Composer

:

Modest Mussorgsky

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1960

First Performance

:

Nov 25, 1960

Average_duration

:

133:48

Khovanshchina is an opera composed by Modest Mussorgsky in 1880, but it was left unfinished at the time of his death. The opera was later completed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and premiered in 1886. However, in 1959, Dmitri Shostakovich created his own version of the opera, which is the one that is most commonly performed today. The plot of Khovanshchina is set in 17th century Russia and revolves around the power struggle between two factions: the Old Believers, who are traditionalists and resist the reforms of the Russian Orthodox Church, and the modernizing forces of Peter the Great. The main character is Prince Ivan Khovansky, who leads the Old Believers and seeks to overthrow the current government. However, his plans are complicated by the arrival of a rival faction led by Prince Golitsyn, who is aligned with Peter the Great. The opera is divided into five acts and features a large cast of characters, including historical figures such as Peter the Great and Ivan Mazepa. The music is characterized by its use of Russian folk melodies and its grand, sweeping orchestration. The opera also features several choral movements, including the famous "Dawn on the Moscow River" chorus. The premiere of Shostakovich's version of Khovanshchina took place in 1960 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. The opera was well-received and has since become a staple of the operatic repertoire. Shostakovich's version of the opera is notable for its darker, more somber tone, which reflects the composer's own experiences living under the Soviet regime. Overall, Khovanshchina is a powerful and complex opera that explores themes of power, religion, and tradition. Its rich musical score and intricate plot make it a challenging but rewarding work for both performers and audiences alike.

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