Pan Voyevoda

Pan Voyevoda (Russian: Пан воевода, transliteration Pan vojevoda; Polish Pan wojewoda—literally The Gentleman Provincial Governor), is an opera by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. It is based on a libretto by Ilya Tyumenev. The work was completed in 1903, was first performed in October 1904, and has proved to be one of Rimsky-Korsakov's least-successful works. This is due to the ramshackle, melodramatic plot rather than the quality of the music, which at its best (notably in the woodland scenes and dances) approaches the poetic, lyric grace of Smetana, Dvořák and the spirit of the work's dedicatee, Frédéric Chopin.

The St Petersburg premiere took place on 16 October (O.S. 3 October) 1904 at the Great Hall of the St. Petersburg Conservatory in St. Petersburg. The conductor was Václav Suk.

The opera was given its Moscow premiere on 27 September 1905 at the Bolshoi Theatre conducted by Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Another notable performance took place on 12 May 1905 in Warsaw.

The action takes place in the 16th- and 17th-century Poland

An open forest glade.

The Voyevode is a powerful provincial governor. The main plot of the drama springs from his prior meeting in the woods with Maria, an orphan of the old Polish aristocracy, whose beauty has captivated him.

After a brief orchestral Introduction evoking the magic of the woods, Chaplinsky meets with his fiancée Maria and her friends, but on the approach of a hunting party they retreat. The Voyevode arrives with his mistress Jadwiga and the retainers Dzjuba and Olesnici, who are both in love with her. After a Krakowiak is danced the Voyevode describes his meeting with the beautiful young woman, which causes Jadwiga to leave in jealous fury with her friends and admirers. Alone, the Voyevode broods on his passion. Maria chances on him, and having learned that she is betrothed to Chaplinsky the Voyevode orders his servants to seize her. The young nobleman tries to save his bride to be, but falls wounded in the fight. The Voyevode orders him to be thrown into the woods, and declares to the shaken Maria that he will marry her one week hence - which stuns the returning Jadwiga.

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