Characters and Performers:
Svetozar’s sons, knights, boyars and boyarynias, maids, nannies, boys, minor knights, courtiers who serve up with meals and wines, the prince's armed force, common people; maidens from the magic castle, Negros, midgets, Chernomor’s slaves, nymphs and undines.
B. Asafiev called Glinka’s second opera “russian epic song”. According to his definition, “Glinka turned Pushkin’s poem into a bylina way”. “Ruslan and Ludmila” is a unique phenomenon in its own way. Glinka managed to combine the epic development of the plot with the lyrics of the characters’ feelings.
The impressive sketches of ancient Russia, the legendary images of the narrator Bajan, of Ruslan, Prince Svetozar create the atmosphere of grandeur of the ancient events. The epic composition of the opera is underlined with the plenty of chorus scenes and gradual unhurried development. The fairy and fantasy episodes related to the weird images of Chernomor and Naina make a conspicuous part of the plot. The music that characterizes these heroes is full of subtle Oriental colouring.
The main drama lies in the conflict of Good and Evil. Glinka finds an unusual way to reflect it in music – everything that is connected with something “human”, real and alive is revealed by means of the vocal parts, meanwhile everything referred to magic is characterized by dancing. The negative personages are either stripped of any vocal part (Chernomor) or given a scanty recitative (Naina).
It took Glinka five years to compose this opera (1837–1842). Pushkin wrote this poem in his younger years, and its subject considerably was revised by the composer and his friends. Using the plot of the poem Glinka formulated the idea of the triumph of the light over the darkness, exultation of life.
The premiere of the opera stirred the heated dispute in the mass media. In spite of the strong denunciation in the court circles the opera was highly estimated by both the general public and such great musicians as F.Liszt and H.Berlioz.
Yuri Simonov graduated from Leningrad Academy of Music in the class of N.S.Rabinovch as a conductor and worked at probation with E.A. Mravinsky in the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 1969 he made the debut in Verdi’s “Aida” in the Bolshoi Theatre. In 1970–1985 Simonov was the chief conductor of the Bolshoi Theatre where he established and headed the Chamber orchestra. One of his main merits was restoring Wagner’s music in the theatre repertoire. He also made some important concert tours in Paris, Vienna, New York, Milan, Washington and in Japan.
In the 1980-ies the conductor made his debut with various opera productions in the most prominent world theatres. He repeatedly participated in the international festivals, performed as an invitee with the leading orchestras of Europe. The USA, Canada, Japan, South America. In 1985–1989 Yuri Simonov headed the State Maly Symphonic orchestra.
In 1978–1991 he taught in the class of opera and symphony conducting at the Moscow Conservatory. Since 1998 Maestro has been the art director and leading conductor of the Academic Symphony orchestra of Moscow Philharmonics.
Yuri Simonov’s performing activity in Hungary deserves special attention. He is the leading conductor of Liszt – Wagner Orchestra in Budapest and a permanent guest conductor of the State Orchestra of Hungary and the Hungarian National Opera. Since 1994 Maestro has given summer master classes for conductors in Budapest. He was awarded many times for his contribution to the development of music.
The legendary Russian singer Evgeni Nesterenko graduated from Leningrad Rimsky-Korsakov Academy of Music in the class of professor Lukanin. The musician’s creative life started in Mali Opera House, and then he sang Kirov Theatre in Leningrad and in the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Russia. During 40 years of his career he performed a great number of opera parts. The leading parts in the operas of the prominent Russian composers such as Glinka, Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rakhmaninov and Prokofiev are among his best vocal works. At present the singer lives and works mostly in Vienna. This year Nesterenko celebrates his 70th jubilee.
Bella Rudenko, an outstanding operatic singer (lyrical coloratura soprano) finished Odessa Academy of Music in 1956. The peak of her performing and artistic talent fell at the time when she sang in the Bolshoi Theatre (1973–1988). The masterly trainingof the charming voice, the subtle musical taste and the deep penetration into the composer’s conception was reflected to the full in her treatment of Ludmila’s image in M. Glinka’s opera “Ruslan and Ludmila”. The opera was staged in a new version by the Bolshoi Company in 1972. Bela Rudenko is rightly considered to be one of the best performers of this part in the history of the opera.
SYNOPSIS
Act I
The wedding party at Kiev prince Svetozar’s mansion is at full swing. He gives his daughter Ludmila in marriage to the courageous knight Ruslan. The guests sing praises to the young couple. Only two of Ruslan’s rivals are sad – boastful but cowardly Farlaf and passionate and dreamy Ratmir: they have been turned down. However, the merrymaking falls into silence – everybody listens to Bajan, the singer. Bajan foretells Ruslan and Ludmila’s fortune. Greif and misfortune are ahead but the power of love will shatter all impediments to happiness: “Grief follows happiness; sorrow paves the way for joy.” In his next song Bajan appeals to the distant future. Through the haze of centuries he has a vision of a coming singer who will sing praise to Ruslan and Ludmila and will glorify his Motherland.
Ludmila is sad at the thought of leaving her father, her native Kiev. She jokingly tries to give the words of comfort to her unsuccessful suitors Farlaf and Ratmir, turns to her darling expressing her love. Svetozar gives his blessing to the newly-married. There is a sudden roll of thunder, the light fades and everybody becomes strangely numb. “What a wonderful moment! What does this divine dream mean?” The mist clears away gradually but Ludmila disappears: she was kidnapped by some mysterious evil power. Svetozar promises to award the one who brings his daughter back with the half of his kingdom and to marry Ludmila to him. Three knights are ready to set off to search for the princess.
