Shchors (opera): Difference between revisions

Shchors
Shchors
Opera by Borys Lyatoshynsky
	The composer
Librettist	Ivan Kocherga [uk]; Maksym Rylsky;
Language	Ukrainian
Based on	life of Mykola Shchors
Premiere	1 September 1938; Kyiv Opera House

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Shchors (Ukrainian: Щорс; also known as Commander) is an opera in five acts by the Ukrainian composer Borys Lyatoshynsky. It was written in 1937–1938 to a libretto by Ivan Kocherga [uk] and Maksym Rylsky. The main hero, Mykola Shchors, was a military figure originally from Zhytomyr Oblast. The opera was first staged at the Kyiv Opera House on 1 September 1938.

History

The Ukrainian composer Borys Lyatoshynsky composed Shchors from 1937 as his second opera, after The Golden Ring. The libretto was written by Ivan Kocherga [ru] and Maksym Rylsky.^[1] Lyatoshynsky chose Ukrainian themes for both operas. The main hero is Mykola Shchors, a military figure originally from the Ukrainian city of Snovsk, who took an active part in the Ukrainian–Soviet War on the side of the Soviet Red Army, and who died in battle against the troops of the Ukrainian Galician Army.^[2]

The opera was first staged at the Kyiv Opera House on 1 September 1938, conducted by Vladimir Dranishnikov,^[3]^[4] and remained in the repertoire of the house.^[5]

Synopsis

Shchors consists of five acts.^[6]

Act 1: The villagers meet Shchors. Shchors sings an aria in which he assures the audience that "the wise Lenin is leading us to the goal" and calls on the peasants to join the armed forces.
Act 2: In a dilapidated manor house, where a hospital for the sick is located, Ukrainian military soldier Zapara tells a paramedic about the need to stop the Bolshevik aggressors. Zapara leaves, and Shchors appears in his place with associates—they discuss supply problems, Shchors expresses concern about the large number of sick people.
Act 3: Hryts, a Red Army soldier, agitates the peasants to join Vladimir Lenin's side. Suddenly, a German officer appears and, with the help of soldiers, detains Hryts. Soon, a detachment of Red Army soldiers arrives and forces the German and Ukrainian soldiers to retreat.
Act 4: Shchors' henchman Liya complains that Petliura is ready to "sell the people to the interventionists" and glorifies the name of Lenin. Soon, Shchors appears, who glorifies not only Lenin, but also Stalin, and calls to prepare an attack on Kyiv.
Act 5: The focus is on Shchors and his henchmen fighting against Ukrainian troops. In this battle, Shchors dies with the words "Forward, gods, our victory." Lenin...",^{[clarification needed]} after which the choir mournfully sings "The Cossack is carried and the horse is led." In the second picture, the corpse of the commander is sent by truck to the sounds of a Bogun song.

References

^ Wytwycky, Wasyl. "Liatoshynsky, Borys". Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine. Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
^ Makhun, Sergey (31 August 2001). "Загибель Миколи Щорса – більше питань, ніж відповідей?" [The death of Mykola Shchors – more questions than answers?]. The Day. Kyiv. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
^ Hakobian, Levon (2016). Music of the Soviet Era: 1917–1991 (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge. p. 445. ISBN 978-1-31-709186-8.
^ "Shevchenko National Opera House of Ukraine (Kiev)". worldwalk.info. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
^ Revutsky, Valeriian. "National Opera of Ukraine". Internet Encyclopaedia of Ukraine. Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
^ "Щорс" [Shchors] (Libretto and work details) (in Russian). 1938. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014 – via National Library of Ukraine.

External links

Information about (and an excerpt from) a 1939 record of the opera from Russian Records

[1] Wytwycky, Wasyl. "Liatoshynsky, Borys". Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine. Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies. Retrieved 20 October 2022.

