Vakula the Smith (Russian: Кузнец Вакула, Kuznets Vakula, Smith Vakula), is an opera in 3 acts, 8 scenes by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, his Opus 14. The libretto was written by Yakov Polonsky, and is based on Nikolai Gogol's story Christmas Eve (Russian: Ночь перед Рождеством, Noch péred Rozhdestvóm).
Polonsky's libretto was written for Alexander Serov, who, however, died in 1871 leaving only fragments of an opera on the subject.
The opera was composed be...
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Vakula the Smith (Russian: Кузнец Вакула, Kuznets Vakula, Smith Vakula), is an opera in 3 acts, 8 scenes by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, his Opus 14. The libretto was written by Yakov Polonsky, and is based on Nikolai Gogol's story Christmas Eve (Russian: Ночь перед Рождеством, Noch péred Rozhdestvóm).
Polonsky's libretto was written for Alexander Serov, who, however, died in 1871 leaving only fragments of an opera on the subject.
The opera was composed between June and 21 August 1874. It was begun during a holiday in Nizy (in Kharkov province) and finished in Usovo. The work was dedicated to the memory of the Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna.
The score was submitted for a competition anonymously under the motto "Ars longa vita brevis est" (“Art is eternal, life is short"). It was acknowledged by the authoritative judges as the best and the composer received the first prize, 1500 rubles.
The premiere took place in St. Petersburg on 6 December [OS November 24] 1876 at the Mariinsky Theatre,...
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