 Based on Pushkin's poem Poltava, Tchaikovsky's opera Mazepa (1884) focuses on a tragic love story between a young woman Maria and a much older Mazepa, a Ukrainian commander allied with Tsar Peter the Great of Russia.
Abandoning her parents, Maria elopes with Mazepa, who also happens to be her godfather. In revenge for stealing Maria and bringing shame to the family, her father Kochubey warns Peter of Mazepa's secret plans to ally with Sweden against Russia. Peter does not believe the story, and turns over Kochubey to Mazepa for execution. Maria learns from her distraught mother Lyubov of upcoming execution, but it is too late to save her father. Guilt-ridden Maria loses her sanity. Siding with Sweden and losing the Poltava battle, Mazepa is on the run. He encounters insane Maria who doesn't recognize him. Being pursued again, Mazepa flees. Wandering Maria then encounters dying Andrei, her lovesick childhood friend. To avenge Kochubey family and his beloved Maria, Andrei challenged Mazepa who shot him in an earlier encounter. Maria mistakes Andrei for an abandoned child and sings a lullaby as he dies in her arms. Opera Roles Ivan Mazepa, hetman - Baritone Kochubey - Bass Lyubov, his wife - Mezzo Soprano Mariya, their daughter - Soprano Andrei - Tenor Orlik, henchman - Bass Iskra, a friend of Kochubey - Tenor  Rachmaninoff's opera Aleko (1892) is based on Pushkin's poem The Gypsies. It tells a tragic love story between Aleko, a Russian, and a free-spirited gypsy girl Zemfira.
Longing for freedom, Aleko abandons the stifling life and rules of "civilized society" for what seems to him an unencumbered, carefree life of nomadic gypsies. Zemfira meets Aleko wandering the southern steppes, brings him into the gypsy camp, and introduces him to her father as her lover. After living together for two years, Zemfira, who now has a baby, lost interest in Aleko. As a warning, the old man tells Aleko his own story of how Zemfira’s mother Mariula abandoned them both, a fate he had to accept. Aleko admits that his views are different and he would seek revenge for betrayal. Suspecting that Zemfira is now in love with a young gypsy, Aleko encounters them together, and kills them both. The old man casts out Aleko adding that his peaceful people do not want a murdered in their midst. Alone again, Aleko finds no escape from fate. Opera Roles Aleko - Baritone Young Gypsy - Tenor Zemfira - Soprano Old Man, Zemfira's father - Bass Gypsy woman - Mezzo/Contralto |
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