The life of Ivan Susanin in brief. What is Ivan Susanin famous for? Biography, feat and interesting facts

Glinka’s opera “Ivan Susanin” describes the events associated with the campaign of the Polish army against Moscow in 1613. We recommend reading the summary of “Ivan Susanin” by action. The work was written in 1836 and dedicated to Nicholas I, and therefore was soon renamed “Life for the Tsar.” In the retelling, the opera “Ivan Susanin” will even be understandable for children.

Main characters of the opera

Main characters:

• Ivan Susanin is a peasant from the village of Domnina.
• Antonida is the daughter of Ivan Susanin
• Ivan is the adopted son of Ivan Susanin

Other characters:

• Bogdan Sobinin – Antonida’s fiancé, a militia soldier.
• Sigismund III - Polish king.
• Minin is the leader of the liberation movement.

“Ivan Susanin” very brief summary

M. I. Glinka’s opera “Ivan Susanin” for children, summary for the reader’s diary:

Polish soldiers are looking for the heir to the Russian throne, Mikhail, to kill him. The peasant Ivan Susanin undertakes to lead them, and leads the army into the impassable wilderness to certain death.

Bad weather is raging, high snowdrifts lie everywhere. A detachment of Polish soldiers is searching for Mikhail Romanov, the rightful heir to the Russian throne. Their guide, peasant Ivan Susanin, brings the Poles to his house to spend the night. He sets a lavish table, and when the soldiers fall asleep, he prays for the salvation of the young king.

At night, Susanin’s son appears and wants to hide his father in a safe place. He reminds Ivan that his life is dear to his wife and children. The old man refuses to be saved and begs his son to warn Tsarevich Mikhail about the impending danger.

By morning the storm subsides, and the Poles get ready to hit the road again. Susanin leads them through the forest and leads them into an impassable thicket, where the trees stand like a solid wall. The soldiers follow the guide all day long. As a result, they realize that Susanin has lured them into a trap. They demand that he immediately take them out of the forest. The soldiers threaten the old man with terrible reprisals, but Susanin is calm. His conscience is clear - he did everything to protect the young heir from a terrible fate.

Before his death, Susanin makes a speech that he does not mind giving his own life for the sake of the Fatherland and the Tsar. The hero dies at the hands of his enemies, but his death is not in vain. Soon, on Red Square, people celebrate the liberation from the invaders and praise the heroes.

Conclusion:

The opera teaches true patriotism, expressed in commitment to the native land and intransigence towards its invaders. The Russian peasant and warrior derive their strength from family ties, which are as strong as the inextricable connection of the Russian soul with the Motherland.

Interesting: Bizet's opera "Carmen" was written in 1875. To better prepare for a literature lesson, we recommend reading. The libretto for the musical work was written based on the short story of the same name by Prosper Merimee, in the center of which was Jose’s passionate, dramatic love for a beautiful gypsy.

A short retelling of “Ivan Susanin”

The militia return to the village of Domnino with good news - victory over the hated Poles. Only Antonida, who is waiting for the imminent return of Bogdan Sobinin, her fiancé, who has gone to fight the Polish gentry, has no time for joyful rejoicing. Susanin shares his daughter’s feelings, but sets her up for imminent and difficult trials: is it before the wedding now, when there is so much turbulence around.

A song coming from the river announces the arrival of Sobinin and his retinue. Bogdan knows that Pozharsky and Minin have taken the lead in the Russian army and are gathering Russian soldiers around them. The rejoicing of the peasants knows no bounds: liberation is imminent.

But Sobinin is upset that his wedding with Antonida has been postponed; wasn’t it for the sake of the bride that he was in such a hurry to return to his native land! After the news of the siege of enemy troops in Moscow, Susanin changes his mind and gives his paternal consent to his daughter’s wedding.

The Polish king Sigismund the Third is so confident in the victory of the Polish army that even before the outcome of the battle he begins a feast in his honor. A messenger appears in a hall filled with cheerful guests with the news of the complete defeat of the gentry and the Poles from the royal army captured in Moscow. Sigismund gives the order to the knights to prepare for a military campaign. Boasting their courage, with weapons in their hands, they vow to defeat the Russian “smerds”.

