Tchaikovsky
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TH 6

The Maid of Orleans

Орлеанская дева

Opera in 4 acts and 6 scenes (1878–79).

• Composed December 1878–August 1879; some scenes revised October 1882.
• Libretto by the composer, after Freidrich Schiller, Vasilii Zhukovskii, Jules Barbier and Auguste Mermet.
• Cast: Joan of Arc (Иоанна д'Арк)—soprano or mezzo-soprano; King Charles VII (Король Карл VII)—tenor; Agnes Sorel (Агнесса Сорель)—soprano; Dunois (Дюнуа)—baritone; Lionel (Лионель)—baritone; Archbishop (Cardinal) (Архиепископ (Кардинал))—bass; Raimond (Раймонд)—tenor; Thibaut d'Arc (Тибо д'Арк)—bass; Bertrand (Бертран)—bass; Soldier (Воин)—2nd bass; Lauret (Лоре)—2nd bass; Angel (Ангел)—soprano + SATB chorus.
• Scored for Piccolo; 3 Flutes; 2 Oboes; Cor Anglais; 2 Clarinets (B♭, A, C); 2 Bassoons; 4 Horns (F, D, E♭, E); 2 Cornets (B♭, A), 2 Trumpets (E♭, F, E, D, A); 3 Trombones; Tuba; Timpani; Triangle; Tambourine; Side Drum; Bass Drum; Tam-tam; Bell (C); Harp; Organ; Violins I; Violins II; Violas; Violoncellos; Double Basses + offstage 3 Trumpets; Wind Band
• First performed in Saint Petersburg, Mariinskii Theatre, 13/25 February 1881, conducted by Eduard Nápravník.
• Dedicated to Eduard Nápravník.
• Average duration: 2h 40m

Contents

Introduction.
Act I — Chorus of Maidens (No. 1); Scena & Terzetto (No. 2); Scena (No. 3); Chorus of Peasants & Scena (No. 4); Scena (No. 5); Hymn (No. 6); Joan's Aria (No. 7); Finale (No. 8); Joan's Aria & Chorus of Angels (No. 8a).
Act II — Entr'acte (No. 9); Chorus of Minstrels (No. 10); Gypsy Dance (No. 11a); Dance of the Pages & Dwarves (No. 11b); Dance of the Clowns & Tumblers (No. 11c); Scena & Duet (No. 12); Agnes's Arioso & Duettino (No. 13); Scena & Archbishop's Narration (No. 14); Joan's Narration (No. 15); Finale (No. 16).
Act III — Scena & Duet (No. 17); March (No. 18); Scena & Duettino (No. 19); Finale (No. 20).
Act IV — Introduction & Scena (No. 21); Duet & Scena (No. 22); Final Scena (No. 23).