''The Queen of Spades'' or ''Pique Dame'', Op. 68 (russian: Пиковая дама, ''Pikovaya dama'' , french: La Dame de Pique) is an opera in three acts (seven scenes) by

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky , group=n ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer of the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music would make a lasting impression internationally. He wrote some of the most popu ...

to a Russian

libretto 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 theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...

by the composer's brother Modest Tchaikovsky, based on the 1834 novella of the same name by

Alexander Pushkin Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin (; rus, links=no, Александр Сергеевич ПушкинIn pre-Revolutionary script, his name was written ., r=Aleksandr Sergeyevich Pushkin, p=ɐlʲɪkˈsandr sʲɪrˈɡʲe(j)ɪvʲɪtɕ ˈpuʂkʲɪn, ...

, but with a dramatically altered plot. The premiere took place in 1890 at the

Mariinsky Theatre The Mariinsky Theatre ( rus, Мариинский театр, Mariinskiy teatr, also transcribed as Maryinsky or Mariyinsky) is a historic theatre of opera and ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music th ...

in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Composition history

The Imperial Theatre offered Tchaikovsky a commission to write an opera based on the plot sketch by

Ivan Vsevolozhsky Ivan Alexandrovich Vsevolozhsky (russian: Иван Александрович Всеволожский; 1835–1909) was the Director of the Imperial Theatres in Russia from 1881–98 and director of the Hermitage from 1899 to his death in 190 ...

in 1887/88. After first turning it down, Tchaikovsky accepted it in 1889. Toward the end of that year, he met with the theatre's managers to discuss the material and sketch out some of the scenes. He completed the full score in

Florence Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...

in only 44 days. Later, working with the tenor who was to perform the lead character, he created two versions of Herman's aria in the seventh scene, using different keys. The changes can be found in the proof sheets and inserts for the first and second editions of the printed version of the score. While composing the music, Tchaikovsky edited the libretto significantly, changing some of the text and adding his own lyrics to two arias.

Performance history

Herman, the lead character, sings in all seven scenes. This requires great skill and endurance by the performer. The part was written with the notable Russian tenor Nikolay Figner in mind, and he performed it at the premiere. His wife Medea Mei-Figner played the role of Liza. The composer himself took part in the preparation of the Saint Petersburg premiere. Critics gave rave reviews. Tchaikovsky later wrote, "Figner and the Saint Petersburg orchestra... have made true miracles." The premiere's success was tremendous. The opera was just as successful at the

Kyiv Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the List of European cities by populat ...

premiere twelve days later. The

Bolshoi Theatre The Bolshoi Theatre ( rus, Большо́й теа́тр, r=Bol'shoy teatr, literally "Big Theater", p=bɐlʲˈʂoj tʲɪˈatər) is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, originally designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds ballet and ope ...

premiere took place the following year. Tchaikovsky was extremely pleased with his effort. Saint Petersburg and world premiere *''Date'': 19 December, ( O.S. 7 December), 1890 *''Place'':

, Saint Petersburg *''Conductor'':

Eduard Nápravník Eduard Francevič Nápravník (Russian: Эдуа́рд Фра́нцевич Напра́вник; 24 August 1839 – 10 November 1916) was a Czech conductor and composer. Nápravník settled in Russia and is best known for his leading role in Rus ...

*''Scene Designers'': Vasilyev, Yanov, Levot, Ivanov, Andreyev *''Balletmaster'':

Marius Petipa Marius Ivanovich Petipa (russian: Мариус Иванович Петипа), born Victor Marius Alphonse Petipa (11 March 1818), was a French ballet dancer, pedagogue and choreographer. Petipa is one of the most influential ballet masters an ...

Kyiv premiere *''Date'': 31 December (O.S. 19 December), 1890 *''Place'': *''Conductor'':

Iosif Pribik Iosif may refer to: People *Iosif Amusin, Soviet historian *Iosif Anisim, Romanian sprint canoer * Iosif Blaga, Romanian literary theorist and politician * Iosif Bobulescu, Romanian bishop * Iosif Capotă, Romanian anti-communist resistance fight ...

Moscow premiere *''Date'': 4 November 1891 *''Place'':

*''Conductor'':

Ippolit Al'tani Ippolit Karlovich Al'tani (russian: Ипполит Карлович Альтани; , ''Altani Ipolit Karlovich''; 27 May S 15 May/small> 184617 February 1919) was a Russian Empire conductor, choirmaster and violinist. Al'tani was born in the so ...

