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Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades

From the Metropolitan Opera, Andris Nelsons conducts Tchaikovsky's tragic tale of obsession with gambling The Queen of Spades. Featuring Karita Mattila and Vladimir Galouzine.

Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades live from the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
Presented by Margaret Juntwait with guest commentator Ira Siff.

Tchaikovsky's opera tells the tragic tale of the young officer Hermann's obsession with gambling. An old Countess knows the secret of the winning cards, but, when Hermann confronts her and demands to know what it is, she dies. Returning later as an apparition, she offers Hermann the secret as a reward if he will marry her granddaughter Lisa. In the final scene of the opera Hermann wagers everything he has; the first two cards he chooses are winners, but the third, instead of being the winning ace, is the queen of spades. In desperation, Hermann stabs himself pleading for Lisa's forgiveness.

Lisa ..... Karita Mattila (soprano)
Paulina ..... Tamara Mumford (mezzo soprano)
The Countess ..... Dolora Zajick (mezzo soprano)
Ghermann ..... Vladimir Galouzine (tenor)
Tomsky ..... Alexej Markov (baritone)
Yeletsky ..... Peter Mattei (baritone)

Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera
Andris Nelsons ..... conductor.

3 hours, 45 minutes

Broadcast

  • Sat 26 Mar 2011 17:00