|Zhenitba (opera)}}{{Martinu operas}}

The Marriage is a comic opera in 2 acts by Bohuslav Martinů, to the composer's own libretto, after the play of the same name by Nikolai Gogol. The opera was commissioned for television by the NBC, and the NBC Opera Theatre performed the work's world premiere on their television program NBC TV Opera Theatre for a national broadcast in the United States on 2 July 1953. The opera has subsequently been adapted for the stage and recorded on CD.

Television premiere

Martinů was first approached to compose an opera for the NBC Opera Theatre by the company's Artistic Director, the conductor Peter Herman Adler, and their executive producer, Samuel Chotzinoff. Martinů had already been contemplating setting Gogol's play to music, and his suggestion to Adler and Chotzinoff was readily accepted. Martinů commenced on writing both the music and the libretto. Although the NBC announced that they were mounting a new opera with music by Martinů, they refused to disclose to the press who the author of the libretto was prior to the premiere. Olin Downes of The New York Times described this lack of disclosure as a "dense secret". Of the libretto Downes stated, "The book is effective, funny without being cheap, and it preserves a folk quality with whatever modern colloquialisms are woven in. The simple flavor of the original is not lost."[1]

At its 1953 television premiere, The Marriage was a triumphant success. As usual with almost all of the NBC Opera Theatre productions, Chotzinoff served as producer and Adler served as music director/conductor. John Block directed the production, Otis Riggs designed the sets, and Liz Gillan designed the costumes. Downes wrote in his review that "The production was of an excellent quality in the 1840s Russian costumes and scenic designs, and in the admirable level of the singing and English Diction. The show was produced and directed by master hands, in a way that would have made a less interesting score, less well designed for television presentation, worth while." Downes further praised Martinů for his successful marriage of the music with the text, stating the work "has droll characterization, adroit instrumental commentary, and certain motival phrases that bind the beginning and the end of the opera amazingly together."[1]

Stage productions

The Marriage was first performed in a live theatrical production on 31 March 1954, at the Hamburg State Opera, Germany, when it was conducted by Horst Stein. A revised version of the opera premiered was premiered by Theater Bonn on 21 September 1989 with Udo Zimmermann conducting.[2]

Roles

RoleVoice typePremiere cast,
2 July 1953[1]
(Conductor: Peter Herman Adler[1])
Podkolyosin, a government official and bachelorbaritoneDonald Gramm
Agafya, daughter of a merchant and spinstersopranoSonia Stollin
Kokhkaryov, Podkolyosin's friendtenorMichael Pollock
Fyokla Ivanovna, a matchmakermezzo-sopranoWinifred Heidt
Arina, Agafya's auntcontraltoRuth Kobart
Ivan, a government officialbassLloyd Harris
Anuchkin, a retired army officertenorAndrew McKinley
Zhevakin, a retired naval officertenorRobert Holland
Stepan, Podkolyosin's servantspoken roleLeon Lishner
Dunyashka, Agafya and Arina's maidspoken roleAnne Pitoniak

Synopsis

The opera is set in St. Petersburg at the start of the 19th century. Fyokla suggests the 29-year-old Agafya to Podkolyosin for a bride. Kokhkyarov encourages him. They find Agafya attended by three feeble suitors. Both Agafya and Podkolyosin are diffident, so Kokhkyarov does all the talking in persuading each of the other's merits, eventually even proposing on behalf of Podkolyosin. Agafya accepts, but while she is dressing for the marriage, which they have decided must be immediate, Podkolyosin escapes though the window.[2]

Recording

Václav Nosek conducting the Brno Janáček Opera Orchestra, Supraphon SU-33792.[2]

References

Notes
1. ^{{cite web|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0914F93D55107B93CAA91789D85F478585F9&scp=144&sq=+Bohuslav+Martinu&st=p|title=MARTINU'S OPERA SCORES IN TV BOW; ' The Marriage,' Based on Play by Gogol, Offered by N.B.C. in Excellent Production|work=The New York Times|author=Olin Downes|date=February 8, 1953}}
2. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.boosey.com/pages/opera/moreDetails.asp?musicID=5414|title=Martinu, Bohuslav "The Marriage" (1952)|work=www.boosey.com}}

External links

  • {{IMDb title|1697017|The Marriage: A Quite Unbelievable Story}}
{{Bohuslav Martinů}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Marriage (opera), The}}

7 : 1953 operas|English-language operas|Operas|Operas by Bohuslav Martinů|Operas for television|Operas based on works by Nikolai Gogol|Operas set in Russia

随便看

 

开放百科全书收录14589846条英语、德语、日语等多语种百科知识,基本涵盖了大多数领域的百科知识,是一部内容自由、开放的电子版国际百科全书。

 

Copyright © 2023 OENC.NET All Rights Reserved
京ICP备2021023879号 更新时间:2024/11/11 9:16:26