Unsung Composers

The Music => Composers & Music => Topic started by: Christopher on Thursday 07 July 2011, 19:54

Title: Tchaikovsky's destroyed opera Undine
Post by: Christopher on Thursday 07 July 2011, 19:54
Tchaikovsky wrote an opera "Undine" (or Undina).  According to Wikipedia (source of ALL knowledge...!), FIVE pieces from it survive (Tchaikovsky destroyed the rest).  These are:

1.Introduction
2.Aria: "Waterfall, my uncle, streamlet, my brother" (Undina)
3.Chorus: "Help, help! Our stream is raging"
4.Duet: "O happiness, O blessed moment" (Undina, Huldbrand)
5.Chorus: "O hours of death" (soloists, chorus)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undina_(Tchaikovsky))

However, on my VOXBOX recording there are only 4 pieces:
1. Introduction
2. Undine's Aria
3. Undine and Huldbrand's Duet
4. Finale of Act I

So, obviously, my question is - does anyone know if the missing piece has been recorded, or know where I can get it?! Has it even been recorded?
Title: Re: Tchaikovsky's destroyed opera Undine
Post by: britishcomposer on Thursday 07 July 2011, 20:13
Christopher, I have just checked my BBC recording: they sent the same pieces - apart from the overture - which you already have. It's the recording conducted by Yevgeni Akulov.
However, the announcer said this was ALL that survived from the opera. Well...?!
Why not ask youtube's 'Mr Tchaikovsky', http://www.youtube.com/user/quarrion100 (http://www.youtube.com/user/quarrion100)
He may know more?
Title: Re: Tchaikovsky's destroyed opera Undine
Post by: eschiss1 on Thursday 07 July 2011, 20:22
See Tchaikovsky Research (http://www.tchaikovsky-research.org/en/Works/Operas/TH002/index.html)?
Title: Re: Tchaikovsky's destroyed opera Undine
Post by: britishcomposer on Thursday 07 July 2011, 20:44
Thanks, Eric! I will refer to the numbering of the surviving pieces in my following comment.

Christopher,
according to a publication by the Tschaikowsky-Gesellschaft e.V. 'No.3' has often been misleadingly taken as three separate numbers. What wikipedia describes as

3.Chorus: "Help, help! Our stream is raging"
4.Duet: "O happiness, O blessed moment" (Undina, Huldbrand)
5.Chorus: "O hours of death" (soloists, chorus)

is in fact 'your' 'Finale of Act I'.

But what about 'No.5', the reconstructed duet by Shebalin? Seems it hasn't been recorded. My publication states that the Gauk/Akulov is the only 'complete' recording.

Maria Shaguch recorded Undines Aria:
http://www.amazon.com/Tchaikovsky-Experience-N-J%C3%A4rvi/dp/B0000024FG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310067760&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Tchaikovsky-Experience-N-J%C3%A4rvi/dp/B0000024FG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310067760&sr=8-1)
Title: Re: Tchaikovsky's destroyed opera Undine
Post by: fuhred on Friday 08 July 2011, 01:01
As eschiss1 mentioned, check out this link at Tchaikovsky Research:

http://www.tchaikovsky-research.net/en/Works/Operas/TH002/index.html

By the way, Shebalin's reconstruction of the Undine and Huldbrandt duet IS included in the Akulov recording.