*''Scene Designers'': Karl Valts (Waltz), Lebedev *''Balletmasters'':

Lev Ivanov Lev Ivanovich Ivanov (russian: link=no, Лев Ива́нович Ива́нов; 2 March 1834, Moscow – 24 December 1901, Saint Petersburg) was a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer and later, Second Balletmaster of the Imperial Ballet. ...

Other notable performances * 11 or 12 October 1892, Prague, first performance outside Russia; conducted by Adolf Čech in the presence of the composer (sung in Czech, trans. V. J. Novotný) * 1902, first performance in Vienna,

Vienna State Opera The Vienna State Opera (, ) is an opera house and opera company based in Vienna, Austria. The 1,709-seat Renaissance Revival venue was the first major building on the Vienna Ring Road. It was built from 1861 to 1869 following plans by August S ...

, conducted by

Gustav Mahler Gustav Mahler (; 7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911) was an Austro-Bohemian Romantic composer, and one of the leading conductors of his generation. As a composer he acted as a bridge between the 19th-century Austro-German tradition and the modernism ...

* 1904, Moscow,

, conducted by

Sergei Rachmaninoff Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff; in Russian pre-revolutionary script. (28 March 1943) was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one o ...

* 5 March 1910,

Metropolitan Opera The Metropolitan Opera (commonly known as the Met) is an American opera company based in New York City, resident at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, currently situated on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The company is operat ...

, New York City, first performance in the USA (in German), conducted by Gustav Mahler * 29 May 1915, London, first performance in England (in Russian); starring

Vladimir Rosing Vladimir Sergeyevich Rosing (russian: Владимир Серге́евич Розинг) (November 24, 1963), also known as Val Rosing, was a Russian-born operatic tenor and stage director who spent most of his professional career in the United ...

. * 27 December 1972, Metropolitan Opera, New York City, first performance in its original Russian language

Roles

''Note'': The contralto roles of Milovzor and Polina and the baritone roles of Zlatogor and Tomsky can be performed by the same singers. Prilepa has occasionally been double cast with Liza, although Tchaikovsky did not approve of this doubling, unlike the others.

Synopsis

''Time'': The close of the 18th century ''Place'':

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

, Russia

Act 1

''Scene 1'' During the reign of

Catherine the Great , en, Catherine Alexeievna Romanova, link=yes , house = , father = Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst , mother = Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp , birth_date = , birth_name = Princess Sophie of Anhal ...

(1762–96), children are at play in Saint Petersburg's

Summer Garden The Summer Garden (russian: Ле́тний сад, ''Letniy sad'') is a historic public garden that occupies an eponymous island between the Neva, Fontanka, Moika, and the Swan Canal in downtown Saint Petersburg, Russia and shares its name w ...

pretending to be soldiers. Two officers—Tsurin and Chekalinsky—enter, the former complaining about his bad luck at gambling. They remark that another officer, Herman, seems obsessed with the gaming table but never bets, being frugal and methodical. Herman appears with Tomsky, who remarks that his friend hardly seems like his old self: is anything bothering him? Herman admits he is in love with a girl above his station whose name he does not even know. When Prince Yeletsky, an officer, strolls into the park, Chekalinsky congratulates him on his recent engagement. Yeletsky declares his happiness while Herman, aside, curses him enviously. Yeletsky points out his fiancée, Liza, who has just appeared with her grandmother, the old Countess. Catching sight of Herman, the two women note they have seen him before, staring at them with frightening intensity. Herman realizes that Liza is his unknown beloved. When Yeletsky and the women leave, Herman is lost in thought as the other officers discuss the Countess: known as the Queen of Spades and formerly as the Muscovite Venus, due to her beauty, she succeeded at gambling in her youth by trading amorous favors for the winning formula of Count St. Germain in Paris. Tomsky says only two men, her husband and, later on, her young lover, ever learned the secret of playing three special cards, because she was warned by an apparition to beware a "third suitor" who would kill her trying to force it from her. Musing on the winning sequence of three cards, the others lightly suggest that this might be the way for Herman to win without risking any money. Threatened by approaching thunder, all leave except Herman, who vows to learn the Countess's secret. ''Scene 2'' At home, Liza plays the

spinet A spinet is a smaller type of harpsichord or other keyboard instrument, such as a piano or organ. Harpsichords When the term ''spinet'' is used to designate a harpsichord, typically what is meant is the ''bentside spinet'', described in this ...

