Образ Графини в опере П. И. Чайковского «Пиковая дама»

Abstract

Research objective – to make a comprehensive analysis of the Countess image created by the authors of the “Queen of Spades” opera – P.I. Tchaikovsky and his librettist M.I. Tchaikovsky. The methodology of the study is based on the analysis of the means of verbal and musical languages together with the use of the literary and musicological sources. The scientific novelty is due to absence of a special study devoted to the analysis of the Countess image despite a great number of the musicological and theatre studies literature. Attention has also been paid to the life prototypes of the Countess from A.S. Pushkin novels and to the comparison of the literary character of the source material with the opera. The practical value of this study lies in a possibility to visualize the Countess’ character by the opera director and performers in exact matching with the intentions of the authors of the musical piece created by verbal and musical means with great persuasion and true to life as contrary to the so-called “director’s” stage performance. Conclusions. The conducted analysis results in rethinking of the image of the Countess that has been established in the scientific literature and in its advanced characteristic, which makes it possible for the performer to treat this character closer to the opera concept. Analysis of the voice part of the Countess reveals a possibility to perform it, preferably, by a contralto singer, not by mezzo-soprano. The Countess is represented as a quite realistic character presented multilaterally and combining various character traits that are explained both by declining years and by peculiar traits of this particular personality in accordance with her social status, background features and personal qualities. The character of the Countess created by German’s imagination and existing in his consciousness only is embodied in his voice part cues, by expressive themes passing, mainly, in the orchestra and, particularly, by musical instruments that do not require a naive scenic illustration.