[2] Makhun, Sergey (31 August 2001). "Загибель Миколи Щорса – більше питань, ніж відповідей?" [The death of Mykola Shchors – more questions than answers?]. The Day. Kyiv. Retrieved 30 October 2022.

[3] Hakobian, Levon (2016). Music of the Soviet Era: 1917–1991 (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge. p. 445. ISBN 978-1-31-709186-8.

[4] "Shevchenko National Opera House of Ukraine (Kiev)". worldwalk.info. Retrieved 20 October 2022.

[Rev-5] Revutsky, Valeriian. "National Opera of Ukraine". Internet Encyclopaedia of Ukraine. Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies. Retrieved 20 October 2022.

[6] "Щорс" [Shchors] (Libretto and work details) (in Russian). 1938. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014 – via National Library of Ukraine.

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[2]

[3]

[4]

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[6]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Ukrainian opera by Lyatoshynsky}}
+{{italic title}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
 {{Infobox opera
 | name              = Shchors
 | composer          = [[Borys Lyatoshynsky]]
-| image             = Nikolay Aleksandrovich Shchors (1895 - 1919).jpg
+| image             = Borys Lyatoshynsky (composer).png
 | image_upright     = 0.8
-| caption           = [[Mykola Shchors]], the hero of the opera
+| caption           = The composer
-| librettist        = {{ubl| Ivan Kocherga | [[Maksym Rylsky]]}}
+| librettist        = {{ubl| {{Ill|Ivan Kocherga|uk|Кочерга Іван Антонович}} | [[Maksym Rylsky]]}}
 | language          = Ukrainian
-| based_on          = life of Mykola Shchors
+| based_on          = life of [[Mykola Shchors]]
-| premiere_date     = <!--{{Start date|1930|3|26|df=y}}-->
+| premiere_date     = {{Start date|1938|09|01|df=y}}
 | premiere_location = [[Kyiv Opera House]]
 }}
-'''''Shchors''''' ({{lang-uk|Щорс}}) (also known as ''Commander'') is an opera in five acts by the Ukrainian composer [[Borys Lyatoshynsky]]. It was written in 1937-38 to a [[libretto]] by Ivan Kocherga and [[Maksym Rylsky]]. The main hero of the opera is [[Mykola Shchors]], a military figure originally from [[Zhytomyr Oblast]]. The opera was first staged at the [[Kyiv Opera House]]. who took an active part in the Ukrainian-Soviet war on the side of Soviet Russia and died in battle against the troops of the Ukrainian-Galician army.
+'''''Shchors''''' ({{langx|uk|Щорс|link=none}}; also known as '''''Commander'''''{{--)}} is an opera in five acts by the [[List of Ukrainian composers|Ukrainian composer]] [[Borys Lyatoshynsky]]. It was written in 1937{{ndash}}1938 to a [[libretto]] by {{Ill|Ivan Kocherga|uk|Кочерга Іван Антонович}} and [[Maksym Rylsky]]. The main hero, [[Mykola Shchors]], was a military figure originally from [[Zhytomyr Oblast]]. The opera was first staged at the [[Kyiv Opera House]] on 1 September 1938.
 == History ==
-[[File:Maksym Rylskyiy.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|[[Maksym Rylsky|Maksym Rylsky]], one of the librettists]]
+[[File:Maksym Rylskyiy.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|[[Maksym Rylsky]], one of the librettists]]
-Lyatoshynsky composed ''Shchors'' from 1937 as his second opera, after ''[[The Golden Ring (opera)|The Golden Ring]]''. The [[libretto]] was written by {{ill|Ivan Kocherga|ru|Кочерга, Иван Антонович}} and [[Maksym Rylsky]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CL%5CI%5CLiatoshynskyBorys.htm |title=Liatoshynsky, Borys|publisher=Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine|date=12 October 2022}}</ref> The main hero of the opera is [[Mykola Shchors]], a military figure originally from [[Zhytomyr Oblast]], who took an active part in the Ukrainian-Soviet war on the side of Soviet Russia and died in battle against the troops of the Ukrainian-Galician army. The composer wrote the music in keeping with the party line of the Soviet regime.<ref name="Gintov" />