as she and her friend Polina sing a duet about evening in the countryside. Their friends ask to hear more, so Polina launches into a sad ballad, followed by a dancelike song. As the merriment increases, Liza remains pensively apart. A Governess chides the girls for indulging in unbecoming folk dancing and asks the visitors to leave. Polina, the last to go, urges Liza to cheer up; Liza replies that after a storm there is a beautiful night and asks the maid, Masha, not to close the French windows to the balcony. Alone, Liza voices her unhappiness with her engagement; she has been stirred by the romantic look of the young man in the park. To her shock, Herman appears on the balcony. Claiming he is about to shoot himself over her betrothal to another, he begs her to take pity on him. When the Countess is heard knocking, Liza hides Herman and opens the door to the old woman, who tells her to shut the windows and go to bed. After the Countess retires, Liza asks Herman to leave but is betrayed by her feelings and falls into his embrace.

Act 2

''Scene 1'' Not long afterward, at a masked ball, Herman's comrades comment on his obsession with the secret of the winning cards. Yeletsky passes with Liza, noting her sadness and reassuring her of his love ("''Ya vas lyublyu''" "I love you"). Herman receives a note from Liza, asking him to meet her later. Tsurin and Chekalinsky sneak up behind him with the intent of playing a joke on him, muttering he is the "third suitor" who will learn the Countess's secret, then melt into the crowd as Herman wonders whether he is hearing things. The master of ceremonies announces a tableau of shepherdesses. Liza slips Herman the key to her grandmother's room, saying the old woman will not be there the next day, but Herman insists on coming that very night. Thinking fate is handing him the Countess's secret, he leaves. The guests' attention turns to the imminent arrival of Catherine the Great, for which a polonaise by

Osip Kozlovsky Osip (Russian ''О́сип'') is a Russian male given name, a variant of the name Joseph. Notable people with the name include: * Osip Abdulov (1900–1953), Soviet actor * Osip Aptekman, Russian revolutionary * Ossip Bernstein (1882-1962), Russ ...

is played and sung in greeting. ''Scene 2'' Herman slips into the Countess's room and looks in fascination at her portrait as the "Muscovite Venus"; musing how their fates, he feels, are linked: one of them will die because of the other. He lingers too long before he can go to Liza's room and hears the Countess's retinue coming, so he conceals himself as the old lady approaches. The Countess deplores the manners of the day and reminisces about the better times of her youth, when she sang in

Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; french: Château de Versailles ) is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about west of Paris, France. The palace is owned by the French Republic and since 1995 has been managed, u ...

"''Je crains de lui parler la nuit'' ("I fear to talk with him at night", in French; Laurette's Aria from

André Grétry André Ernest Modeste Grétry (; baptised 11 February 1741; died 24 September 1813) was a composer from the Prince-Bishopric of Liège (present-day Belgium), who worked from 1767 onwards in France and took French nationality. He is most famous ...

's opera '' Richard Cœur-de-Lion'') before the Pompadour herself. As she dozes off, Herman stands before her. She awakens in horror as he pleads with her to tell him her secret. When she remains speechless, he grows desperate and threatens her with a pistol—at which she dies of fright. Liza rushes in, only to learn that the lover to whom she gave her heart was more interested in the Countess's secret. She orders him out and falls sobbing.

Act 3

''Scene 1'' In his room at the barracks, as the winter wind howls, Herman reads a letter from Liza, who wants him to meet her at midnight by the river bank. He imagines he hears the chorus chanting at the old Countess's funeral, then is startled by a knock at the window. The old woman's ghost appears, announcing that against her will she must tell him the secret so that he can marry and save Liza. Dazed, Herman repeats the three cards she tells him—three, seven, ace. ''Scene 2'' By the Winter Canal, Liza waits for Herman: it is already near midnight, and though she clings to a forlorn hope that he still loves her, she sees her youth and happiness swallowed in darkness. At last he appears, but after uttering words of reassurance, he starts to babble wildly about the Countess and her secret. No longer even recognizing Liza, he rushes away. Realizing that all is lost, she commits suicide. ''Scene 3'' At a gambling house, Herman's fellow officers are finishing supper and getting ready to play faro. Yeletsky, who has not gambled before, joins the group because his engagement has been broken: "unlucky in love, lucky at cards". Tomsky entertains the others with a song. Then Chekalinsky leads a traditional gamblers' song. Settling down to play, they are surprised when Herman arrives, wild and distracted. Yeletsky senses a confrontation and asks Tomsky to be his second if a duel should result. Herman, intent only on betting, starts with a huge bet of 40,000

