Overview
Synopsis
An eclipse foreshadows Prince Igor’s journey into battle against the Khans with a bad omen, but Igor does not listen to the superstitions of his wife. He leaves her under the protection of Prince Galitsky, unaware of Galitsky’s reputation.. When news arrives that Prince Igor has been captured, any thoughts of a rescue mission are immediately thwarted, as Khan Gzak’s forces launch an attack on the town.
Meanwhile, in the Polovtsian camp, Khan Konchak offers Prince Igor every luxury he has at his disposal, celebrating this opportunity to talk about peace with wine and dances. With Prince Igor distracted, his son, Vladimir, takes the opportunity to visit Konchakovna, the Khan’s daughter. They are deeply in love, and desperate to be married, but Konchakovna is worried that Vladimir’s father will refuse.
Khan Gzak and his soldiers return to the Polovtsian camp, claiming a great victory; they have destroyed Prince Igor’s home town. Igor is eager to return home, and accepts assistance from Ovlur, who is an outsider amongst his people.
At the sight of the men returning on horseback, the town bells are set ringing and everyone celebrates the return of their ruler. His son is lost to the Polovtsians, but Prince Igor has returned to protect his home and his wife.
As Borodin’s only opera, Prince Igor is an important piece in the canon of Russian opera. It showcases many elements of traditional music, including its famous Polovtsian dances, as well as grand choruses, and incredibly beautiful vocal writing, in a story of war, religion, honor, and love.
Show Information
- Music
- Alexander Borodin
- Libretto
- Alexander Borodin
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 4
- First Produced
- 1890
- Genres
- Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- 12th century, Putivl, Russia
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Heavy
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Professional Opera, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Adult, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Silent |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto |
Songs
Author’s Note: in this breakdown ‘Vladimir’ refers to Prince Vladimir Igorevitch, rather than Prince Vladimir Galitsky, who is referred to throughout as ‘Galitsky’.
- Overture
Prologue - The cathedral square in Putivl
- No. 1 Introduction ‘солнцу красному слава!’ /’To the red sun, glory!’ Chorus, Prince Igor, Galitsky, Vladimir, Skula, Yeroshka, Yaroslavna
Act 1 - Putivl
Scene One - At the house of Prince Vladimir Galitsky
- No. 2a Chorus ‘Гой! слава владимиру’ / ‘Glory to Vladimir’ - Chorus, Skula, Yeroshka
- No. 2b Recitative and aria ‘грешна таить, я скуки пе люблю’ / ‘It is wrong to conceal, I hate boredom’ - Galitzky, Chorus
- No. 2c Recitative ‘сестра? схимница, смиренница’ / ‘Sister? Humble woman’ - Galitsky, Chorus,
- No. 2d Chorus of young ladies ‘ой! Лихонько!’ .’Oh! Dashing!’ - Chorus, Galitsky, Yeroshka, Skula
- No. 2e Scene ‘Стой, ребята, слухай’ / ‘Wait, friends, listen’ - Skula, Eroshka, Chorus
- No. 2f Song for the prince ‘что у князя да владимира’ / ‘What about Prince Vladimir’ - Skula, Yeroshka, Chorus
- No. 2g Chorus ‘да, воть кому бы княжить на Путивле’ / ‘Yes, there’s someone to reign over Putivil’ - Chorus, Yeroshka, Skula
Scene Two - Yaroslavna’s Room
- No. 3 Arioso ‘не мало времени’ / ‘Not enough time’ - Yaroslavna
- No. 4 Scene ‘там девушки пришли къ те, оые княгиня’ / ‘These girls are here for you, O Princess’ - Nurse, Yaroslavna, Maidens
- No. 5 Scene ‘Ай! Князь!’ / ‘Ah! Prince!’ - Chorus, Yaroslavna, Vladimir
- No. 6 Finale I ‘добро пожаловать, бояре’ / ‘Welcome, Boyars’ - Yaroslavna, Boyars, Maidens
Act Two - The Polovtsian Camp, Evening
- No. 7 Chorus of Polovtsian Maidens ‘на безво ли, днем на солнце’ / ‘In the sunshine, in the afternoon sun’ - A Polovtsian Maiden, Chorus of Maidens
- No. 8 Dance of Polovtsian Maidens
- No. 9 Recitative ‘меркнет свет дневной’ / ‘ Daylight fades’ and Cavatina ‘Ночь, спускайся скорей’ / ‘Night, come down quickly’ - Konchakovna, Chorus of Maidens
- No. 10 Scene and Chorus ‘подруги, девицы’ / ‘Friends, maidens’ - Kontchkovna, Maidens, Prisoners
- No. 11 Recitative and Cavatina ‘медленно лень угасль’ / ‘ Slowly laziness faded’ - Vladimir
- No. 12 Duet ‘Ты ли, владимир мой’ / ‘Is it you, my Vladimir?’ - Konchakovna, Vladimir
- No. 13 Aria ‘ни сна, ни отдыха, измученной’ / ‘No sleep, no rest, tormented’ - Prince Igor
- No. 14 Scene ‘Позволь мнё, княже’ / ‘Let me, Prince’ - Prince Igor, Ovlur
- No. 15 Aria 'Здоров ли, князь’ / ‘Are you well, Prince?’ - Konchak, Prince Igor
- No. 16 Recitative ‘Гей! Цленниц привести сюда’ / ‘Hey! Bring the captives here’ - Konchak, Prince Igor
- No. 17 Polovtsian Dance and Chorus ‘Улетай на крыльях ветра’ / ‘Fly away on the wings of the wind’ - Chorus, Konchak
Act Three - The Polovtsian Camp
- No. 18 Polovtsian March ‘Рать идет домой’ / ‘Our father’s come home’ - Chorus
- No. 19 Aria 'Напи меч нам дал победу’ / ‘We gained victory by the sword’ - Konchak, Chorus
- No. 20a Recitative ‘Играйте, трубы!’ / ‘Play, trumpets!’ - Konchak
- No. 20b Chorus ‘Идем за ним’ / ’Follow him’ - Chorus of Khans
- No. 20c Scene ‘Ужель хан наш городъ взял’ / ‘Really, Khan took our city?’ - Vladimir, Prince Igor, Chorus of Polovtsians, Chorus of Russian Prisoners, Chorus of boys
- No. 21 Chorus and Dance ‘Подобен солнцу хан Кончак’ / ‘Like the sun, Khan Konchak’ - Chorus
- No. 22 Recitative ‘Князь, скорёй собирайся в путь’ / ‘Prince, get ready soon’ - Ovlur,
- No. 23 Trio ‘Владимир!’- Konchakovna, Vladimir, Igor
- No. 24 Finale III ‘Князь Игорь ускакал’ / ‘Prince Igor rode away’ - Konchakovna. Chorus, Konchak
Act Four - Yaroslavna’s Room, Putivl, Dawn
- No. 25 Jaroslavna’s complaint ‘Aхь! плачу я’ / ‘Ah! I cry’ - Yaroslavna
- No. 26 Chorus ‘Ох, не буйный вётер завывал’ / ‘Oh, not a violent wind howling’ - Chorus
- No. 27 Duet ‘Как уныло все кругом’ / ‘How sad all around’ - Yaroslavna, Prince Igor
- No. 28 Song of Gudok Players ‘Ты гуди, гуди да ты’ / ‘You gudi, gudi, yes, you’- Yeroshka, Skula,
- No. 29 Finale ‘Гой, гуляй!’ / ‘Hey, live! - Yeroshka, Skula, Chorus
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.