+The [[List of Ukrainian composers|Ukrainian composer]] [[Borys Lyatoshynsky]] composed ''Shchors'' from 1937 as his second opera, after ''[[The Golden Ring (opera)|The Golden Ring]]''. The [[libretto]] was written by {{ill|Ivan Kocherga|ru|Кочерга, Иван Антонович}} and [[Maksym Rylsky]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Wytwycky|first1=Wasyl |title=Liatoshynsky, Borys |url=http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CL%5CI%5CLiatoshynskyBorys.htm |encyclopedia=[[Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine]]|publisher=[[Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies]]|access-date=20 October 2022}}</ref> Lyatoshynsky chose Ukrainian themes for both operas. The main hero is [[Mykola Shchors]], a military figure originally from the Ukrainian city of [[Snovsk]], who took an active part in the [[Ukrainian–Soviet War]] on the side of the Soviet [[Red Army]], and who died in battle against the troops of the [[Ukrainian Galician Army]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Makhun|first1=Sergey |title=Загибель Миколи Щорса – більше питань, ніж відповідей? |url=https://day.kyiv.ua/uk/article/ukrayina-incognita/zagibel-mikoli-shchorsa-bilshe-pitan-nizh-vidpovidey |access-date=30 October 2022|newspaper=[[The Day (Kyiv)|The Day]]|location=Kyiv|date=31 August 2001 |page=|trans-title=The death of Mykola Shchors – more questions than answers?}}</ref>
+The opera was first staged at the [[Kyiv Opera House]] on 1 September 1938, conducted by Vladimir Dranishnikov,<ref>{{cite book|last=Hakobian|first=Levon|title=Music of the Soviet Era: 1917–1991|page=445|date=2016|publisher=[[Routledge]]|location=New York|isbn=978-1-31-709186-8|edition=2nd|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kM2VDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT445}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://worldwalk.info/en/catalog/1295/ |title=Shevchenko National Opera House of Ukraine (Kiev) |website=worldwalk.info |date= |access-date=20 October 2022}}</ref> and remained in the repertoire of the house.<ref name="Rev">{{cite web |last1=Revutsky|first1=Valeriian |title=National Opera of Ukraine |url=http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CN%5CA%5CNationalOperaofUkraine.htm |website=Internet Encyclopaedia of Ukraine |publisher=Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies |access-date=20 October 2022}}</ref>
-The opera was first staged at the [[Kyiv Opera House]].
 == Synopsis ==
-The opera consists of five acts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715003313/http://elib.nplu.org/view.html?id=269|title=Щорс|website=elib.nplu.org|date=12 October 2022|language=Russian}}</ref>
+''Shchors'' consists of five acts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elib.nlu.org.ua/view.html?id=269|title=Щорс|trans-title=Shchors|type=Libretto and work details|via=[[National Library of Ukraine]]|date=1938|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715003313/http://elib.nplu.org/view.html?id=269 |archive-date=15 July 2014 |language=ru}}</ref>
+[[File:Nikolay Aleksandrovich Shchors (1895 - 1919).jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|[[Mykola Shchors]], the hero of the opera]]
-=== First act ===
-The villagers meet Shchors. Shchors sings an aria in which he assures the audience that "the wise Lenin is leading us to the goal" and calls on the peasants to join the armed forces.
+;Act 1: The villagers meet Shchors. Shchors sings an aria in which he assures the audience that "the wise Lenin is leading us to the goal" and calls on the peasants to join the armed forces.
