Composer

:

Modest Mussorgsky

Genre

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1868

First Performance

:

October 6, 1868

Average_duration

:

38:19

Modest Mussorgsky's opera 'The Marriage' was composed in 1868-1869 and premiered on January 22, 1874, at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. The opera is a comedic work that satirizes the institution of marriage and the social conventions of 19th-century Russia. The plot of 'The Marriage' revolves around the character of Podkolyosin, a middle-aged man who is desperate to get married. He has arranged to meet with two potential brides, but his plans are complicated by the interference of his friends and family. The first potential bride, Agafya, is a wealthy widow who is eager to marry Podkolyosin, but he is put off by her age and lack of beauty. The second potential bride, Fyokla, is a young and attractive woman, but Podkolyosin's friends and family conspire to prevent him from meeting her. The opera is divided into three movements, each of which takes place in a different location. The first movement is set in Podkolyosin's home, where he is preparing for his meetings with the potential brides. The second movement takes place in the home of Podkolyosin's friend, where he is taken to avoid meeting Fyokla. The third movement takes place in a tavern, where Podkolyosin's friends and family have arranged for him to meet with Agafya. One of the characteristics of 'The Marriage' is its use of Russian folk music and dance. Mussorgsky incorporates traditional Russian melodies and rhythms into the score, giving the opera a distinctly nationalistic flavor. Another characteristic is the use of spoken dialogue instead of recitative, which was a departure from the operatic conventions of the time. Despite its initial success, 'The Marriage' fell out of favor in the years following its premiere. Mussorgsky himself was dissatisfied with the work and made several revisions to the score before his death in 1881. It was not until the 20th century that 'The Marriage' began to be recognized as an important work in Mussorgsky's oeuvre and in the history of Russian opera.

More....