Manuscripts do not burn, or the long-awaited return of "Undina"

WEDGE. The world premiere of the lost opera of the composer took place in the Tchaikovsky House-Museum.

Tchaikovsky’s second opera, long considered lost, is undergoing a rebirth. The premiere of "Undina" was decided to be held on November 11 in Klin, the city dear to the composer, where he aspired with all his heart. Moscow will be able to get acquainted with a piece not previously performed two days later. The tale of Fuke about Undine in the poetic arrangement of Zhukovsky was the reference book of Tchaikovsky at the time of his childhood. The romantic plot and spirituality touched him to tears. Therefore, Pyotr Ilyich worked on opera with true rapture. Within six months, the score was completed, after which Tchaikovsky was unexpectedly notified of the refusal to stage it on the stages of Moscow and St. Petersburg. The verdict was handed down by the conductor synclite, led by Konstantin Lyadov, the chief bandmaster of the Imperial Opera. The injustice of the decision is obvious, since already in this early composition the undoubted talent of the young composer is visible. In it you can hear the themes of works that will subsequently bring him worldwide fame: the Second Symphony, “The Snow Maiden”, “Swan Lake”.

The concert version of the opera consists of five numbers, including Undina’s aria, her duet with Gulbrand. It was presented by the Tchaikovsky Big Orchestra, which celebrated its anniversary in 2015. He collaborated with such stars of world classical music as Luciano Pavarotti, Gidon Kremer, Svyatoslav Richter, Sergey Lemeshev, David Oistrakh. For 40 years, Vladimir Fedoseyev has remained his unchanged leader. Thanks to the efforts of the maestro the Great Symphony, all the symphonies of Beethoven and Wagner were recorded, the premieres of the compositions of many prominent domestic composers took place.

Anna Aglatova, a student of Ruzanna Lisitsian, one of the best sopranos of the Bolshoi Theater, performed the beautiful Ondine’s party that evening. This is not the first time her partner has become the magnificent tenor Alexei Tatarintsev. Dramatic passages performed by Mayakovka actor Mikhail Filippov were very delicately woven into the musical fabric.

Elena Tanakova © Gallerix.ru