Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades is staged at the National Opera House “Maria Biesu” in Chisinau for the second time, but it will be a premiere under the direction of people’s artist Eleonora Constantinov, with Andriy Yurkevych as conductor, IPN reports.
In a news conference on June 3, director Eleonora Constantinov said the opera transposes the urban culture of the aristocratic atmosphere in Saint Petersburg in the 18th century Alexander Pushkin’s story was the basis of the opera The Queen of Spades by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It is about an ethnic German Hermann, who is an officer in the Imperial Russian Army. One night, he finds out that an elderly countess lost a fortune at cards, and then won it back with the secret of the three winning cards. Hermann becomes obsessed with obtaining the secret and loses his property in the end.
The countess has a young ward, Lizavyeta Ivanovna. Hermann sends love letters to Lizavyeta, and persuades her to let him into the house. The title of the opera has double symbolism: the failure of Hermann and the old lady, who knows the secret of the three winning card.
“The Queen of Spades fully reflects the psychological state of the composer when he wrote the opera. Deploring Hermann, Tchaikovsky experienced the feelings of his character, which inevitably led to death. The elderly countess is associated with death,” said Eleonora Constantinov.
“It is a valuable performance with complex dramatic language. The opera educates the public affectively and sends the message that not the money, but love is important,” soloist Rodica Picireanu, who plays the role of Lizavyeta, has told IPN.
“Our life is full of trivial things. The people forget about what is important and do not fight for the values transmitted from generation to generation. Hermann shows the mistakes that are often made by young people in love,” said Igor Macarenco, who plays the part of Hermann.
The countess is the complex personage of the opera. She is the powerful woman who inspires the respect and the fear for the young generation, said soloist Liliana Marin. “I play two roles – of the countess and the governess. They complement each other. I think the public will be impressed. We will do our utmost,” she stated.
The opera will be performed at the National Opera House “Maria Biesu” on June 5 and June 8. Tickets can be bought from the box office for 50 to 100 lei.