Act II. Scene 1
Searching for Ludmila Ruslan comes to the cave of the old sage Finn. Finn tells the knight that Ludmila had been kidnapped by the evil sorcerer Chernomor. However, Ruslan is destined to win him. Answering Ruslan’s question Finn narrates a sad story. In the old days he shepherded cattle in the vast fields of his native land. The young shepherd fell in love with Naina, the beauty. But his love was unrequited. Finn tried to win Naina’s love with feat of arms, fame and wealth. He set out to battle with his comrades-in-arms. However, he was turned down again when he came back. That made him start to study the art of witchcraft. Finn wanted to bewitch Naina and make the haughty girl fall in love with him with the help of spell.
His fate ruthlessly mocked at him. After many years of agonizing suspense the desired moment came – alas! An old, gray-haired, humpbacked woman appeared before Finn’s eyes. This time she was full of passion! Finn fled from her. Naina who also became a witch is consumed by vengeful hatred and is taking constant revenge on Finn. She will certainly conceive a hatred for Ruslan. Finn warns the knight about the witch’s evil spell.
Scene 2
The cowardly Farlaf is about to give up searching for Ludmila but all of a sudden he meets an old hug. This is Naina, the witch. She promises Farlaf to help to find the princess. It is necessary for Farlaf to return home and to wait for her further instructions. Farlaf is happy and anticipates his triumph: “The moment of my triumph is approaching: the hateful rival will go far away”.
Scene 3
Ruslan is heading father and father northward. He comes upon a desert field strewn with weapons and dry bones from a past battle. Everything reminds him of transience of life, of vainness of earthly blessings. Ruslan is deep in thought: “Oh, field, who strewed you with dry men’s bones?” However, no knight should forget about coming battles and he picks up a shield and a spear to replace his broken ones. Meanwhile, the fog lifts, and in front of astonished Ruslan there appears a gigantic live Head. Seeing the knight, the monster begins to blow. It brings up a storm. Ruslan rushes to the attack on the Head and pierces it with his spear. He finds a sword underneath the Head. The sword fits Ruslan, he is happy.
The Head relates its wonderful story. Once upon the time there were two brothers- he, the giant, and his brother, the midget Chernomor. It was foretold that the brothers would perish from the same sword. Chernomor managed to obtain the sword with his brother’s help but then cheated his brother. The treacherous midget cut the giant’s head and by means of his witchcraft made it keep the sword in the faraway desert. Now the sword belongs to Ruslan and it will put an end to this passionate hatred.
Act III
Naina decides to destroy the knights and allures them into her magic castle. The beautiful maidens tempt the travellers to have rest in the luxurious and comfortable chambers of the castle. Gorislava who was abandoned by Ratmir comes to Naina’s castle searching for her beloved. Here is Ratmir himself. Gorislava’s appeal and lamentation are in vain – Ratmir has been seduced by the guileful maidens. Naina has lured Ruslan to the castle too. Blinded with the wonderful visions the knight is about to forget his Ludmila but suddenly kind Finn appears as if by magic. The deceitful castle disappears without any trace at a wave of Finn’s magic wand. Finn pronounces the knights’ fate: “Ratmir, don’t get enchanted with false hope; you will find your happiness with Gorislava only! Ludmila will become Ruslan’s faithful spouse. This is a decree of invariable Fate.”
Act IV
Ludmila is languishing in captivity in Chernomor’s garden. Nothing can distract her from her sad thoughts, from her anguish. The proud princess prefers to die than to submit to the evil midget. Meanwhile, Chernomor and his retinue come to pay a visit to the captive. He wants to dispel her sadness and orders to start dancing. Suddenly the trumpet calls a challenge from Ruslan to Chernomor. The latter casts a spell of magic sleep on Ludmila and rushed the knight. But it is Ruslan who comes off with flying colours – his helmet is twined around by the coils of the defeated midget’s beard. Ratmir and Gorislava accompany him. Ruslan runs up to Ludmila but the princess is still under the magic spell. Ruslan is in despair – he decides to get back to his native land as soon as possible. There is no place like home – magicians will help to remove the spell and to wake up Ludmila.
Act V. Scene 1
A moonlit night. In the valley Ruslan, sleeping Ludmila, Ratmir, Gorislava and former Chernomor’s slaves are camping on their way to Kiev. Ratmir stands on guard. Unexpectedly Chernomor’s slaves bring unwelcome news: Ludmila has been kidnapped again. Ruslan sets out to search for his wife. Finn turns up in front of sad Ratmir. He gives a magic ring to the knight explaining that the ring will awake Ludmila. Ratmir heads to Kiev.
Scene 2
Ludmila is fast asleep under the magic spell in Svetozar's mansion. It turns out that Farlaf, who kidnapped the princess with Naina's assistance, fails to waken her. Her father’s lamentation, the servants’ weeping is in vain: Ludmila is dead asleep. Hark! Clatter of the horses' hoofs – this is Ruslan coming with Ratmir and Gorislava. Ruslan holds the magic ring that Ratmir handed him over. As soon as Ruslan approaches Ludmila, she wakes up. A happy moment has come. The people of Kiev glorify their gods, Motherland, Ruslan and Ludmila.
