Mazeppa - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
Information about the opera Mazeppa by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, and the best recordings available on CD or DVD, or for download.
An underrated Russian epic opera, based on the book Poltava by Pushkin. It is musically on a par with The Queen of Spades and Eugene Onegin.
Synopsis
The opera tells the story of Maria, daughter of the magistrate Vasily Kochubey and his wife Lyubov. While girls are celebrating the midsummer festival, Maria reflects on her infatuation for Mazeppa, a 70-year old Cossack chief, who is being entertained by her father. Andrew, a young Cossack, in turn confesses his love for her.
When Mazeppa and her father emerge from the party, Mazeppa asks Kochubey for his daughter's hand in marriage, and when Kochubey refuses due to the difference in their ages, Mazeppa asks Maria to choose, and she rushes eagerly into his arms.
Kochubey knows that Mazeppa is plotting with the Swedes against the tsar, Peter the Great, and decides to unmask him in retaliation for the loss of his daughter. However, the tsar does not believe him, and hands him over to Mazeppa for execution. Maria and Lyubov arrive at the scene of execution just to late to prevent it.
The horror of witnessing her father's execution has driven Maria insane, and she wanders back to her old home, now in ruins. The Swedes have been defeated, and while escaping from the Tsar's troops Mazeppa also finds himself at Maria's old home. He is recognised by Andrey, who tries to kill him, but Andrey is fatally wounded. Maria finds Andrey and sings him a lullaby as he expires.
Recommended recordings on CD
Gergiev/Putilin/Alexashkin (Classics 462 206-2)
A passionate live performance from the Mariinsky theatre.
Kirov Opera Chorus, Kirov Opera Orchestra, conducted by Valery Gergiev.
Cast: Nikolai Putilin (Mazeppa), Sergei Alexashkin (Kochubey), Larissa Diadkova (Lyubov), Irina Loskutova (Maria).
Classics 462 206-2