In the midst of preparations for the wedding of Sobinin and Antonida, the Poles break into the house of Ivan Susanin. They insist that they be given a guide to Moscow, because local roads are unknown to them. Susanin could accompany them, but he is not a traitor and even for the Polish gold promised to him, he does not agree to help the enemies.

After some thought, Susanin comes up with a mental plan: he needs to lure the Polish enemies into the impassable wilderness of the forest and leave them there to die. The peasant, out of appearance, agrees to accompany the Poles to Moscow, realizing that this is his last journey: his enemies will not forgive him for such treachery and will kill him in the same forest...

Secretly from the Poles, he sends his son Vanya to Minin to warn him about the threat from Sigismund. Vanya happily fulfills his father’s last request, because he dreams of fighting the Poles and even wanted to ask to join Sobinin’s squad.

Ivan Susanin leads the Polish gentry through fields and swamps, through difficult forests. Having learned about Ivan's cunning, Sobinin tries to pursue his enemies in the hope of saving the father of his bride. Minin leads this pursuit and, together with Sobinin’s squad, advances towards the unsuspecting Poles.

The cold, hungry and exhausted Poles begin to suspect that Susanin is leading them down the wrong paths. Having stopped for a rest, the enemies are fast asleep. But Ivan cannot sleep: he mentally says goodbye to his family and his life, which his enemies will definitely not save for him.

No matter how painful his death was, Susanin is warmed by the thought of fulfilling his duty to his native land: to give his life for the Tsar is an honor for a Russian peasant. In the last whistle of the wind through the snowstorm, he imagines the voices of his beloved daughter and son, because it is for their sake that he is here and now - how could it be otherwise...

The next morning, the triumphant Susanin reveals to the Poles the terrible truth that they are destined to rot in the forest thicket, because Ivan will not lead them to Moscow! The enraged Poles kill Susanin in a rage and only then realize that they cannot get out of the local forests without the peasant - they are doomed...

And on Red Square in Moscow, the people greet the Russian squads with special jubilation. Everyone shares this joy: Vanya, Antonida, and Sobinin - only Ivan Susanin is not around... Moscow celebrates the liberation from the Polish invaders and glorifies the national heroes who did not spare their lives for the sake of victory over the enemy.

This is interesting: “Pagliacci,” the opera by R. Leoncavallo, which premiered in 1892, so fully expressed all the ideas of Italian verismo that this innovative movement in its pure form never produced anything of similar power and beauty. can be read on our website. The main achievement of this opera lies in the music: Canio's arioso is one of the most famous melodies in the world.

The plot of the opera "Ivan Susanin" by action

“Ivan Susanin” opera summary of the work by action:

Act one

In a small village live a simple peasant Ivan Susanin and his two children: his own daughter Antonida and his adopted son Vanya. The news of the attack by the Polish army stirs up the people, who are not going to give up their homeland to the enemy without a fight - “Whoever dares to attack Rus' will find death.” Bogdan, together with other young and strong peasants, join the people's militia.

After a while, he brings home the good news - the peasant Minin from Nizhny Novgorod is gathering a great squad to defeat the Poles and liberate the capital from the invaders. Antonida and Bogdan turn to Ivan Susanin to give a blessing for their wedding, but the old man refuses the lovers’ request: “Nowadays there is no time for weddings. It's battle time!

Act two

Meanwhile, Sigismund III throws a luxurious ball in honor of his victory. Inspired by military success, the Poles are looking forward to a heavenly life at the expense of looted wealth.

During the general rejoicing, the ambassador brings bad news to the king. The Russians, led by Minin, resist the Poles. The Polish detachment is besieged in Moscow, and the remaining army flees in panic.

Act three

Vanya makes himself a wooden spear, dreaming of growing up quickly and defending his homeland. Susanin enters the hut and reports that Minin and his retinue have set up camp nearby in the forest.

Bogdan and Antonida are busy preparing for their long-awaited wedding. Peasants come to the Susanins' house to congratulate the future newlyweds. When the guests leave, Polish soldiers suddenly burst into the hallway and demand the old man to take them to Minin.

