“Grinder” is a comic opera in two acts by Nikolai Petrovich Nikolaev , using fabulous plot elements. In this work, N.P. Nikolev is one of the first in Russian literature to use motifs from Russian folk tales and introduces an “oriental theme” into Russian drama. [one]
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| Grinder | |
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| Tongue libretto | |
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The main conflict of The Grinder was taken by Nikolayev from the opera by J.-F. Guichard to the music of F.-A. Filidora "Lumberjack, or Three Desires"; also the plot could be prompted by Charles Perrault 's fairy tale "Funny Desires." However, the influence of the Russian tradition of democratic satire of the XVII - the first half of the XVIII centuries, which was characterized by the type of the old grinder and his harmful grumpy wife, was apparently predominant. [2]
The play was first staged on April 27, 1783 in Moscow at the Petrovsky Theater . First published in the journal Russian Theater, 1788, No. 22, p. 219-305. [3]
Content
Characters
- Makar, grinder .
- Julitta, his wife .
- Parasha, their daughter .
- Luke, the huntsman, groom Parashin .
- Anthrop, comrade Makarov .
Story
The grinder Makar, a drunkard and a loafer, and his wife Ulita constantly quarrel, and both of them are unhappy with their lives. But suddenly, in their simple peasant hut, a miracle occurs. On the fiery chariot is the sorceress Ormanzulia, who, knowing the complaints of Ulita and her husband, promises them the fulfillment of three desires:
two - what you think you want, and the third - to be in your previous state, so if you, having twice wished, are not satisfied with your state, then for the third time you will only wish your current state.
(d. II, app. 2)
When Makar wants to beat Ulita at the first new skirmish, she expresses a desire to become a queen in order to chop off her husband’s head. Makar, seeing that this desire of Ulita was fulfilled and he was threatened with execution, loudly notes that it would be better for him and his wife to fall into hell. Makar’s desire is also fulfilled, but in hell both want to return back to their original state. [one]
Features of the work
The opera of N.P. Nikolayev continues the line of pseudo-folk works, initiated by Catherine II , who, using her own plays as an example, indicated which phenomena of Russian life should be the subject of comedy development. [4] Peasant Makar and his wife are depicted in a negative plan, ridiculed by their rudeness, greed, drunkenness. The latter is reflected, for example, in the verses that Makar sings:
When would the poor
Us
Yes there was no wine
Given
From sadness we would then
Forever gone
Empty in the belly without food
In the head without hops.
(d. I, app. 2)
Although not all peasant characters are the same. Parasha and Luke act as goodies. Parasha condemns his father's addiction to drinking. Some criticism against representatives of the clergy is somewhat out of the sphere of officially permitted in a comic work. It was forbidden to portray clergymen in Russian comedies by a government decree in 1750. Meanwhile, Makar utters the following remark:
Our big winners have just chased us for the hop, but they themselves will not yield to the hook. Our parish father always reads at the departure of the Mass that drinking a great sin, and only from the church himself, circled: how can you believe what he reads? Better to believe what he does. "
(d. I, manifest. 3) [5]
The musical numbers of the opera Nikolev wrote in a folk manner. The Makar couplets end with onomatopoeic repeats characterizing the work of the grinder: “ru, ru, ru, cheeks, cheeks! ru, ru, ru, cheeks, cheeks! ” [6]
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 Berkov, 1977 , p. 266.
- ↑ Vitkovskaya, 1984 , p. 123.
- ↑ http://lib.pushkinskijdom.ru/Default.aspx?tabid=956 Kochetkova ND Nikolay Nikolayev Petrovich // Dictionary of Russian writers of the 18th century
- ↑ Berkov, 1977 , p. 165.
- ↑ Vitkovskaya, 1984 , p. 125-126.
- ↑ Vitkovskaya, 1984 , p. 127.
Literature
- Berkov P.N. History of Russian comedy of the 18th century .. - L .: Nauka, 1977. - P. 392.
- Vitkovskaya L.V. Dramaturgy of N.P. Nikolayev. Diss. ... cand. filol. sciences. - L. , 1984. - S. 197.