ruble The ruble (American English) or rouble (Commonwealth English) (; rus, рубль, p=rublʲ) is the currency unit of Belarus and Russia. Historically, it was the currency of the Russian Empire and of the Soviet Union. , currencies named ''rub ...

s. He bets the three and wins, upsetting the others with his maniacal expression. Next he bets the seven and wins again. At this he takes a wine glass and declares that life is but a game. Yeletsky accepts his challenge to bet on the next round. Herman bets everything he has on the ace but when he shows his card he is told he is holding the queen of spades. Seeing the Countess's ghost laughing at her vengeance, Herman takes his own life and asks Yeletsky's and Liza's forgiveness. The others pray for his tormented soul.

Principal arias and numbers

; Act 1 : ''Aria'': "I don't even know her name" «Я имени еë не знаю» (''Ya imyeni yeyo nye znayu'') (Herman) : ''Aria'': "Once in Versailles (Three Cards)" «Однажды в Версале (Три Карты)» (''Odnazhdï v Versalye (Tri kartï)'') (Tomsky) : ''Romance'': "Lovely lady friends" «Подруги милые» (''Podrugi milïe'') (Polina) : ''Arioso'': "Why these tears" «Откуда эти слëзы» (''Otkuda eti slyozï'') (Liza) : ''Aria'': "Forgive me, celestial creature" «Прости, небесное созданье» (''Prosti, nyebesnoye sozdanye'') (Herman) ; Act 2 : ''Aria'': "I love you beyond measure" «Я вас люблю» (''Ya vas lyublyu'') (Yeletsky) : ''Aria'': "Je crains de lui parler la nuit" ("I fear to talk with him at night", in French) (Countess) ; Act 3 : ''Arioso'': "I am worn out by grief" «Ax! истoмилacь я гopeм» (''Akh! istomilas ya goryem'') (Liza) : ''Song'': "If pretty girls could fly like birds" «Если б милые девицы» (''Yesli b milïye dyevitsï'') (Tomsky) : ''Aria'': "What is our life? A game!" «Что наша жизнь? Игра!» (''Shto nasha zhizn? Igra!'') (Herman)

Instrumentation

Source
Tchaikovsky Research
*''Strings'': violins I & II, violas, cellos, double basses *''Woodwinds'': piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, cor anglais, two clarinets (B-flat, A), bass clarinet (B-flat), two bassoons *''Brass'': four horns (F), two trumpets (B-flat, A), three trombones, tuba *''Percussion'': timpani, snare drum, bass drum *''Other'': harp, piano

In popular culture

"Life is but a game" (russian: «Что наша жизнь? Игра!» (''Shto nasha zhizn? Igra!''), literally, "What is our life? A game!") a quote from act 3 of the opera, became a proverb in Russian. ''

What? Where? When? ''What? Where? When?'' (russian: Что? Где? Когда?, translit. ''Chto? Gde? Kogda?'') is an intellectual game show well known in Russian-language media and other CIS states since the mid-1970s. Today it is produced for televisio ...

'', a trivia game and one of the most popular TV-shows in Russia and former Soviet countries, starts with a

musical quotation Musical quotation is the practice of directly quoting another work in a new composition. The quotation may be from the same composer's work (self-referential), or from a different composer's work (appropriation). Sometimes the quotation is done for ...

from the opera, Herman singing the phrase "Life is but a game."

Recordings

* 1937:

Samuil Samosud Samuil Abramovich Samosud (russian: Самуи́л Абра́мович Самосу́д) (Tbilisi, Georgia, — Moscow, 6 November 1964), PAU, was a Soviet and Russian conductor. He started his musical career as a cellist, before becomin ...