At first, the peasant refuses, but then an insidious plan matures in his head - to deceive the Poles into the wilderness of the forest and destroy them there. He quietly instructs Vanya to rush as quickly as possible to the militia and warn of the danger, while he himself leads the enemies into the forest.

When Antonida’s friends come to the hut, the tearful girl tells them about the misfortune that has happened. Bogdan and the peasants go to help Susanin.

Act four

Late at night, Vanya resorts to the militia and informs Minin about the Polish attack. The alarmed warriors immediately prepare to go on a campaign. Meanwhile, Susanin leads the enemies further and further into the impenetrable forest thicket. The old man realizes that his time is near and mentally says goodbye to the children.

Tired Poles suspect something is wrong. They ask Susanin where he has taken them, to which the brave peasant replies that he has taken them to a place where they will have to “die by starvation.” In anger, the Poles kill Susanin.

Epilogue

Jubilant crowds of people rush to Red Square, church bells deafen the area with festive ringing. Among the joyful people, the sad Antonida, Bogdan and Vanya stand out. One of the warriors asks about the reason for their sadness, to which Vanya tells him about the heroic deed of his father.

The soldiers console the boy with the words: “Ivan Susanin will live forever in the people’s memory.” The people welcome the appearance of their heroes - Minin and Pozharsky, and sing songs of praise addressed to them.

Conclusion

Glinka's opera glorifies the heroism and self-sacrifice of a simple Russian peasant who did not spare his own life for the sake of his people.

Interesting: “Tosca” is an opera by Giacomo Puccini in three acts to a libretto by L. Illica and G. Giacosa based on the drama of the same name by V. Sardou (1887). On our website you can read and get acquainted with the plot of the work in abbreviation. The premiere took place on January 14, 1900 at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome.

Video about the feat of Ivan Susanin

The opera based on the text by S. Gorodetsky consists of four acts and contains an epilogue. The Polish king Sigismund is furious and sends the Poles to Moscow, who take Ivan Susanin as their guide, but he led them into the wilderness, dooming himself and his enemies to certain death.

Ivan Susanin is a peasant, a native of the Kostroma district. He is a national hero of Russia because he saved the Tsar, Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, from the Poles who came to kill him.

The feat of the Kostroma peasant

Historians claim that Susanin was the headman in the village of Domnino, Kostroma district. The interventionists from Poland did not know the way to the village where the tsar was, and asked Susanin how to get there. Ivan Osipovich volunteered to personally escort them to Domnino. The Poles promised to reward him for this. The future national hero, instead of the village, led them to a huge, impenetrable forest, which he himself knew like the back of his hand. The Poles realized that the village elder had deceived them and led them into the forest to destroy them. They were beside themselves with anger and killed the peasant. However, they themselves soon disappeared into the swamps located in the forest.

It is believed that this event occurred in 1612, in the fall. There is some evidence to support this date. Legends say that Susanin hid Mikhail Romanov in a hole where a barn had recently been burned, and disguised the hole with charred boards. In the 17th century, barns were burned in late autumn, so if the story about the pit is true, the date of the event is correct. Although many researchers still reject this theory.

Susanin's personality

Unfortunately, there are almost no reliable facts about Susanin’s personality. However, it is known that he had a daughter named Antonida. He also had grandchildren - Konstantin and Daniil. In the year of the feat, Ivan’s daughter was 16, therefore, the hero himself was approximately 32-40 years old.

Death of a Hero

There are 2 versions regarding Susanin’s death. The first, most common version, says that he died in the forest, in the Isupov swamps. The second is that he died in the village of Isupovo itself. This version is the most truthful, as it is confirmed by documents. The fact is that Susanin’s great-grandson went with a petition to Empress Anna Ioannovna to receive special benefits, since he was his descendant. To prove this, he cited the death certificate of his great-grandfather, where this village was indicated.

Ivan Osipovich Susanin was buried in the Ipatiev Monastery.

In conclusion, I would like to say that Susanin is a noble man who can serve as an example for his contemporaries. His name has not been forgotten to this day. Schoolchildren are told about his feat. Yes, the history of our country contains many heroes, and one of them is the peasant elder, Ivan Osipovich Susanin.

For children 3, 4, 5, 7 grades.

