''Dimitri'' is an 1876 French-language

grand opera Grand opera is a genre of 19th-century opera generally in four or five acts, characterized by large-scale casts and orchestras, and (in their original productions) lavish and spectacular design and stage effects, normally with plots based on o ...

in five acts by Victorin de Joncières to a libretto by

Henri de Bornier Henri, vicomte de Bornier (25 December 1825, Lunel – 28 January 1901, Paris) was a French poet and dramatist. Biography He came to Paris in 1845 with the object of studying law, but in that year he published a volume of verse, ''Les Premie ...

and

Paul Armand Silvestre Paul Armand Silvestre (18 April 1837 – 19 February 1901) was a 19th-century French poet and ''conteur'' born in Paris. He studied at the École polytechnique with the intention of entering the army, but in 1870 he entered the department ...

after

Schiller Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (, short: ; 10 November 17599 May 1805) was a German playwright, poet, and philosopher. During the last seventeen years of his life (1788–1805), Schiller developed a productive, if complicated, friends ...

's incomplete play ''

Demetrius Demetrius is the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek male given name ''Dēmḗtrios'' (), meaning “Demetris” - "devoted to goddess Demeter". Alternate forms include Demetrios, Dimitrios, Dimitris, Dmytro, Dimitri, Dimitrie, Dimitar, Du ...

'', a story based on the life of the Russian

pretender A pretender is someone who claims to be the rightful ruler of a country although not recognized as such by the current government. The term is often used to suggest that a claim is not legitimate.Curley Jr., Walter J. P. ''Monarchs-in-Waiting'' ...

False Dmitriy I (reigned 1605–1606). The opera was first performed in Paris at the Théâtre National Lyrique. Dvořák's 1881 opera ''

Dimitrij Dimitrij is a masculine given name related to Demetrius. Bearers of the name include: * Dimitrij Kotschnew (born 1981), Kazakhstani-born German former ice hockey goaltender * Dimitrij Nonin Dimitrij Nonin (born 5 April 1979) is a German gymn ...

'' was also based on Schiller's play.

Synopsis

; Act 1 Vasili (Dimitri) returns to a Polish monastery on the Don and greets the Abbot who raised him. He recounts how he was helped by Vanda, cousin of the Polish King, and fell in love with Marina. A gypsy troupe come and go, Marina has fled her father and an arranged marriage to the Count of Lusatia by disguising herself as one of them. She and Vasili recognise each other and reaffirm their love. The Count of Lusatia arrives and tells the Abbot that the boy Vasili is in fact Dimitri, youngest son of Ivan IV and Tsar of Russia. The Count comes upon Dimitri and Marina embracing. ; Act 2 Vanda and Lusatia conspire to get Dimitri to leave Marina (who has fled to Russia to find Marpha, widow of Ivan IV) and marry Vanda, making her Tsarina. When the King of Poland arrives surrounded by his court, Vanda asks him to grant her hand to Dimitri. Dimirti, terrified, is told by Lusatia that he has no other option. ; Act 3 ''Scene 1:'' Marina reveals to Marpha that her son Dimitri is alive. In an interview with the Patriarch of Moscow, Job, Marpha refuses to either reject or accept the young man as her son. ''Scene 2:'' News arrives at Dimitri's camp outside Moscow that the citizenry have executed his rival, Boris Godunov. Lusatia recognises Vanda, who has followed Dimitri disguised as a soldier and realises that he does not love her. ; Act 4 ''Scene 1:'' Lusatia tells Dimitri that he murdered the real Dimitri many years before. Dimitri stabs him and orders his body be carried out as Marpha arrives and recognises both Lusatia as her son's kidnapper and Dimitri as her son. ''Scene 2:'' The Polish troops and the Moscovite Boyars acclaim Dimitri as their leader. Vanda swears revenge for her spurned affections. ; Act 5 Vanda has nursed Lusatia back to health. Seeing Dimitri and Marina on a balcony the night before their coronation in Moscow, she plots with Lusatia. The Coronation procession is stopped by Patriarch Job, who demands that Marpha swear that Dimitri is her son. She hesitates, but just as she sees Lusatia taking out a pistol from a balcony above she is about to swear but Dimitri is mortally wounded and dies surrounded by Marina and Marpha, asking along with the Moscovites for God to reveal the truth.

Recordings

*2014: Brussels Philharmonic, Hervé Niquet (conductor)''Dimitri''
2014 recording

References

External links

* Compositions by Victorin de Joncières 1876 operas Cultural depictions of Russian monarchs French-language operas Operas based on actual events Operas Operas about politicians Operas based on plays Operas based on real people Operas based on works by Friedrich Schiller Operas set in Russia Operas set in the 17th century {{French-opera-stub