+;Act 2: In a dilapidated manor house, where a hospital for the sick is located, Ukrainian military soldier Zapara tells a [[paramedic]] about the need to stop the [[Bolsheviks|Bolshevik]] aggressors. Zapara leaves, and Shchors appears in his place with associates—they discuss supply problems, Shchors expresses concern about the large number of sick people.
+; Act 3: Hryts, a [[Red Army]] soldier, agitates the peasants to join [[Vladimir Lenin]]'s side. Suddenly, a German officer appears and, with the help of soldiers, detains Hryts. Soon, a detachment of Red Army soldiers arrives and forces the German and Ukrainian soldiers to retreat.
-=== Second act ===
+; Act 4: Shchors' henchman Liya complains that Petliura is ready to "sell the people to the interventionists" and glorifies the name of Lenin. Soon, Shchors appears, who glorifies not only Lenin, but also [[Stalin]], and calls to prepare an attack on Kyiv.
-In a dilapidated manor house, where a hospital for the sick is located, Ukrainian military soldier Zapara tells a paramedic about the need to stop the Bolshevik aggressors. Zapara leaves, and Shchors appears in his place with associates - they discuss supply problems, Shchors expresses concern about the large number of sick people.
+;Act 5: The focus is on Shchors and his henchmen fighting against Ukrainian troops. In this battle, Shchors dies with the words "Forward, gods, our victory." Lenin...",{{clarify|date=November 2022|Strange quote marks here.}} after which the choir mournfully sings "The Cossack is carried and the horse is led." In the second picture, the corpse of the commander is sent by truck to the sounds of a Bogun song.
-=== Third act ===
-Red Army man Hryts agitates the peasants to join Lenin's side. Suddenly, a German officer appears and, with the help of soldiers, detains Hryts. Soon, a detachment of Red Army soldiers arrives and forces the German and Ukrainian soldiers to retreat.
-=== Forth act ===
-Shchors' henchman Liya complains that Petliura is ready to "sell the people to the interventionists" and glorifies the name of Lenin. Soon, Shchors appears, who glorifies not only Lenin, but also Stalin, and calls to prepare an attack on Kyiv.
-=== Fifth act ===
-The focus is on Shchors and his henchmen fighting against Ukrainian troops. In this battle, Shchors dies with the words "Forward, gods, our victory." Lenin...", after which the choir mournfully sings "The Cossack is carried and the horse is led." In the second picture, the corpse of the commander is sent by truck to the sounds of a Bogun song.
 ==References==
-{{reflist
+{{reflist}}
-| refs =
+==External links ==
-<ref name="Gintov">{{cite web
+* [https://www.russian-records.com/details.php?image_id=38562&l=russian Information about (and an excerpt from) a 1939 record of the opera] from Russian Records
-| last = Gintov
-| first = Pavlo
-| url = https://bykvu.com/eng/thoughts/music-and-politics-in-the-xx-century-broken-ukrainian-composers-and-their-legacy/
-| title = Music and politics in the XX century. Rediscovering broken and forgotten Ukrainian composers
-| website = bykvu.com
-| date = 6 September 2021
-| access-date = 12 October 2022
-}}</ref>
-}}
 {{Borys Lyatoshynsky}}
+{{Portal bar|Opera}}
 {{authority control}}
-{{italic title}}
 [[Category:1938 operas]]
 [[Category:Operas]]
 [[Category:Ukrainian-language operas]]
+[[Category:Operas set in Ukraine]]
+[[Category:Operas set in the 20th century]]
 [[Category:Compositions by Borys Lyatoshynsky]]
+[[Category:Operas based on real people]]

v t e Borys Lyatoshynsky
List of compositions
Operas	The Golden Ring (1929) Shchors (1938)
Symphonies	Symphony No. 1 (1919) Symphony No. 2 (1936) Symphony No. 3 (1951) Symphony No. 4 (1963) Symphony No. 5 (1956/1966)
Other	Suite from The Golden Ring (1928) Suite from Taras Shevchenko (1951) Suite from Romeo and Juliet (1956) Polish Suite (1960) Slavonic Suite (1968)
Category Commons