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Ivan Susanin was a peasant who lived in Kostroma district. He is known as the man who saved Tsar Romanov from the Polish invaders. To date, there is no reliable information about the identity of this person. According to historical chronicles, Susanin served as headman in the village of Domnino, Kostroma district. A detachment of Polish interventionists asked Ivan Osipovich to take them to his village, where Tsar Mikhail Romanov was staying. For this Susanin was entitled to a reward. Instead, the future hero led the Poles into the After some wanderings, the invaders realized that the man decided to destroy them. After prolonged torture of the peasant, they realized that he would not indicate the road leading to the village. The Poles killed Susanin. But the murderers themselves soon died in the forest swamps. Today the name of this noble man is immortalized. And proof of the hero’s existence is the letter given to his son-in-law. And also the human remains found near Kostroma, which, apparently, belonged to Susanin. Well, now we’ll take a closer look at what Ivan Susanin is famous for and study some facts of his biography.

Lifetime of Ivan Susanin

Before moving directly to the feat and personality of Ivan Osipovich Susanin, I would like to acquaint the reader with the period of time in which the great martyr lived. So, this was in the first half of the 17th century. At the beginning of the 1600s, Russia was gripped by unprecedented class, natural and religious disasters. It was during this period that the famous famine of 1601-1603, the seizure of the throne by an impostor, the rise to power of Vasily Shuisky, the Polish invasion of 1609, as well as the militia of 1611 and many other incidents took place.

A large mountain has approached and where, in fact, it lived and left many blank spots. Episodes characterizing that time include: the destruction of Kostroma in 1608-1609 by False Dmitry II, the attack on the Ipatiev Monastery, the defeat of Kineshma by Polish troops and other bloody events.

Whether the events described above, namely anxiety, internecine squabbles and the invasion of enemies, had any relation to Susanin and his relatives or whether they bypassed their family for some time is unknown. But this entire era is the time when Ivan Susanin lived. And the war approached the hero’s house when it seemed to have already ended.

Susanin's personality

Ivan Susanin, whose biography contains very few known facts, is still an interesting person. Little is known to us about the existence of this man. We only know that Ivan had a daughter with a name unusual for our time - Antonida. Her husband was the peasant Bogdan Sabinin. Susanin had two grandchildren - Konstantin and Daniil, but it is not known exactly when they were born.

There is also no information about Ivan Osipovich’s wife. Historians are inclined to believe that at the time the peasant committed the feat, she was no longer alive. And since during the same period Antonida turned 16 years old, when asked how old Ivan Susanin was when he led the Poles into the forest, scientists answer that he was in adulthood. That is, it is about 32-40 years.

When everything happened

Today, many people know why Ivan Susanin is famous and what feat he accomplished. But there are several versions regarding what year and time everything happened. Opinion one: the event took place in the late autumn of 1612. The following information is provided as evidence in favor of this date. Some legends say that Ivan hid the king in a hole in a barn that had recently been burned. The story also says that the hero also covered the pit with charred boards. But this theory was denied by most researchers. If this is true, and the ancient legends do not lie, then it really was in the fall, since the barns were heated and burned at this time of year.

Or maybe it was the last winter month of 1613?

In the minds of ordinary people, thanks to numerous artistic canvases, literary works and the opera of Glinka M.I., the image of Ivan Susanin, who led the Poles through snowdrifts through the forest, was firmly entrenched. And this is the generally accepted version. Therefore, there is reason to believe that the feat was accomplished somewhere in the second part of February or the first half of March. At this time, the Poles were sent, who were to kill Tsar Michael in order to destroy the stabilization of Russia and conduct a further struggle for the right to become the head of the Russian throne.

But one way or another, no one will ever know the truth regarding the exact date of the feat. After all, an incredibly large number of important details remain a mystery. And those that were saved were most likely interpreted incorrectly. We know what Ivan Susanin is famous for. And let everything else remain a myth.

Death of Susanin in Derevnishche

Several historical chronicles, which tell how Ivan Susanin hid Romanov in a pit in the village of Derevnishche, also say that in the same village the Poles tortured Ivan Osipovich and then took his life. But this theory is not supported by any documents. This version was not supported by almost anyone who researched the life of the famous hero.