(conductor),

Chorus & Orchestra; Nikandr Khanayev (Herman), Ksenia Derzhinskaya (Liza), Faina Petrova (Countess), Alexander Baturin (Count Tomsky), Piotr Selivanov (Prince Yeletsky),

Nadezhda Obukhova Nadezhda Andreyevna Obukhova (russian: Наде́жда Андре́евна Обу́хова, 1886–1961) was a Russian mezzo-soprano. She was awarded the title People’s Artist of the USSR in 1937. Pianist Heinrich Neuhaus said that "he who ...

(Polina).

Melodiya Melodiya ( rus, links=no, Мелодия, t=Melody) is a Russian (formerly Soviet) record label. It was the state-owned major record company of the Soviet Union. History Melodiya was established in 1964 as the "All-Union Gramophone Record Firm ...

* 1942:

(conductor),

Chorus & Orchestra; Nikandr Khanayev (Herman), Ksenia Derzhinskaya (Liza), Bronislava Zlatagorova (Countess), Alexander Baturin (Count Tomsky), Panteleimon Nortsov (Prince Yeletsky), Maria Maksakova (Polina). Aquarius * 1947: Arthur Rother (conductor), Radio-Orchester Berlin;

Rudolf Schock Rudolf Johann Schock (4 September 1915 – 13 November 1986) was a German tenor. Rudolf Schock was born in Duisburg, in the Prussian Rhine Province. He sang a wide repertoire from operetta to ''Lohengrin'', recording among others opera and lieder, ...

(Herman),

Elisabeth Grümmer Elisabeth Grümmer (née Schilz; 31 March 1911 – 6 November 1986) was a German soprano. She has been described as "a singer blessed with elegant musicality, warm-hearted sincerity, and a voice of exceptional beauty". Life Elisabeth Schilz was b ...

(Liza),

Margarete Klose Margarete Klose (6 August 1899 or 1902 – 14 December 1968) was a German operatic mezzo-soprano. Life Klose was born (as Frida Klose) and died in Berlin. She lost her father early in life and had to earn her living as a secretary, until a coll ...

(Countess), Jaro Prohaska (Count Tomsky), Hans Hermann Nissen (Prince Yeletsky), Anneliese Müller (Polina). Gala (Abridged in German) * 1950:

Alexander Melik-Pashayev Alexander Shamil'evich Melik-Pashayev (russian: Александр Шамильевич Мелик-Пашаев; hy, Ալեքսանդր Մելիք-Փաշայան, Alek’sandr Melik’-P’ashayan; 23 October 1905, in Tbilisi – 18 June 1964), P ...

(conductor),

Chorus & Orchestra; Georgi Nelepp (Herman), Evgeniya Smolenskaya (Liza), Evgeniya Verbitskaya (Countess), Alexei Ivanov (Count Tomsky),

Pavel Lisitsian Pavel Gerasimovich Lisitsian (, hy, Պավել (Պողոս) Գերասիմի Լիսիցյան) (November 6, 1911 – July 6, 2004), was a Soviet baritone opera singer who performed in the Bolshoi Opera, Moscow from 1940 until his retirement fr ...

(Prince Yeletsky), Veronika Borisenko (Polina). Great Hall * 1952: Artur Rodzinsky (conductor), Chorus and Orchestra of the

Maggio Musicale Fiorentino The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (English: Florence Musical May) is an annual Italian arts festival in Florence, including a notable opera festival, under the auspices of the Opera di Firenze. The festival occurs between late April into June annual ...

; David Poleri (Herman),

Sena Jurinac Srebrenka "Sena" Jurinac () (24 October 1921 – 22 November 2011) was a Bosnian-born Austrian operatic soprano. Biography Jurinac was born in Travnik, Bosnia-Herzegovina (then part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia), the daughter of a Croatia ...

(Liza),

Gianna Pederzini Gianna Pederzini (10 February 1900 - 12 March 1988) was an Italian mezzo-soprano. Pederzini was born in Trento. She studied in Naples with Fernando de Lucia, and made her stage debut in Messina, as Preziosilla, in 1923. She sang widely in It ...

(Countess),

Mario Petri Mario Petri (21 January 1922 – 26 January 1985) was an Italian operatic bass-baritone particularly associated with Mozart and Rossini roles. Life and career Petri was born in Perugia and began his career after World War II, making his stage d ...

