Natalka Poltavka (opera)

The opera premiered at the Odessa Theater in 1889 . An attempt to turn this work into a "big opera" with the finished music of Vladimir Yorish failed. The theater returned to the author’s version of Lysenko . Over the years of stage life, such stage masters as Mikhail Shchepkin , Marco Kropyvnytsky , Panas Saksagansky , Maria Zankovetskaya , Ivan Patorzhinsky and Maria Litvinenko-Volgemut , Zoya Gaidai and Oksana Petrusenko performed at different years in different years.

• bailiff Tetervakovsky - tenor;
• Horpina Terpiliha, widow - soprano, mezzo-soprano;
• Natalka, her daughter is a soprano;
• Petro, beloved Natalkin - tenor;
• Mykola, a distant relative of Terpiliha - baritone;
• Makogonenko, rural elective - bass.

The action takes place in Ukraine at the beginning of the XIX century.

The first action . On the green banks of the Vorskla River, near Poltava , there is a small village. Poor girl Natalka recently settled here with her mother Terpiliha. While his father was alive, the family had enough of everything, but now it has become difficult. One way out is to find a rich groom, old Terpilikha dreams about it, but Natalka had a different opinion. She loves Peter, an orphan couple who once worked with Terpiliha as a laborer. Four years ago, Natalka’s father, learning about their love, kicked Peter out. Since then, Natalka has not received any news from him, she does not even know if he will return. Already more than once wealthy, respectable people have wooed her, and she refuses everyone, is waiting for her Peter (the song “Winds blow, violent blows ...”). On the path leading to the well, Natalie Tetervakovsky, the bailiff, was in wait for him. He confesses his feelings to her, promises the girl wealth (Cavatina “I didn’t know love in my youth ...”). But she is inexorable (the aria "One can see the path of Poltava ..."). A distressed bailiff talks about his unsuccessful matchmaking to a friend, the rural elective Makogonenko (duet “What do you want her for? What is she for you?”), And he willingly promises to marry him with Natalka.

The second action . The widow of Terpilikha reprimands Natalka for the fact that she does not spare herself or her mother, does not seek to provide her with a calm old age, and everyone is waiting for this dissolute Peter (aria “Oh, daughter, daughter ...”). Comes elective. He tells Terpilikha about the harassment of the bailiff and draws pictures of a rich, happy life. Terpilikha, sobbing, persuades Natalka not to resist, to feel sorry for her - an old, weak woman (trio "Hey Natalka, obey ..."). Natalka gives consent to marriage with voznim (trio "Where is the consent in the family ..."). She only asks for one thing - not to rush to the wedding.

The third action . Petro comes to the village (the song "The Sun Is Low ..."). Over the years of hard hired work, he saved up some money and now he is hurrying to Poltava , where he left his Natalka, because she promised to wait for him. From the tramp Mykola, he learns that Natalka now lives here in this village, and that she was caught yesterday by the bailiff. Offended by Natalka’s frivolous betrayal, Petro now wants to leave so as not to meet the treacherous girl. Mykola persuades him to stay and calls Natalka from home. The sincere joy of the girl, who ran to meet her beloved, makes Peter believe Natalka. She is happy: now no power in the world will force her to marry a hardened bailiff. The elective and the bailiff are trying to threaten the rebellious girl, but the deep feelings of young people, their determination to defend their happiness win. The bailiff has no choice but to voluntarily give up Natalka. There is no limit to the happiness of lovers. The whole village is happy with them (Natalka’s final song “Oh, I’m a poltavka girl”).

• Overture

Action one

• Winds blow (Natalya)
• From a young age (Vozny)
• Seen Poltava ways (Natalya)
• Red-headed grandfather (elective)
• Oh, under the cherry (Elective)
• Every city has a disposition and rights (Vozny)
• Oh, the fate of people (Vozny and Elective)
• Intermission
• Oh mother, mother (Natalya)
• I to you, daughter (Terpelikha)
• Hey Natalka (Elective, Natalka, Terpreliha)
• Why is the muddy water (Natalya)
• Intermission

Action two

• And no one in the world is worse than anyone (Nikolai)
• The sun is low (Peter)
• The wind blows in the mountain (Nikolai)
• Oh no noise, a puddle (Peter)
• Oh and there was a Cossack with Don (Peter)
• You go. Peter (Natalka. Peter)
• Vorsklo rіchka (Nikolai)
• Oh, I'm a poltavka girl (Natalya)
• Start having fun (sextet)

Songs in Applications

• Guomon, oak-tree homon (Nikolai)
• At Susida hata bila (Peter)

• Notes of the opera N. Lysenko “Natalka Poltavka” (Ukrainian)