The most common version of death

The following theory regarding the hero's death is the most famous and most supported by historians. According to it, Ivan Susanin, whose feat is described above, died in the Isupov swamp. And the image of the color that grew on the hero’s blood is considered incredibly poetic. The second name of the swamp sounds like “Clean”, for it is washed with the suffering blood of Ivan Osipovich. But all this is just folklore speculation. But be that as it may, it is the swamp that is the main scene of action for the entire Susanin feat. The peasant led the Poles through the quagmire, luring them into the very depths of the forest, away from the village they needed.

But along with this, many questions arise. If Ivan Susanin (the story of the feat is described above) really died in the swamp, then did all the Poles die after his death? Or only some of them have sunk into oblivion? In this case, who said that the peasant was no longer alive? There is no mention of the death of the Poles in any documents that historians have been able to find. But there is an opinion that the real (and not folklore) hero Ivan died not in the swamp, but in some other place.

Death in the village of Isupovo

The third version regarding the death of Ivan says that he died not in the swamp, but in the village of Isupovo. This is evidenced by a document in which Susanin’s great-grandson (I. L. Sobinin) asks Empress Anna Ioannovna to confirm the benefits granted to the descendants of Ivan Susanin. According to this petition, it was in the indicated village that Ivan Osipovich died. If you believe this legend, then the residents of Isupovo also saw the death of their fellow countryman. Then it turns out that they brought bad news to the village of Domnino, and perhaps they delivered the body of the deceased there.

This version is the only theory that has documentary evidence. It is also considered the most real. In addition, the great-grandson, who was not so distant in time from his great-grandfather, could not help but know what Ivan Susanin was famous for and where he died. Many historians also share this hypothesis.

Where is Ivan Osipovich Susanin buried?

A natural question would be where is the grave of the Russian hero. If you believe the legend that he died in the village of Isupovo, and not in the swamp of the same name, then burial must be mandatory. It is assumed that the body of the deceased was buried in the cemetery near the Church of the Resurrection, which was a parish church for residents of the villages of Derevnische and Domnino. But there is no significant and multiple evidence of this fact.

It is impossible not to mention the fact that a little later after the burial, Ivan’s body was reburied in the Ipatiev Monastery. This is also a version that does not have solid evidence. And it was rejected by almost all researchers of Susanin’s feat.

M.I. Glinka's opera “Ivan Susanin” (Life for the Tsar)

“A Life for the Tsar” or, as it is also called, “Ivan Susanin” deserves recognition as the first Russian national opera. It has become a property of Russian art on a global scale; it is the first Russian opera to receive recognition throughout the world. Despite the fact that several opera works were written before Ivan Susanin, they did not gain popularity. Perhaps because the composers who wrote them were not such great artists as. The action of the opera unfolds around the feat of Ivan Susanin, and the work received unexpected success due to its wonderful music, containing folk melodies, colorful characters and national costumes.

Read a summary of Glinka's opera "" and many interesting facts about this work on our page.

Summary of “Ivan Susanin”

Not far from the Kostroma region, the young warriors who defeated the Polish army that invaded the territory of Rus' return home to the village of Domnino. Joyful peasants arrange a solemn meeting. Antonida's fiancé, Bogdan Sobinin, was also among the participants defending their homeland. But Ivan Susanin, Antonida’s father, says that the enemies retreated only for a while, and now it is necessary to prepare for the next battle. Susanin decided that there would be no wedding celebration while the Poles trampled their native lands. Finally, Sobinin arrives and brings good news: Minin, the legendary folk hero, was put in charge of the entire militia. All the people believe in him! Susanin, delighted with this news, allows the lovers to get married.

The Polish king Sigismund the Third organizes a ball at which he treats his friends to a magnificent feast. A sea of ​​wine, beautiful music and dancing girls occupying the attention of guests. Despite the fact that they have not yet won, the Polish gentry still rejoices at the successes of the army on Russian lands. Suddenly a messenger appears with bad news: Minin has been put in charge of the militia, and he begins to fight against the Poles. The celebration stops, and the king tells his warriors that he needs the Russian leader, alive or dead.

