Siberia

Composer: Umberto Giordanao (1867 - 1948).
Other operas; 'Andréa Chenier', 'Fedora', 'Madam Sans-Gêne'.
Drama in three acts: - libretto by Luigi Illica inspired by Feodor Dostoyevsky's 'Recollections of a Dead House' and Leo Tolstoy's 'Resurrection'. First performance December 1903, La Scala Milan.
This recording is of the 1927 revised version.

Bratislava Chamber choir; Orchestra Internazionale d'Italia

Conductor: Manlio Benzi

ACT ONE

An August night in St. Petersburg, in the elegant villa which Prince Alexis Frouwor has given to Stephana - the 'Oriental Beauty' - as a gift.

Nikona and the butler Ivan await the return of their mistress, who is later than usual. It is almost dawn, on the day of St. Alexander. Suddenly the doorbell rings: it is Glèby, Stephana's first lover and pimp. He has come to discuss an important business and flies into a fury when he discovers that Stephana has spent the night out. Prince Alexis arrives, wearing the smart uniform of the Imperial Guard; he is accompanied by other officers and important personalities. Flashing a servile and ambiguous smile, bows to this 'carefree world'. The prince asks to see Stephana, and Nikona, lying, tells him that she is resting. To save the situation, Glèby suggests that, while they wait for 'beautiful Stephy' to awake, they can play a game of cards and the group moves to the living room. While Stephana, who in the meantime has arrived and overheard everything, is about to sneak into her apartment, Glèby stops her; but a moment later also prince Alexis arrives and Glèby must withdraw. The prince gives Stephana a beautiful bracelet and tells her that he wants to marry her. As the two move to the living room Nikona receives an unexpected visit: it is Vassili, her godson, an infantry officer about to leave for the war against the Turks. He tells her that he has fallen in love with a beautiful embroideress, a 'poor and honest' girl. Stephana enters and Vassili recognises her as his beloved. Despite his painful shock, Vassili reasserts his love for her, but he is interrupted by the arrival of Alexis who, realising what the two youths feel for each other, runs to get his sword and flings himself against Vassili. In the duel Alexis is wounded; while the guests, drawn by Nikona's cries, run to assist the prince. Vassili is arrested.

ACT TWO

At the border between Russia and Siberia. The mid-way stopping place on the Wladimirka trail walked by the deported convicts to reach the Transbaikal mines. The column of convicts arrives: it is a living chain of men destined to hard labour in the mines. Vassili is among them. Stephana, who has finally found true love and wants to redeem herself, has obtained a permit and catches up with the convicts to share Vassili's destiny. Covered with furs, she alights from the troika pulled by Ukraine horses with which she has reached the mid-way stopping place. She has given her villa and all her belongings to the poor and by will of God and of her own heart, she has come to stand by her Vassili, convict No. 107. She promises that she will share his harsh life in Siberia, as proof of her desire to redeem herself. Supporting and holding each other, Vassili and Stephana join the living chain of convicts setting off for the mines.

ACT THREE

Holy Saturday. A lukewarm spring sun warms the air. The detention centre of the Transbaikal mines is about to receive the visit of the Governor. The convicts are at work; some women are chatting in the sun. A lame old man approaches Stephana asking for some rags to make a national flag, but this is only an excuse to get close to her and deliver a message: the convict No. 98 wants to speak to her. It is Glèby, who has been sentenced for forgery and usury. From the nearby village of Jakal he has asked to be moved to the detention centre where Stephana and Vassili are, because he wants to offer Stephana the chance to escape with him; he knows, in fact, that there is an escape way through a dried-up well which leads to the moor land. Stephana refuses, she loves Vassili and even the harsh land of Siberia, where she has rediscovered love. Glèby avenges himself by telling everybody about Stephana's past. Ashamed and humiliated, Stephana convinces Vassili to try to escape through the well, but as they lower themselves into it Glèby gives the alarm. Guards run onto the scene and fire a shot: mortally wounded, Stephana dies in Vassili's arms.