Iolanta, Op. 69

Composer: Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Il'yich

Librettist/Text Author: Tchaikovsky, Modest

Conductor: Currentzis, Teodor

Orchestra: Madrid Teatro Real Orchestra

Chorus: Madrid Teatro Real Chorus

Chorus Master: Maspero, Andres

Almeric: Efimov, Vasily

Bertrand: Kudinov, Pavel

Brigitta: Churilova, Irina

Ibn-Hakia: White, Willard

Iolanta: Scherbachenko, Ekaterina

King Rene: Ulyanov, Dmitri

Laura: Singleton, Letitia

Marta: Semenchuk, Ekaterina

Robert: Markov, Alexey

Vaudemont: Cernoch, Pavel

Set Designer: Tsypin, George

Costume Designer: Pakledinaz, Martin

Lighting Designer: Ingalls, Frank

Stage Director: Sellars, Peter

Television Director: Sellars, Peter

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Date of Production: 2012

Playing Time: 01:46:02

Catalogue Number: EuroArts5917

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Iolanta, Tchaikovsky's final opera, in Peter Sellars' 2012 production at the Teatro Real in Madrid. Premiered in 1892, it is a one-act work based on the Danish play Kong Renes Datter (King Rene's Daughter) by Henrik Hertz, a romanticized account of the life of Yolande de Bar. It contains all aspects of the composer's mastery: beautiful melodies, clear structure and genuine passion. Sellars paints this production as a spiritual quest in search of light.

Iolanta is a young princess, who doesn't know that she is blind. Her father, the king, has forbidden his people from telling her the truth. A young knight, Count Vaudemont, stumbles upon the princess's hidden castle and falls hopelessly in love with her. As he declares his love, he realizes she is blind. Vaudemont begins passionately explaining to Iolanta what light and color are when they are discovered by the King. Aware that the princess is now aware of her blindness and that she has no intention of curing it, King Ren? gives Iolanta an ultimatum: if she does not accept to be treated for her blindness, he will execute the young knight. Horrified by her father's words, Iolanta agrees in order to save her beloved. Once cured, she confirms with her own eyes that her beloved Vaudemont has been spared. Rejoicing, Iolanta sings the praises of love and God.