''Abesalom da Eteri'' ( ka, აბესალომ და ეთერი; ''Abesalom and Eteri'') is an

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

by the

Georgian Georgian may refer to: Common meanings * Anything related to, or originating from Georgia (country) ** Georgians, an indigenous Caucasian ethnic group ** Georgian language, a Kartvelian language spoken by Georgians **Georgian scripts, three scrip ...

composer

Zacharia Paliashvili Zacharia Petres dze Paliashvili ( ka, ზაქარია ფალიაშვილი, ''Zakaria Paliaşvili''), also known as Zachary Petrovich Paliashvili (russian: Захарий Петрович Палиашви́ли, ''Zacharij Petrovi� ...

and

librettist A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major litu ...

Petre Mirianashvili (b. 1860) based on a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...

Georgian folk poem ''

Eteriani ''Eteriani'' ( ka, ეთერიანი, " he taleof Eteri") is a Georgian folk epic romance which has come down to us in the form of about 70 pieces of oral prose and poetry, probably dating from the 10th or 11th century. Variants also exist i ...

''. Composed between 1909 and 1918, the work was partly staged in 1913 and first premiered in its present-day form on 21 February 1919 at the

Georgian National Opera Theater The Georgian National Opera and Ballet Theater of Tbilisi ( ka, თბილისის ოპერისა და ბალეტის სახელმწიფო აკადემიური თეატრი), formerly known as the ...

Tbilisi Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), is the Capital city, capital and the List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia (country), Georgia, lying on the ...

. The opera is an eclectic fusion of

folk song Folk music is a music genre that includes #Traditional folk music, traditional folk music and the Contemporary folk music, contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be c ...

s and traditional 19th-century Romantic classical themes. In 2004, several excerpts from this opera were adapted as the National Anthem of Georgia.

Background and historical context

When opera was first introduced in present-day Georgia during the 1840s, the performances were held in

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

and other

Western Europe Western Europe is the western region of Europe. The region's countries and territories vary depending on context. The concept of "the West" appeared in Europe in juxtaposition to "the East" and originally applied to the ancient Mediterranean ...

an languages traditionally dominating the operatic art. At the time, as part of his conciliatory reforms, Russian Viceroy Mikhail Vorontsov went on to patronize Georgian-language theater performances in the newly established Tiflis Imperial Theater. This was not without controversy, as not all Russians were enthusiastic about Georgian contributions to the city's cultural development; some objected to Georgian-language works and had them moved to different days, rather than precede regular opera performances as it was done up to that point. First native forms of the Georgian-language opera began to develop in the late 19th century, with the emergence of artists like

Meliton Balanchivadze Meliton Balanchivadze ( ka, მელიტონ ბალანჩივაძე; 24 December 1862 – 21 December 1937) was a Georgian opera singer, composer and a celebrated member of Georgia's cultural scene, both under the Russian Empire ...

, whose 1897 work ''Tamar the Wily'', later known as ''Darejan the Wily'', was perhaps the earliest Georgian opera. This was followed by a more fully developed opera in several acts, ''Christine'', composed by Revaz Dimitris dze Gogniashvili/Prince Gogniev (1893 – 1967). These early works were limited to a relatively niche audience and did not gain much popular acclaim in Georgia. Paliashvili's ''Abesalom da Eteri'' was in comparison a high point of the Georgian operatic movement in the waning years of the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...

. It was the first Georgian-language opera to garner widespread recognition in the Georgian and later

Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

artistic society. As a testament to this status, for the past several decades ''Abesalom da Eteri'' has traditionally been the opening performance of the season at the

.Georgian National Opera Theater
აბესალომ და ეთერი
Retrieved: 4 March 2016.

Synopsis

Act 1

A peasant girl Eter, having run away from an evil stepmother, sits and cries alone in the woods. She hears a singing of hunters from afar - Prince Abesalom and his courtier Murman are hunting along with their retinue. Eter follows the sound of singing and runs into Murman. Startled by the sudden encounter, she runs the other way but is intercepted by Abesalom. Bewitched by Eter's beauty, the prince pledges his love to her. Murman himself is enamored with the peasant girl, but he is merely a courtier and does not dare to express his feelings. Privately, Murman is overcome by an evil desire to take Eter away from Abesalom.

Act 2

The wedding of Abesalom and Eter is being held the palace. King Abio blesses the engaged, who take the oath of loyalty. As a wedding gift, Murman presents Eter with a small box containing an enchanted necklace. The necklace is to afflict Eter with an incurable illness, from which only Murman can save here. Eter starts to feel unwell but King Abio tries to keep the guests entertained and asks Marekh to sing. The wedding proceeds with dancing and singing.

Act 3

Great misfortune befalls upon the palace – Eter is overcome by an incurable illness. Abesalom falls into desperation and the entire place mourns the developments. The Queen advises her son to let Eter go, suggesting that perhaps mountains and sun with bring her back to health. Abesalom is forced to give in and let Eter go. Murman has achieved his goal – he takes Eter to himself.

Act 4

In Murman's tower Eter comes back to health. Murman's mother and sisters cherish her in every way. When Abesalom hears of this, he starts to long for Eter even more. The prince becomes unable to cope with his separation from Eter and becomes weakened as a result of his suffering. Trumpets sound – Abesalom is finally visiting Murman's tower to see Eter. To get rid of Murman, Abesalom sends him off to find the

elixir of life The elixir of life, also known as elixir of immortality, is a potion that supposedly grants the drinker eternal life and/or eternal youth. This elixir was also said to cure all diseases. Alchemists in various ages and cultures sought the means ...

with the pretext that perhaps that will bring his strength back. Murman reluctantly agrees. Queen Natella implores Eter to meet Abesalom, hoping that she will make him feel better, but Eter is refusing – she is angry that her love had given her up and sent her away. Marekh finally convinces Eter to meet Abesalom, but the weakened prince dies in Eter's arms. Struck by grief, Eter kills herself with the same knife, which the prince had once given her as a sign of their love.

References

External links

* {{authoritycontrol 1919 operas Georgian-language operas Operas set in fictional, mythological and folkloric settings Operas 1919 in Georgia (country) Compositions by Zacharia Paliashvili Operas set in Georgia (country)