Evening star., 1934-01-21


artists among whom is Nicolai
Chaliapin's type, and Elena b
learned to sing in Russian.
It is not as an opera composer that
Tschaikowsky ranks highest. although
he has produced solid masterpieces in
the form of Eugene Onegin' and
"Pique Dame" and even "Iolanthe," re-
vived this season in celebration of the
fortieth anniversary of his death.
'Mazeppa" is one of several operas
which Tschaikowsky wrote and which
flourished with deceiving success for a
time to fall into oblivion in a few years
time 1t Is rather as an inscriber of
intimate emotions in broader form
without the hindrance of descriptive
words that Tschaikowsky has gained
and held the admiration of every ma
ton with any response to a musical
poem. When in November Of last year,
40 years after his death, his genius
was again under valuation, the fine,
delicate beauty he has left us in his
compositions shone with an undimin-
ished light that has become more con-
vincing, perhaps, because Of the tangle
of ideas the search for improvement has
brought us into.
At the time of the first production
of "Mazeppa" in 1888, Tschaikowsky
was at the height of his fame and while
"Mazeppa' was being given its first
hearing in Moscow. his Eugene One
gin was simultaneously being produced
in st. Petersburg. The success of
"Mazeppa' was instantaneous, the
audience Of that first night refusing to
calm down its enthusiasm even in the
entire act and recalling the composer at
least 80 times. The next day Tschai-
l.
but completely exhausted by the ova-
ton his timid nature disliked. For some
time the opera continued to have sue
cess, but gradually the public tired of
its gloomy theme without relief and its
production was discontinued until it
was revived in ST. Petersburg in 1917
with scenery and other accessories
rivaling the magnlficenCe OF its first
performance From that day under the
old regime, until the past year when the
Ukrainian Art Theater resurrected it.
"Mazeppa' was considered as one OF
the lost operas of Tschaikowsky.
The opera combines the work OF two
of RusSia's greatest geniuses, TSchal-
koWsky. the composer and Pushkln, the
poet. The great battle of Poltava, one
Of the most important events in the
reign of Peter the Great, and one in
which Mazeppa played the dual role
of hero and traitor. caught the fancy of
PIshkin who wrote the entire poem in
the space of the first 13 days of Octo-
Der, 1928. 1t is believed that he had
q definite person in mind when pictur-
ing the character of the heroine, Motrya.
but who she might be has ever remained
a mystery. The poem was dedicated
simply, ITO Thee-the voice of the un- m
known muse" and below was written
in English i love thee, sweet maid"
with the W. of the word sweet changed
Byron. PuShkin worked feVerlshly over
the poem in order to Offset his distress
over the displeasure OF the &c car trins at ms
ada" and his condemnation as one OF
dangerous influence.
A libretto was fashioned by Burenin
and first placed in the hands of David
of, the famous celliSt and composer.
Davidoff could arouse no interest for
the composing of a musical setting and
let it lie untouched for several years,
eventually turning it over to Tschal-
kowsky who also put it aside for some
time Finally. happening to read again
Pushkin's poem, he saw the possibilities
of a dramatic opera and started to
work, and in short time had. COM
posed the great love duet and general
outline of the opera,
Inspiration was not continuous and this
fact caused him much worry. but when
he finished it and the production was
under way he was happy and wrote
his brother, 1T is remarkable how easy
and simply the entire production came
about" 1t had usually been his lot to
make repeated visits to the directors
Of the opera and beg that his works be
given consideration, but this time every
thing went smoothly. Directors and
artists took an interest at once.
the effects of a Ukrainian night, so i'm
portant in certain scenes, and the
opera was produced with lavish splen-
dor.
The character of Mazeppa is his
torically authentic, as also the tale
which Pushkin incorporated in his
poem. Once a poor boy, he became a
warrior and a poet with an ambition
that brought him to great power and
which aimed at acquiring a throne
His beautiful songs were sung by
Motrya. who cherished him as a ro-
mantle youth even when, on meeting
man IT was the youthful poet and
fighter that she continued to see in
him with which she fell In love,
and even when her beloved father spoke
Of him as vllture ready to play upon
his fair and clever daughter, she re-
fused to be convinced and prepared to
tragedy the story reaches a stirring
power for which Tschaikowsky has