Dimitrij

Dimitrij is an opera by Antonín Dvořák in 4 acts, set a libretto by Marie Červinková-Riegrová. More specifically, it belongs to the genre of Grand Opera. The work was first performed in Prague, at the New Czech Theatre on 8 October 1882, after Dvořák began composition during May 1881.

The libretto was originally written for Karl Šebor to set, but he proved highly unwilling to do so, so Červinková-Riegrová offered her work to Dvořák, who proved much more enthusiastic, but requested plenty of modifications to the libretto as it stood, including the introduction of more opportunities for ensembles. The form of the opera was largely in imitation of Eugene Scribe, and the plot was derived from Ferdinand Mikovec’s Dimitr Ivanovič, itself based upon Schiller's incomplete Demetrius.

With Dimitrij, Dvořák scored a great popular success, though he later persuaded his librettist to rework Act 4, and this revised version was given in 1885. Later still, he heavily reworked the opera along Wagnerian lines, and this radical version was performed during 1892.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, October 8, 1882 (Conductor: - )
Jov, the patriarch of Moscow	bass
Prince Vasilij Šujský	baritone
Petr Fedorovič Basmanov	bass
Xenie Borisovna	soprano
Dimitrij Ivanovič	tenor
Marfa Ivanovna	contralto
Marina Mníškova, Dmitrij's wife	soprano
Něborský and Bučinský	baritones

References