Prince Igor is the opera by A. Borodin in 4 acts with prologue. Libretto was written by the composer himself on the base of V. Stasov’s “The Song of Igor’s Campaign”. N. Rimsky-Korsakov and A. Glazunov completed the opera. While conceiving the opera, Borodin inserted essential changes to the initial Stasov’s scenario. The composer studied chronicles and other artifacts of the Old Russian folklore and the Polovetsian tradition having been preserved in Hungary.
The first performance took place on the Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre stage in 1890. Since that time the “Prince Igor” is on roll all over the world.
Main parts were acted by such famous actors as P. Hohlov, F. Shalyapin, M. Reisen, M. Mikhailov, M. Slavina, N. Obukhova, S. Lemeshev, I. Kozlovsky, Ye. Nesterenko. The Polovtsian dances were staged by such ballet-masters as L. Ivanov, M. Fokin, K. Goleizovsky.
The opera was filmed in 1971 (producer R. Tikhomirov) in 1971.
According to the “Opera Dictionary”
by A. Gozenpud
Translated by Asya Ardova
Contents:
Overture
Prologue
1. Introduction
The First Act
The First Scene
2. Scene at Prince Vladimir Galitsky
The Second Scene
3. Arioso of Yaroslavna
4. Scene of Yaroslavna with the girls
5. Scene of Yaroslavna with Vladimir
6. Finale of the First Act
The Second Act
7. Choir of the Polovtsian Girls
8. Dancing of the Polovtsian Girls
9. Cavatina of Konchakovna
10. Scene and Chorus
11. Recitative and Cavatina of Vladimir
12. Duet of Konchakovna and Vladimir
13. Aria of Prince Igor
14. Scene of Igor and Ovlur
15. Aria of Khan Konchak
16. Recitative
17. Polovtsian Dancing with Choir
The Third Act
18. Polovtsian March
19. Song of Khan Konchak
20. Recitative, Chorus and Scene
21. Chorus and Dancing
22. Recitative
23. Trio (Konchakovna, Vladimir and Igor)
24. Finale of the Third Act
The Fourth Act
25. Lamentation of Yaroslavna
26. Chorus of Countrymen
27. Recitative of Yaroslavna and Duet with Igor
28. Song of Buffoons, Scene and Chorus
29. Final Chorus