“The Gypsies”. Opera (Fragments)

An opera based on the poem by A. S. Pushkin “Gypsies”. Libretto of Shostakovich.

1920-1921, Petrograd.

Partially preserved.

CHARACTERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXTANT AUTOGRAPHS:

Aleko - Tenor
Zemfira - Soprano
Old Man - Baritone
Old gypsy - Baritone
Gypsies - Chorus (SATB)

MUSIC NUMBERS BY THE EXTANT AUTOGRAPHS:

No. 1. Gypsy Choir ("Gypsies with a noisy crowd ..."). Allegro
No. 2. Trio: Old Man, Zemfira and Aleko ("My father, I lead a guest ..."). Moderato
No. 3. Intermezzo (Night in the camp, everyone is sleeping). Moderato
No. 4. Recitative [Old Man] and dance ("Get up, Zemfira, the sun rises ...")
No. 5. Song ("Songs and dances, a cup of wine ..."). Andante con moto
No. 11. Duet [Zemfira and Aleko] with recitations (“Old husband, formidable husband ...”). Presto
No. 12. Arietta of Old Man ("So, I remember, I remember ...")
No. 13. Trio: Aleko, Zemfira and Old Man ("Oh my father! Aleko is terrible ..."). Moderato

The opera, apparently, was completed in the clavier. In 1926, Shostakovich partially destroyed it and later, noting that “among the burnt manuscripts was, in particular, the opera “Gypsies” to Pushkin’s verses, he regretted the loss.

The first five numbers from the extanted material have the general title “Prologue”. It is difficult to judge whether the title refers to all these numbers or only to the first (Gipsy Choir).

There are discrepancies in the literature regarding dating of the work. The proposed dating is based on the features of graphics, spelling and musical skills of the author (see: L-33).

The manuscript of G. N. Rozhdestvensky’s orchestration (No. 11, 12), which served as the material for the concert performance, was stored in the personal archive of the conductor and was lost in a fire in 2011.