Preparations are underway for the wedding ceremony of Susanin's daughter and the militiaman Bogdan in the house of the bride's father. Susanin shares with his adopted son Vanya the news that Minin’s camp is nearby, in the Ipatievsky Temple, and armed warriors are joining him. During the wedding celebration, the Poles enter the house and force Susanin to show them a secret place where Minin gathers like-minded people. Susanin pretends that he is subordinate to them, and he himself comes up with a plan on how to save the leader with the Russian army. An idea quickly comes to him: he will lead his enemies into the forest, and they will definitely not be able to get out of there on their own. Meanwhile, Vanya runs to Minin to inform him that the enemies are not far away, and it is necessary to look for a new shelter to gather an army.

Sobinin and his detachment run to catch up with the foreigners. Russian warriors are ready to defeat the enemy army, and want to save Ivan Susanin. Minin and his people also go towards the Poles.

Already in the thicket of the forest, Ivan stops misleading his enemies and tells them that he has confused them, and now they will die here. He is ready to accept death, and begins to say goodbye to everything that is dear to him. The Poles, in anger, kill the Russian who confused them. The wars led by Sobinin do not have time to save Ivan Susanin, but they won a victory over the Poles. All the people sadly remember this brave feat.

In Moscow, in front of the Kremlin, on the square, there is a victorious celebration of the Russian army, which liberated the Motherland from the Poles. An orphaned family: son Vanya, daughter Antonida and her fiancé Sobinin are also on the square. The bells begin to ring and honor the memory of Ivan Susanin.

Photo:

Interesting Facts

• It was the opera “A Life for the Tsar” that brought M.I. Glinka world fame. He became the first Russian composer who was able to reach such heights.
• The original title of the opera was “Ivan Susanin,” but a few days before the premiere, Mikhail Ivanovich renamed it. “Life for the Tsar” - this new name was given to the work, it was invented by the poet Nestor Kukolnik. Interestingly, there was another version of the name - “Death for the Tsar.”
• During the premiere of the opera “A Life for the Tsar,” Tsar Nicholas I was present among the audience. After the performance, he presented Mikhail Ivanovich with a diamond ring, showing with this gesture that he really liked the work.
• There are two versions of the libretto of Glinka's musical drama. The first is by Baron Yegor Rosen, the second by Sergei Gorodetsky, whose edition was used in the USSR.
• The composer harmoniously combined European operatic and symphonic norms with Russian choral interpretations in his work.
• Kapellmeister Katerino Kavos, who was the first composer to compose an opera based on the high-profile events of 1612, recognized Glinka’s version of the opera as better than his own. And he even removed his production from the theater stage.
• Despite such a stunning public reaction to the premiere of A Life for the Tsar, the second opera Glinka "Ruslan and Lyudmila" failed. The Emperor emphatically left the hall without watching the production to the end.

• The idea of ​​using the story of Ivan Susanin for an opera belongs to Vasily Zhukovsky, a good friend of Mikhail Ivanovich. He also advised the composer to write about this feat of the Russian peasant.
• Vladimir Lenin once said that in Russian literature, before the work of L. Tolstoy, a genuine man was not described anywhere. Musicologists say the same thing about Ivan Susanin, that before Glinka, the image of a real man cannot be found in Russian music.
• The opera “A Life for the Tsar” was so flawless for that time that even music critics could not find any flaws in it.
• There was a post-revolutionary attempt to carry out a strange idea to replace the storyline of the opera with the Soviet realities of 1917. In the first edition, the time period was transferred from the 17th century to the era of the red and white revolution. Ivan Susanin appeared before the public as a progressive peasant who was with all his heart for the Soviet homeland. The adopted son Vanya became a Komsomol member. It is interesting that the Polish enemies remained, since at the end of the 10s there were military operations with Poland. The anthem in the finale, “Glory, glory, you are my Rus',” turned into “Glory, glory, Soviet system.” But the audience did not really like this variation of the opera, so this edition was not popular.
• On the same day, at the same place, with only a difference of 6 years, two operas by M.I. Glinka. (St. Petersburg Bolshoi Theater, operas “A Life for the Tsar” and “Ruslan and Lyudmila” on November 27, 1836 and November 27, 1842 according to the new time calculation).

• Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka had two favorite students, Osip Petrov and Anna Vorobyova (in the future, who became Petrova-Vorobyova). Susanin's part was composed for Osip, and Vanya's part for Anna, which is why this role was written for a low, rare female voice - contralto.
• Glinka made an original wedding gift for his student Anna; he expanded the role of Susanin's adopted son, adding a big scene when Vanya runs to the walls of the monastery to warn Minin about the danger. And the opera was already written and rehearsed. Later, this scene became one of the most memorable.
• A contemporary and acquaintance of Glinka, Prince Odoevsky, said that initially the composer wanted to write an oratorio, not an opera, based on the storyline of Ivan Susanin.

Popular arias and numbers from the opera “Ivan Susanin”

Cavatina and Antonida's rondo from Act 1 "Oh field, you are my field" (listen)

Vanya's song from Act 3 "How the mother was killed..." (listen)

Antonida's romance from Act 3 "I'm not grieving for that, my friend" (listen)

Scene of Susanin with the Poles from Act 3 “Great and Holy is our native land” (listen)

Recitative and Vanya’s aria from Act 4 “Poor Horse” (listen)

Final chorus "Glory" (listen)

Music

A domestic heroic-tragic work - this is the description M.I. gave to his opera. Glinka. The Russian people occupies not the last place in this work; Glinka made this mass image active in the historical events of the mentioned opera. It is due to this decision that the performance turned out to be of epic proportions, since it contains mass choral scenes. Individual heroes and their destinies are represented by an inextricable connection with the fate of their homeland. Massive musical illustrations of the life of Russian people, their way of life, and the natural beauties of their homeland are ideally intertwined in the work, revealing the multifaceted characters of the heroes.

Operatic dramaturgy and musical numbers in the opera turned out to be authentic and innovative, which served as the beginning of the creation of a new operatic genre - folk musical drama. Not all court society was able to accept and understand the image of the main character Ivan Susanin, and the music that personified him. The composer's intention was to combine Russian melody and songs with European harmonies and compositions. Not all musicians were able to immediately perceive such a combination, but no one denied the significance of this work.

History of creation

It is worth noting that the first written opera, “Ivan Susanin,” belongs to Katerin Kavos. The production premiered in 1815. The libretto was composed by Alexander Shakhovsky. The product turned out " comedian pen » - This is a French style, where the musical and recitative parts occupy the same number of places in the work. At the end of the Kavos variant, Ivan Susanin remains alive.

In fact, there are many contradictions and confusion in the history of the creation of the opera “Ivan Susanin”. But judging by the facts, we get the following... When Mikhail Ivanovich was traveling through Italian and German cities, his thoughts were periodically occupied with the idea of ​​​​creating a musical work in which the national spirit would be present. It was these ideas that prompted the composer to start working on the opera. During his trip abroad and studying there, he said that everything he composed for the Milan plays was alien to him, and he felt a certain insincerity in his Italian work. And all these thoughts and sensations inspired him to think that he needed to write Russian music.

Initially when Glinka returned to Russia, he wanted to write an opera based on the work of Vasily Zhukovsky “Maryina Roshcha”, but he quickly changed his mind, and in the end the opera “Life for the Tsar” was produced. By the way, the idea of ​​a historical opera was suggested to Mikhail Ivanovich by Vasily Zhukovsky.

The creation of the work proceeded quickly. In just 1.5 years the opera was ready (1835-1836). “A Life for the Tsar” consists of four acts (or seven scenes) with a final epilogue. The libretto of that time was written by Baron Georgy Rosen, despite his poor command of the Russian language. Later, an edition of the libretto written by S. Gorodetsky was used in productions. When the work was completed and rehearsed, Mikhail Ivanovich expressed a desire to dedicate the opera to Nicholas the First. This dedication went very well! Simultaneously with this event, the title was changed from “Ivan Susanin” to “Life for the Tsar.”

Productions

1836 - this year became significant for Russian vocal art. This year the first production of the opera “A Life for the Tsar” took place. On November 27 (according to the new calendar), St. Petersburg was able to appreciate the first Russian opera at the Bolshoi Theater of the city. The first performers were such opera singers as: Maria Stepanova, Lev Leonov, Osip Petrov and Anna Vorobyova, the first conductor was Katerino Cavos.

