New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-19
The Story of "Prince Igor"
and the History of Its Birth

"The prologue takes place in the mar
kct place Of POultIvle. the residence OF
Igor. Prince Of Seversk. The prince
and his army are about 20 start In pur-
suit of the PolOysty. an Oriental tribe
Of Tartar origin. Igor wishes 70 meet
his enemies i'm the plains Of the Don,
whittier they have been driven By a
rival Russian prince, SviatOslav Of klev
lie departs with his son, Vladimir lSo-
rievich, commencing mis- wife, Iaroslav-
ma. 20 the care Of his brother-in-law
Prince Galitsky. The first scene depicts
the treachery Of this nobleman, who
tries TO win over the populace with the
assistance of two deserters from lgor's
army.
an the second scene some young girls
complain to the Princess Yarosayna OF
the abduction of one of their compan-
ions, and implore her protection from
Prince Galitsky. Yaroslavna discovers
the perfidy Of her brother. and after
violent scene drives him from her pres
ence at the very moment when mes
senger arrives with the news that lgor's
army has been defeated on the banks Of
the Kayaia. Igor and Vladimir are
taken prisoners and the Polovsty are
marching on Poultlvle.
1.-THE second and third acts take place
in the enemy's camp. Khan konchak
is a noble type Of Eastern warrior. tie
has one beautiful daughter, Konchakow-
ma, with whom the young Prince Nlad-
imir falls in love. Ovlour, one OF the
Poovetz soldiers, who is Christian
convert, offers TO facilitate lgor's es-
cape. But the prince feels bound by the
chivalrous conduct Of Khan Konchak to
refuse his offer.
an the third act the conquering army
OF the Polovsty return 10 camp, bring
ing the prisoners and spoils taken from
Poultivle. At this sight, Igor, filled
with pity for the sorrows of his wife
and people, consents 20 fee. While the
soldiers are dividing the spoil from
Poultivle, Ovlour plies them literally
with koumiss and, after wild orgy, the
whole camp falls into a drunken sleep.
when the Khan's daughter discovers
their secret preparations for fight she
entreats Vladimir not to forsake her.
He is Oh the point Of yielding, when
his father sternly recalls him TO a
sense of duty. But Konchakowna's
glowing Oriental passion is not 10 be
baked At the last moment, when
Ovloursgives the signal for escape, she
filings herself upon her lover and holds
him back until Igor has mounted and
galloped out of the camp, unconscious
that his son is left behind. Detained
against his will, Vladimir finds no great
difficulty in accommodating himself to
circumstances. The soldiers would like
10 kill him in revenge for his fathers
escape. But the Khan philosophically
remarks: Since the old falcon has
taken flight we must chain the young
falcon by giving him mate. lie must
be my daughters husband
ain the fourth act Yaroslavna sings
her lament as she stands on the terrace
Of her ruined palace. Even while she
bemoans the cruelty Of fate two horse
men come in sight. They prove to be
Igor and the faithful Ovlour. returned
in safety from their perilous ride.
"The opera closes with touch OF
humor. Igor and Yaroslavna enter the
Kremlin at Poultivle at the same mo.
ment as the two deserters Eroshka and
Skoula. The precious pair are shaking
in their shoes, for II Igor catches sight
of them they are lost. To get out OF
their difficulty they set the bells airing
ing and pretend 20 be the first bearers
OF the glad tidings Of Igor's escape"
"Trince Igor" will receive its first
American production at the Metropoh-
tan Opera House on Thursday night OF
next week. The repertory Of the Met
ropolitan for the coming week IS as
follows: