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|Startsida | Sångare | Andra artister och kreatörer | Libretton | Operahus | Jag och min operavärld | Sökord |
Music:Pjotr Tjajkovskij.Lyrics:Modest Tjajkovskij after Pusjkins tale
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First performance at Marinsky in S:t Petersburg on 19 of December 1890.
| Role | Voicetype |
|---|---|
| Herman | tenor |
| Liza | soprano |
| The Countess | mezzosoprano |
| Tomskij | baritone |
| Jeletskij | baritone |
| Pauline | alto |
| Tjekalinskij | tenor |
| Surin | bass |
| Guvernanten | mezzosoprano |
| Tjaplitskij | tenor |
| Narumov | bass |
| Ceremonimaster | tenor |
Hope and light fills the air: spring is here and children plays in the park.An old Countess and a beautiful young woman are taking a walk. They feel pursued by a dark officer, but escape as he is held up fellow soldiers. His name is Herman.
The soldiers mock Hermann, but the Count Tomsky defends him, enticing Hermann to reveal that he is in love with a rich girl.He doesn´t even know her name - and will never obtain her love. All he can do is follow her.
The Prince Yeletski, who tells Count Tomsky of his engagement, joins them.. He introduces his fiancée, Lisa and her guardian the Countess. Hermann is shocked as he recognises the girl he is so deeply in love with.
Count Tomsky tells the soldiers of the old Countess: In her youth she was a coveted beauty, but once she staked her reputation. She had to pay the price of a night of passion to gain the magic secret of the three cards that always wins the game. Since then she has told two men of her secret. A ghost cautioned her; the third will be her assassin.
Hermann hears the story, and becomes taken by the idea of the three cards. They could secure him money and thereby Liza. Dare he hope?
Liza has friends visiting. But she is sad and strangely tetached, in spite of all the frolicking and singing that surrounds her. One of the girls, Pauline, is puzzled by Liza´s gloom on the day of her engagement to the noble and handsome Prince.
The governess harshly throws out Lia´s friends. And once Liza is alone, her tears fall heavily. She can only think of the dark, enchanting man that followed her. At that moment Hermann enters. He has broken in to the house to meet the terrified Liza. He knows she is to marry another and tells her that the only things left for him is death.
The suspicious Countess interrupts them, but Hermann manages to hide. After the Countess leaves, Liza, all dazed and confused, succumbs to Hermann; "I´m yours".
Liza has summoned Hermann to a grand ball.. She arrives with the Prince, who senses her unease. He declares that he loves her and will do anything for her, but Liza cannot reply. Hermann arrives, but feels uncomfortable at this elegant ball, he imagines that the secret of the three cards will pave his way to the circles where Liza belongs.
Liza finds Hermann and hands him the keys to her aunt´s house. He can access her room, unseen, through the old Countess´bedroom. Hermann says he will come this very night.
Hermann sneaks into the Countess´room. He can´t escape the thought of gaining her secret of the three cards. He has decided to hide and wait for the Countess instead of going to see Liza, who anticipates him anxiously.
In her room the Countess dreams of parties of her youth, but Hermann interrupts her, and begs her to give him the secret. She doesn´t answer and finally he treatens her with a pistol. The Countess drops dead. Hermann is at his wits end. Then Liza steps into the room to discover her dead aunt. Mortified she screams that Hermann must leave-
Hermann has received a letter from Liza, she asks him to meet her at midnight. She can´t belierve that he has killed the Countess, and she still loves him. Hermann is scared to leave the barracks, and in the blowing of the wind he imagines the old Countess appear. She demands that he take care of Liza in exchange for the secret of the three cards. Three, Seven, Ace. Delighted, Hermann now hurries off to his rendezvous with Liza.
Liza is clinging onto hope, as finally Hermann arrives, exhilarated. He asks her to follow him, as he has solved all their problems. He wants to go to the gambling den and win all the gold that awaits him. She doesn´t understand. But the she realises that Hermann must have treatened the life out of Countess to gain her secret. Liza understands that he is completely obsessed by the thought of the three cards.
She begs him to give up and elope with her, but he pushes her aside furiously and runs off. Liza has lost everything and throws herself in the river.
Prince Yeletski arrives at the gambling den, seeking revenge. Spirits are high, until Hermann enters. He always used to merely observe the other gamblers, and now he bets 40 000 on one single card: Three. He wins, doubles up and wins again: Seve. Everyone withdraws from the game and this vexes Hermann. But then the Prince joins in. And Hermann plays the last of his three cards…
The Royal Danish Opera in Copenhagen, Denmark season 2000/2001 Translation to English by Nina Basset.