(Count Tomsky),

Ettore Bastianini Ettore Bastianini (24 September 1922 – 25 January 1967) was an Italian operatic baritone who was particularly associated with the operas of the ''bel canto'' tradition. Early training and career as a bass Born in Siena, Bastianini first bega ...

(Prince Yeletsky), Rina Corsi (Polina). Andromeda (Live in Italian) * 1955:

Krešimir Baranović Krešimir Baranović (25 July 1894 – 17 September 1975) was a Croatian composer and conductor. He was director and conductor of the Zagreb Opera, Belgrade Opera and professor at the Belgrade Music Academy. In the spirit of a kind of Slavic ...

(conductor), Yugoslav Army Chorus, Children's Choir of Radio Belgrade, & Orchestra of the National Opera, Belgrade; Alexander Marinković (Herman), Valerija Heybal (Liza), Melanija Bugarinović (Countess), Jovan Gligorijević (Count Tomsky), Dušan Popović (Prince Yeletsky), Biserka Cvejić (Polina).

Deutsche Grammophon Deutsche Grammophon (; DGG) is a German classical music record label that was the precursor of the corporation PolyGram. Headquartered in Berlin Friedrichshain, it is now part of Universal Music Group (UMG) since its merger with the UMG family of ...

* 1958: Sergei Yeltsin (conductor), Choir and Orchestra of the State Kirov Opera; Matvei Gavrilkin (Herman), Ludmila Revina (Liza), Sofia Preobrazhenskaya (Countess), Lipa Solomiak (Count Tomsky), Konstantin Laptev (Prince Yeletsky), Valentina Krayushkina (Polina). IM Lab (Live) * 1961:

Nino Sanzogno Nino Sanzogno (13 April 1911 – 4 May 1983) was an Italian conductor and composer. Life Sanzogno was born in Venice, where he studied the violin with Hermann Scherchen and composition with Gian Francesco Malipiero at the Liceo Musicale. He late ...

(conductor),

Teatro alla Scala La Scala (, , ; abbreviation in Italian of the official name ) is a famous opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the ' (New Royal-Ducal Theatre alla Scala). The premiere performan ...

Chorus and Orchestra; Antonio Annaloro (Herman),

Leyla Gencer Ayşe Leyla Gencer (, née Çeyrekgil; 10 October 192810 May 2008) was a Turkish operatic soprano. Gencer was a notable ''bel canto'' soprano who spent most of her career in Italy, from the early 1950s through the mid-1980s, and had a reperto ...

(Liza), Marianna Radev (Countess),

Ivo Vinco Ivo Vinco (8 November 1927 – 8 June 2014) was an Italian bass opera singer who enjoyed a successful international career. Born in Bosco Chiesanuova, Vinco first studied at the Liceo Musicale in Verona with Madama Zilotti, then at the opera scho ...

(Count Tomsky),

Sesto Bruscantini Sesto Bruscantini (10 December 1919 – 4 May 2003) was an Italian baritone, one of the greatest buffo singers of the post-war era, especially renowned in Mozart and Rossini. Biography and career Bruscantini was born in Civitanova Marche, Marche, ...

(Prince Yeletsky), Adriana Lazzarini (Polina). Gala (Live in Italian) * 1966:

Boris Khaikin Boris Emmanuilovich Khaikin (russian: Борис Эммануилович Хайкин; be, Барыс Эмануілавіч Хайкін; – 10 May 1978) was a Soviet and Russian conductor who was named a People's Artist of the USSR in 197 ...

(conductor),

Chorus & Orchestra; Zurab Andzhaparidze (Herman), Tamara Milashkina (Liza), Valentina Levko (Countess), Mikhail Kiselev (Count Tomsky), Yuri Mazurok (Prince Yeletsky),

Irina Arkhipova Irina Konstantinovna Arkhipova (russian: Ири́на Константи́новна Архи́пова; 2 January 1925 11 February 2010, Moscow) was a Soviet and Russian mezzo-soprano, and later contralto, opera singer. She sang leading roles fi ...

(Polina).

* 1974:

Mark Ermler Mark Fridrikhovich Ermler (russian: Марк Фридрихович Эрмлер; 5 May 193214 April 2002) was a Russian conductor. Biography Mark Ermler was born in Leningrad in 1932. His parents were Vera Bakun, a film set designer, and Fridrik ...

