Tchaikovsky
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Variations in "Iolanta" Libretto
Listening to this opera is a very special delight for any admirer of the great composer.
I am fortunate to have an access to four different recordings of “Iolanta”. Each of then reflects uniquely the individuality of the performers and delivers a very satisfying experience.
I have noticed however variations in the libretto lines from one performer to another. All those variations relate to the two scenes in the opera.
In the middle of the Act, after the scene where Vaudemont discovers that Iolanta is blind, the libretto lines are as follows.
VERSION 1 VERSION 2 The Performer Mariinsky Theatre 1994.
PHILLIPS CD 442 796–2
Iolanta - Galina Gorchakova
Vaudemont - Gergan Grigorian
Conductor - Valery GergievPERFORMERS Bolshoi Theatre 1976
Kvadro CD KTLO218/2
Iolanta - T. Sorokina
Vaudemont - Vladimir Atlantov Conductor - Mark EhrmlerBolshoi Theatre 1982
Via Classic DVD 050114
Iolanta - Galina Kalinina
Vaudemont - L. Kouznetsov
Conductor - R. Vartanian
Anna Netrebko – Rolando Vilazon
Duets Album 2007
Deutsche Grammophon B0008845–02
Vaudemont
So deep in your heart there is no desire
To see Light the glory of the Universe?Vaudemont
So deep in your heart there is no desire
To see Light the glory of the Universe?Iolanta
What does mean “to see”?
Iolanta
What does mean “to see”?
Vaudemont
To embrace God’s Light
Vaudemont
To embrace shining light
Iolanta
Knight, what is Light?
Iolanta
Knight, what is Light?
Vaudemont
The splendid prime of creation,
The first gift by the Creator to the world,
A manifestation of God’s glory
The best jewel in His crown.
The shine of the sun, sky, stars
Imbues the world on the Earth,
The whole nature and creatures
With awesome beauty.
Those who do not know a blessing of Light
Can not love so much.
The God’s world shrouded in darkness
Revere God in darkness as in light.
I unworthy have come to know
You oh maiden of beauty
Your girlish slender figure,
Your lovely image and features
Yes it was the prime of the creation,
The best gift given by the Creator to the World.Vaudemont
A splendid gift from the eternal nature
A priceless and sacred gift.
It is an endless source
That brings us enjoyment of the beauty.
The sun, sky, the shrine of stars
Imbue the world on Earth,
The whole nature and creatures with Splendid beauty!
Those who do not know a blessing of Light,
Can not love life.
The world shrouded in darkness
Must have been alien to the heart.
I unworthy have come to know you
Oh, a maiden of beauty.
Your girlish and shapely figure,
Lovely image and features.
Yes, it is a gift from the eternal nature,
A priceless and sacred gift.Iolanta
Your words are so sweet.
I do not know what is going on.
I have never felt so happy.
But you are not right No, no, no.
Knight I do not need light
To give eternal praises to God.
God’s blessing is infinite,
It knows no bonds.
God, blessed and invisible
Is present in a hot day,
In sweet aromas
In sounds and within myself
Can one see chirping of a bird
In a rose bush?
Or a sweet purl of rapid waters
In a sandy river?Iolanta
Your words are so strange.
I do not know what is going on.
I have never felt so happy before
But you are not right, no, no, no!
To embrace the beauty of the Universe
Knight I do not need light.
The nature stays the same
Even if the world is shrouded in Darkness.
The beauty is revealed to us
In a hot day, in night breeze,
In sounds of morning songs,
In aroma of flowers.
Can one see chirping of a bird
In a rose bush?
O sweet purling of rapid waters
In a sandy river?Vaudemont
Yes, it is true.
God’s blessing is infinite.
It knows no bonds.
That is true
Oh you are right,
The truth is shining in your heart.
And in comparison with it
Our earthly world
Is short-lived and unworthy.
I believe one can revere the Creator
Not knowing the blessing of light.
God’s blessing is infinite
It knows no bounds!Vaudemont.
Yes! It is true! It is true!
The nature stays the same
Even if the world is shrouded in Darkness!
That is true, that is true.
Oh, you are right,
The light of the truth shines in your heart.
And in comparison with it
Our earthly world is
Short-lived and unworthy.
