| THE MAID OF ORLEANS
The libretto by P. Tchaikovsky is based on the drama of the same name by F. Shiller (in V. Zhukovsky’s translation), and the drama by J. Barbie “Joanne d’Arc”.
The opera was first performed February 25, 1881 at the Mariinsky theatre (St. Petersburg) and was conducted by E. Napravnic, whom the composer dedicated his opera to. The opera is full of crowd scenes, big ensembles and scenes of processions, battles and duels. The first performance was a great success and the next didn’t do equally well. The music was duly represented in the performance at the Bolshoi theatre, Moscow.
The performance conducted by Boris Khaikin is marked with richness of sound, power and expression. The main heroine, Sofia Preobrazhenskaya, introduces incredible emotional force to the part of Joanne. The unique beauty of her voice and enormously rich soul of the singer give a special, inimitable coloring to the performance. |
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