Running time: 4 hours 20 minutes

The performance has 2 intermissions

Schedule for Peter Tchaikovsky "The Queen of Spades" (opera in three acts, seven scenes). Production by Maestro Yuri Temirkanov (1984) 2012

Conductor: Tugan Sokhiev
Baritone: Alexander Gergalov
Mezzo soprano: Natalia Evstafieva
Baritone: Edem Umerov
Tenor: Vladimir Galuzin
Mezzo soprano: Irina Bogacheva
Soprano: Mlada Khudolei

Composer: Peter Tchaikovsky
Principal Chorus Master: Andrei Petrenko
Musical Preparation: Irina Soboleva
Stage Director: Maestro Yury Temirkanov
Set Designer: Igor Ivanov
Opera company: Mariinsky (Kirov) Opera

Orchestra: Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra

Opera in 3 acts

Performed in Russian with synchronised English supertitles

Premiere of this production: 19 December 1890 Mariinsky Theatre, St.Petersburg, Russia

Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Production by Yury Temirkanov

Libretto by Modest Tchaikovsky,
after the novel by Alexander Pushkin

Performed in Russian with English supertitles

Premiere of this production: 25 December 1984, Kirov Theatre of Opera and Ballet

The Performance has two intermissions


The action takes place in St Petersburg at the close of the 18^th century

SYNOPSIS
ACT I
Scene One
The Summer Garden in springtime. Two officers, Chekalinsky and Surin, are concerned about the fortunes of their friend Herman, who visits gambling halls every evening, despite the fact that he does not play because he is so poor. Herman turns up, accompanied by Count Tomsky, to whom he explains the reason for his strange behaviour: he is in love with a girl to whom he has not yet been introduced, and wants to win a large sum of money in order to marry her ("I do not know her name"). Chekalinsky and Surin congratulate the Grand Duke Eletsky on his forthcoming marriage. An old countess is walking in the garden with the very girl whom Herman loves. Upon finding out that she is the Grand Duke´s fiancée, he is deeply shaken. The women are frightened by his appearance ("I´m frightened"). Tomsky tells the story of the old Countess´ past in Paris. Count St Germain showed her three winning cards. The officers laugh at Herman, and advise him to tempt fate while Herman vows to fight for his love.

Scene Two
Lisa´s room. She is singing with her friend Polina ("Oh, what an evening"). Left alone, Lisa reveals her feelings: the Grand Duke loves her, but she cannot forget the passionate gaze of the stranger in the garden ("Where are these tears from?" "Oh, listen, oh, night"). As if he had heard her calling, Herman appears on the balcony. He threatens to kill himself because Lisa is promised to another, and tells her that no one loves her as passionately as he does ("Forgive me, heavenly creature"). The Countess enters, and Lisa hides the love-struck Herman. Like a man possessed, Herman starts to search for the three cards. Having been with Lisa, he realises he is happy only when he is with her.

ACT II
Scene Three
A masquerade at the home of a high official. Yeletsky assures Lisa of his love ("I love thee"). Herman continues to be haunted by thoughts of the three cards. A musical intermezzo-pastorale begins ("My dear little friend"). After it ends, Lisa gives Herman a key to a secret door by which he can enter her room.

Scene Four
The Countess´ bedroom. It is night. Above the fireplace there is a portrait of the Countess in her youth dressed up as the Queen of Spades. Herman carefully enters the room. He vows to wrest the secret out of the old woman, even if Hell awaits him. Footsteps are heard, and Herman hides. Servants enter, and then the Countess, who starts getting ready for bed. Having sent the servants away, the Countess falls asleep in her chair. Suddenly, Herman appears before her ("Don´t be frightened! For God´s sake, don´t be frightened!"). On his knees, he begs her to name the three cards. The Countess, having risen from her chair, is silent. Then Herman points his pistol at her. The old woman falls. Herman sees that she is dead.

ACT III
Scene Five
Herman´s room at the barracks. Lisa has written to him to say that she is ready to forgive him, but Herman´s thoughts are elsewhere. He remembers the Countess´ funeral ("All the same thoughts, the same nightmare"). The ghost of the Countess appears before him. Out of love for Lisa, she names the three magic cards for him: a Three, a Seven and an Ace.

Scene Six
On the banks of the Winter Canal, Lisa waits for Herman ("Ah! I´m worn out, I´m tired"). From his words she understands that he is responsible for the Countess´ death, and that he has gone out of his mind. She wants to take him away with her, but he pushes her aside and runs away (the duet "Oh, yes, the sufferings are over"). Lisa throws herself into the river.

Scene Seven
A gambling hall. Tomsky is surprised to find Eletsky, who is looking for Herman in order to exact revenge from him. The newly arrived Herman enters the game. Herman celebrates his victory ("What is our life, but a game!"). His winning streak strikes fear into everyone´s hearts. Yeletsky enters the game. Herman bets all of his winnings on the third card, but instead of an Ace, his hand comes up with the Queen of Spades. A shocked Herman sees the ghost of the Countess. She waits for his death. Herman dies his last thought of Lisa.