Ivan the Fool (opera) facts for kids
Ivan the Fool (which is Иванушка-дурачок in Cyrillic) is a special opera, like a musical play, made just for children! It has three main parts, called tableaux. The famous composer César Cui created it in 1913. The story for the opera, known as the libretto, was written by Nadezhda Nikolaevna Dolomanova. She used exciting old Russian folk tales to create the plot. (It's important to know that this opera is not based on the story of the same name by Leo Tolstoy.)
The title Ivan the Fool can be understood in a few ways. It could mean Foolish Ivan or even Ivan the Little Fool. When the music was first printed in 1913, it also had a French title: Jeannot "le bêtà".
Contents
Characters in the Story
Here are the main characters you'll meet in the opera and the types of voices that sing their parts:
- Tsar: The king of the land. His part is sung by an alto voice, which is a lower female voice.
- Tsarevna Elena: The Tsar's daughter. She sings with a soprano voice, which is a high female voice.
- Ivanushka: The main character, Ivan the Fool. His part is sung by a mezzo-soprano voice, which is a medium female voice.
- 1st Brother of Ivan: One of Ivan's brothers. He sings with a soprano voice.
- 2nd Brother of Ivan: Ivan's other brother. He sings with a mezzo-soprano voice.
- Father of Ivan: Ivan's dad. He sings with an alto voice.
- Mother of Ivan: Ivan's mom. She sings with a soprano voice.
- Horse: Ivan's magical horse. This part can be sung by an alto or a bass voice (a low male voice).
- Courtiers, skomorokhi, gusli-players, wooden stumps: These are groups of people and even some magical stumps! They are sung by the chorus, which is a group of singers.
What Happens in the Opera?
The story of Ivan the Fool unfolds in three exciting parts:
Part 1: Ivan's Kindness
The first part takes place in a forest clearing. Ivan has just let his horse go free. He has a wagon full of things he's supposed to take home for his family. But Ivan does something unusual! He empties the wagon. He places the cooking pots around the cold tree stumps to keep them warm. He also throws out all the grain for the birds to eat.
Soon, his parents and brothers find him. They are not happy and scold him for being so foolish and lazy. Because of his strange actions, they tell him he cannot eat dinner with them.
Part 2: A Royal Feast and Magic Horse
In the second part, Ivan is still in the forest. He has been busy gathering many mushrooms. His brothers come along and tell him some big news: the Tsar is holding a huge feast! The Tsar's daughter, Princess Elena, is looking for a husband. The man who can get her special kerchief (a type of scarf) and bring it to the feast will win her hand in marriage.
After his brothers leave, Ivan really wants to go to the feast. But he realizes his clothes are not fancy enough for such a grand event. So, he calls for his horse. The horse magically helps him by providing him with beautiful new clothes, perfect for a royal party!
Part 3: The Prince Revealed
The third part takes place inside the Tsar's grand palace. Everyone is having fun! The skomorokhi (traveling entertainers) and the courtiers (royal helpers) are amusing themselves. Princess Elena's kerchief has been taken, and she wonders where her mysterious future husband could be.
She then notices Ivan hiding behind a large stove. And guess what? He has her kerchief! The Tsar is very happy and welcomes Ivan as his new son-in-law. When Ivan's brothers realize who the new prince is, they first think about running away. But instead, they come forward and make up with Ivan. Everyone in the palace praises Ivan, the Tsar, and his daughter, celebrating the happy ending!
- Cui, César. Иванушка-дурачек: опера сказка для детей в трех картинах [Ivan the Fool: an opera-fairytale for children in three tableaux]. Leipzig: Belaieff, 1914. (This is the piano-vocal score, which means it has the music for the singers and a piano version of the orchestra parts.)