Yes, you do not need light
To discover the beauty of the Universe.
The nature stays the same
Even if the world is shrouded in darkness!Iolanta
Can one see a roar of thunder in the sky,
Or trills of a nightingale,
Or aroma of a flower,
Or your voice, or your words?
No, to give eternal praises to God,
Knight I do not need light.
But to become like you,
I would have wanted
To know the light of the Sun,
That prime of the Creation,
The first gift by the Creator to the world,
A manifestation of the G-s’glory,
The best jewel in His crown!Iolanta
Can one see a roar of a distant thunder,
Or a trill of a nightingale,
Jingling of a bell,
Your voice, your words?
No, knight, I do not need light
To know the beauty of the Universe.
But to become the same as you are,
I would have wanted to see a light of
The Sun. I would have wanted to see the Sun,
To see a bright light on the Earth.
A splendid gift of the eternal nature,
A priceless and sacred gift!In the scene, preceding the Finale, the Iolanta lines also differ in a similar way.
The differences between the Version 1 (Mariinsky) and the Version 2 (Bolshoi-Netrebko) are apparent and significant.
The Version 1 promotes a theosophical concept of Creation.
The Version 2 however does not offer a solid philosophical basis.
In poetical terms, the Version 1 appears to be more mature,
And the Version 2 is likely to be a product of a less experienced author.
I believe the Version 1 (Mariinsky) is the original text by Modest Tchaikovsky.
I do not however have an access to a copy of his original manuscript, and can not therefore check whether my view is correct.
If anyone can check a copy of the original 1892 manuscript, please advise me on your findings.
I would appreciate any comments on this uncommon phenomenon that two strikingly different versions of the libretto are being used by performers.
Alexander Geidelberg
If you request, I can supply a Russian transliteration from the CD booklets.
In Soviet times references to religion in Tchaikovsky's works were usually replaced or omitted in publication and performances, and you are correct in your assumption that version 1 is the original text. The same applied to references to the Tsar (unless they were in a negative context), and the use of the old anthem "God Save the Tsar" in Tchaikovsky's works.
Brett Langston
This point is addressed in the blog entry of Myron Yusypovych at the Lviv Opera. You might be interested.
Oksana Wynnyckj
I am grateful to Oksana Winnickj for giving me , as well as other visitors to this website, an opportunity to read an article by Maestro Myron Yusypovich, the Artistic Director of the Lviv Opera.
The topic of this article relates to the history of composition and staging of "Iolanta". It also addresses directly the issue I raised initially on inconsistency in the libretto lines between various productions of the opera.
I find the article has been well researched and well written. It can be recommended as a complementary reading to the history of composition of "Iolanta" (see TH-11 under Works > Operas > "Iolanta" on this website).
Personally it is quite opportune, that I have included Lviv in my travel plan for April next year. And I look forward to be among the audience of the Lviv Opera House when Maestro M. Ysypovich will be conducting this last opera by the great composer.
Alexander Geidelberg
I think, version 1 is a pre soviet version.
version 2 is a soviet version atheist avoiding the word God.
Yours faithfuly
Pardon my english.
Liborio
Yes Liborio, you are quite right. In his article Maestro Myron Yusypovich of Lviv Opera makes exactly the same statement.
A. Geidelberg
Hello
I am looking for an English translation of the whole libretto of Iolanta.
Where can I find one?
thank you
Olga Vassileva
Hi Olga,
http://www.amazon.com/Iolanta-Tchaikovsky/dp/B0000041B9
I think your best bet in getting a copy in English of Iolanta is to buy the opera itself with the libretto enclosed....one of the reviewers mention an English text along with other languages....new go from $21 and used from $14 dollars.....this is an opera rarely performed outside Russia so I dont think you will find librettos in English around for easy availability....so if nothing else shows up I think this is the best way to go...
Albert Gasparo
Hello Olga.
The booklet for the 2CD recording of " Iolanta " made in 1994 at Mariinsky Theatre contains English transliteration and English translation of the libretto.
This set was produced by Philips Classics Productions. Their reference : 442 796-2 PH2 The bar code: 0 28944 27962 7.
Try search Amazon and Russiandvd.com.
A. Geidelberg
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