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Music Text

Libretto by Rodio Shchedrin after Nikolai Gogol (R), Sigrid Neef (G)

Scoring

2colS,3M,A,7T,2Bar,6B;mute role;ballerina;chorus in the pit(8S/8A/6T/6B inc. M,A soloists);
4(III=picc,IV=afl).2.3(III=bcl).3(III=dbn)-4.3.3.1-perc(5):4timp/crot/flex/maracas/guiro/whip/ chocalho/Charleston/tpl.bl/cowbells/tamb/bongos/snare.dr/SD/BD/cym/susp.cym/3gongs/3tam-t/church.bells/glsp/xyl/vib-balalaika-elecgtr/bgtr-hp-cel-hpd-str(0.0.12.10.8)

Abbreviations (PDF)

Publisher

Sikorski

Availability

World Premiere
6/7/1977
Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow
Boris Pokrovsky, director
Conductor: Yuri Temirkanov
Company: Bolshoi Opera

Roles

PAVEL IVANOVITCH CHICHIKOV, Collegiate Councillor Baritone
MANILOV, landowner Tenor
LISANKA, his wife Coloratura Soprano
KOROBOTCHKINA, landowner Mezzo Soprano
NOZDREV, landowner Tenor
MIZHUEV, Nozdrev's brother-in-law Bass
PORFIRY and PAVLUSHKA, Nozdrev's servants Bass, Tenor
MIKHAIL SEMENOVITCH SOBAKEVITCH, landowner BASS
PLIUSHKIN, landowner Mezzo Soprano (or High Tenor)
SELIFAN, Chichikov's coachman Tenor
PETRUSHKA, Chichikov's servant silent role
GOVERNOR Bass
THE GOVERNOR'S WIFE Contralto
THE GOVERNOR'S DAUGHTER Ballerina (silent role)
PROCURATOR Baritone
PRESIDENT OF THE COURT Tenor
CHIEF OF POLICE Bass
POSTMASTER Tenor
CAPTAIN ISPRAVNIK Bass
POPE Tenor
ANNA GRIGORIEVNA, a woman pleasant in all respects Coloratura Soprano
SOFIA IVANOVNA, a merely pleasant woman Mezzo Soprano
Portraits in the homes of Manilov and Sobakevitch, family, guests at the ball, peasants, mouners, soldiers
Time and Place

Russia, 1814

Synopsis

Chichikov, a minor nobleman, travels across Russia with the intention of strengthening his reputation and credibility through the pretend ownership of as many servants as possible. He seeks out landowners and pesuades them to sell him their dead serfs that are still registered as living. After attending a great dinner party at the house of the procurator, Chichikov visits the landowner Manilov in order to buy some 'dead souls'. After initial doubts, Manilov allows himself to be convinced of the legality of the deal. Chichikov subsequently visits the female landowner Korobotchkina, but she is suspicious and so fearful of being disadvantaged that she asks that she can first make some enquiries about the usual price. He visits the landowners Nozdrev and Sobakevitch, the latter offering him his ancestors at a very high price and haggling over the money. His last visit is to the stingy landowner Pliushkin, who only wants to sell him dead souls under the condition that they produce a sales contract.





Word has got round about Chichikov's purchases, and the subject provides the main conversational topic at the governor's ball. Chichikov is outraged about the sumptious festivities - while the country is riddled with poverty and price rises. In the city, people seriously wonder about Chichikov, and a great number of rumours circulate about his background. Suspecting him to be an auditor, the procurator commits suicide. There is also a rumour that Chichikov has eloped with the governor's daughter. When Nozdrev accuses him of kidnapping and maintains that Chichikov is considered by many to be a robber or secret agent, Chichikov makes a rapid departure.

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