The 1917 revolution passed, and musical drama was not staged in the USSR for a long time. They wanted to change the libretto, adjust it to the history of the revolution, but this option was not successful. Subsequently, the poet Sergei Gorodetsky saved this sad situation by rewriting the libretto by George Rosen in a “Soviet” way. In 1939, a new production took place, the conductor was Samuil Samosud, and the director was Boris Mordvinov.

An annual tradition has appeared at the Bolshoi Theater since 1945 - the opera production "Ivan Susanin" opened the season for a very long time. The part of Ivan Susanin was performed by such great basses as: Maxim Mikhailov, Ivan Petrov, Alexander Vedernikov and Evgeniy Nesterenko.
Opera has been and is still popular on Russian stages to this day. There were attempts to stage the opera based on the original libretto, but such productions did not catch on.

The most famous production of “Ivan Susanin” abroad was at the La Scala Theater (Milan). Fyodor Chaliapin in the role of Ivan Susanin captivated Italian listeners.

Opera " Life for the Tsar"is a truly great work that deserves all the praise and admiration that is mentioned about it. This is a humanistic, truly Russian and patriotic work Glinka made Ivan Susanin very famous in our country, and, thanks to the opera, his image became immortal.

M.I. Glinka “Ivan Susanin” (Life for the Tsar)

Over the past few years, cultural figures, politicians and journalists have been trying to find a historical figure who could be called “In the Name of Russia”.

Among the applicants there are many worthy people - emperors and politicians, generals, writers and poets. But there is no unity among the people.

For every argument in favor of one thing or another, there is another that is clearly not in its favor. But there are still examples in history of people from the people who could really be the personification of Russia.

We are talking about Ivan Susanin. His feat is truly heroic, however, unfortunately, little is known about the national hero. His name is familiar to many, even from school.

During class, we were told more than once about the brave peasant, and in music lessons we were told about the opera “Ivan Susanin,” written by Mikhail Glinka.

Ivan Susanin was a simple peasant who lived in the village of Derevenki, which was located in Kostroma district. What preceded his feat?

After the death of Ivan the Terrible, a time of great unrest began in Russia. Famine, Polish invasion, impostors on the Russian throne. Everything was heading towards the fact that the Russian people would lose their statehood. But the people bravely defended their Land.

The militia of Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky managed to drive the Poles out of Moscow and liberate the Russian Land from the invaders. This was in the autumn of 1612.

After those events, the Poles still did not give up hopes of placing their man on the Russian throne. Polish troops wandered around Russian soil for a long time. It became clear at the general Zemsky Sobor that the boyar Mikhail Romanov would become the new tsar. The Poles found out about this and decided to find the future king.

At that time the king was in Domnina - his mother’s estate. The Poles headed towards the village. The area is swampy, and there are militias all around. What to do? The Poles took local residents and, threatening them with violence, forced them to show them the way.

One of the “guides” was Ivan Susanin. He led the Poles for a long time through forests and remote paths, and eventually the detachment reached the Isupovsky swamp. The guide killed himself and the Poles. He laid down his life for his Motherland, for the Tsar and for the Faith. Ivan understood that if Mikhail Romanov was killed, new unrest would come to Rus'. At the cost of his life, he saved thousands of other lives of his compatriots.

Susanin's feat really took place in Russian history. The following facts confirm this. In 1619, Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov presented Susanin's son-in-law, Bogdan Sobinin, with a Letter of Complaint.

The offspring were freed from duties and were also awarded a plot of land. From now on they are free peasants. It is reliably known that these grants were subsequently confirmed in 1633 and 1644.

In March 1851, a monument to Mikhail Romanov and Ivan Susanin was unveiled in Kostroma. The creator of the monument is the Russian sculptor Vasily Ivanovich Demut-Malinovsky. Unfortunately, after the revolution, the monument was overthrown by the Bolsheviks.

In 1913, it was the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov, in honor of Susanin’s feat, a chapel was built in Derevenki, and Emperor Nicholas II, along with his family, was present at its opening.

Ivan Susanin is an example of courage, perseverance and heroism, a simple man who gave his life for the good of his compatriots.

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