(conductor),

Chorus & Orchestra; Vladimir Atlantov (Herman), Tamara Milashkina (Liza), Valentina Levko (Countess), Vladimir Valaitis (Count Tomsky), Andrei Fedoseyev (Prince Yeletsky), Galina Borisova (Polina).

* 1976:

Mstislav Rostropovich Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich, (27 March 192727 April 2007) was a Russian cellist and conductor. He is considered by many to be the greatest cellist of the 20th century. In addition to his interpretations and technique, he was wel ...

(conductor), Choeur Tchaikovsky,

Maîtrise de Radio France Maîtrise de Radio France (known as Maîtrise de Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française prior to 1975) is the choir school of Radio France. The school and its choir were founded in 1946 by the composer Henry Barraud and the pedagogue Maurice D ...

, & Orchestre National de France; Peter Gougaloff (Herman),

Galina Vishnevskaya Galina Pavlovna Vishnevskaya (russian: links=no, Галина Павловна Вишневская, Ivanova, Иванова; 25 October 192611 December 2012) was a Russian soprano opera singer and recitalist who was named a People's Artist o ...

(Liza),

Regina Resnik Regina Resnik (born Regina Resnick, August 30, 1922 – August 8, 2013) was an American opera singer who had an active international career that spanned five decades. She began her career as a soprano in 1942 and soon after began a lengthy and ...

(Countess), Dan Iordachescu (Count Tomsky),

Bernd Weikl Bernd Weikl (born 29 July 1942) is an Austrian operatic baritone, particularly known for his performances in the stage works by Richard Wagner. He also has written books and directed operas. Career Born in Vienna, he moved with his family to M ...

(Prince Yeletsky),

Hanna Schwarz Hanna Schwarz (born 15 August 1943) is a German mezzo-soprano and contralto singer in opera and concert. In 1976 she performed the roles of Fricka and Erda in the centenary '' Jahrhundertring'' production at the Bayreuth Festival, directed by Pat ...

(Polina).

* 1984: Algis Zhuraitis (conductor), Bavarian State Opera Chorus and Orchestra; Vladimir Atlantov (Herman),

Julia Varady Julia is usually a feminine given name. It is a Latinate feminine form of the name Julio (given name), Julio and Julius (name), Julius. (For further details on etymology, see the wikt:Iulius#Latin, Wiktionary entry "Julius".) The given name ''Ju ...

(Liza),

Elena Obraztsova Elena Vasiliyevna Obraztsova ( rus, Еле́на Васи́льевна Образцо́ва, , ɪ̯ɪˈlʲenə vɐˈsʲilʲɪ̯ɪvnə ɐbrɐˈstsovə; 7 July 1939 – 12 January 2015) was a Soviet and Russian mezzo-soprano. She was awarded the ...

(Countess), Alexander Voroshilo (Count Tomsky), Bodo Brinkmann (Prince Yeletsky), Ludmila Semtschuk (Polina).

Orfeo Orfeo Classic Schallplatten und Musikfilm GmbH of Munich was a German independent classical record label founded in 1979 by Axel Mehrle and launched in 1980. It has been owned by Naxos since 2015. History The Orfeo music label was registered ...

(Live) * 1989: Emil Tchakarov (conductor), Bulgarian National Chorus 'Svetoslav Obretenov' & Sofia Festival Orchestra; Wieslaw Ochman (Herman), Stefka Evstatieva (Liza), Penka Dilova (Countess), Ivan Konsulov (Count Tomsky), Yuri Mazurok (Prince Yeletsky), Stefania Toczyska (Polina).

Sony Classical Sony Classical is an American record label founded in 1924 as Columbia Masterworks Records, a subsidiary of Columbia Records. In 1980, the Columbia Masterworks label was renamed as CBS Masterworks Records. The CBS Records Group was acquired by ...

* 1990:

Vladimir Fedoseyev Vladimir Ivanovich Fedoseyev ( rus, Владимир Иванович Федосе́ев, p=, links=no; born 5 August 1932, in Leningrad, Soviet Union) is a Soviet and Russian conductor, accordionist, teacher. People's Artist of the USSR (1980). ...

(conductor), The Yurlov State Academic Russian Choir, The Children's Choir 'Vesna', & Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra; Vitaly Tarashchenko (Herman), Natalya Datsko (Liza),

(Countess), Grigory Gritsuk (Count Tomsky),

Dmitri Hvorostovsky Dmitri Aleksandrovich Hvorostovsky (russian: Дми́трий Алекса́ндрович Хворосто́вский, ; 16 October 1962 – 22 November 2017) was a Russian operatic baritone. Early life and education Hvorostovsky was born i ...

(Prince Yeletsky), Nina Romanova (Polina). Relief * 1992:

Seiji Ozawa Seiji (written: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , or in hiragana) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese ski jumper *, Japanese racing driver *, Japanese politician *, Japanese film directo ...

(conductor), Tanglewood Festival Chorus &

Boston Symphony Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881, ...

; Vladimir Atlantov (Herman),

Mirella Freni Mirella Freni, OMRI (, born Mirella Fregni, 27 February 1935 – 9 February 2020) was an Italian operatic soprano who had a career of 50 years and appeared at major international opera houses. She received international attention at the Gl ...

(Liza),

Maureen Forrester Maureen Kathleen Stewart Forrester, (July 25, 1930 – June 16, 2010) was a Canadian operatic contralto. Life and career Maureen Forrester was born and grew up in Montreal, Quebec, one of four children of Thomas Forrester, a Scottish cabinetmak ...

(Countess),

Sergei Leiferkus Sergei Leiferkus (born 4 April 1946) is an operatic baritone from Russia, known for his dramatic technique and powerful voice particularly in Russian and Italian language repertoire. He is most notable for his roles as Scarpia in ''Tosca'', Ia ...

(Count Tomsky),

(Yeletsky),

Katherine Ciesinski Katherine Ciesinski (born October 13, 1950) is an American mezzo-soprano, stage director, and voice professor. Ciesinski was born to Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame, Delaware Sports Hall of Famer Roman Ciesinski and Katherine Hansen Ciesi ...

(Polina).

RCA Victor Red Seal RCA Red Seal is a classical music label whose origin dates to 1902 and is currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment. History The first "Gramophone Record Red Seal" discs were issued in 1901.Valery Gergiev Valery Abisalovich Gergiev (russian: Вале́рий Абиса́лович Ге́ргиев, ; os, Гергиты Абисалы фырт Валери, Gergity Abisaly fyrt Valeri; born 2 May 1953) is a Russian conductor and opera company d ...

(conductor), Kirov Theater Chorus & Orchestra; Gegam Grigorian (Herman),

Maria Guleghina Maria Agasovna Guleghina, russian: Mapия Aгacoвнa Гулeгинa, uk, Марія Агасівна Гулегіна, hy, Մարիա Գուլեգինա (née Meytardjan (russian: Мейтарджян); born 9 August 1959) is a Soviet-born ope ...

(Liza),

(Countess), Nikolai Putilin (Count Tomsky),

Vladimir Chernov Vladimir Nikolaïevitch Chernov (born 22 September 1953) is a Russian baritone, particularly associated with the Russian and Italian opera repertories. Early life Vladimir Chernov was born in a small village near the town of Krasnodar in southe ...

(Prince Yeletsky),

Olga Borodina Olga Vladimirovna Borodina (born 29 July 1963, in Leningrad)Borodina, Ol ...

(Polina).

Philips Records Philips Records is a record label founded by the Dutch electronics company Philips. It was founded as Philips Phonographische Industrie in 1950. In 1946, Philips acquired the company which pressed records for British Decca's Dutch outlet in A ...

* 2015:

Mariss Jansons Mariss Ivars Georgs Jansons (14 January 1943 – 1 December 2019) was a Latvian conductor best known for his interpretations of Mahler, Strauss and Russian composers such as Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich. During his lifetime he w ...

(conductor), Bavarian Radio Chorus &

Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (german: Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, BRSO) is a German radio orchestra. Based in Munich, Germany, it is one of the city's four orchestras. The BRSO is one of two full-size symphony orchestr ...

; Misha Didyk (Herman), Tatiana Serjan (Liza), Larissa Diadkova (Countess), Alexey Shishlyaev (Count Tomsky), Alexey Markov (Prince Yeletsky), Oksana Volkova (Polina). BR-KLASSIK

References

Notes Citations Sources * * * * * * * * *

External links

*
Work details
Tchaikovsky Research {{DEFAULTSORT:Queen of Spades, The Operas by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Operas based on works by Aleksandr Pushkin Russian-language operas Operas set in Russia 1890 operas Operas