Tchaikovsky: The Queen of Spades

Plot Synopsis and Character Description of Russian Drama

Oct 10, 2008

Pikovaya Dama (The Queen of Spades), a Russian tragedy drama by Tchaikovsky: opera plot summary, character list, and other opera information.

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (May 7, 1840 – November 6, 1893) composed Pikovaya Dama (The Queen of Spades), a three-act Russian tragic drama. Libretto was written by Modest Tchaikovsky based on a story by Pushkin. It was premiered at St. Petersburg, Maryinsky Theater, December 19, 1890. The setting is in St. Petersburg, MAryinsky in the later 18th century.

Notable arias: "But why these tears" (Lisa), "I love you beyond measure" (Yeletsky), "Ah, I am worn out by grief (Lisa)

The music of The Queen of Spades is romantic. Tchaikovsky's brother, Modest, initially wrote the libretto of Pikovaya Dama (The Queen of Spades) for another composer who lost interest. Tchaikovsky picked it up later. He also set the action some forty years later than Pushkin to introduce Mozartian dance music. While Pushkin's Herman winds up in a mental asylum, Tchaikovsky chooses Herman to commit suicide.

Character Roles of Pikovaya Dama

Plot Summary / Synopses of The Queen of Spades

The children play. A group of promenaders enjoys the spring weather. Tchekalinsky and Sourin congratulate the prince on his engagement to Lisa, who is actually Herman's beloved. The countess was once a great card player and beauty, Tomsky tells his friends, and her nickname was "the queen of spades." The Count Saint-German, Tomsky continues, tempted her into a dalliance by telling her three secret cards. With them, she won back all the money she had lost. The countess revealed the three cards to her husband, but a ghost told her she could die if she told anyone else. A storm disperses the promenaders.

Pauline and their girlfriends are happily singing and dancing. Pauline asks Lisa why she is glum, but she only tells her not to tell the prince. Herman appears on Lisa's balcony threatening to kill himself without Lisa's affections. She returns his love.

A party is in progress. The prince asks Lisa to confide in him. Herman has a letter from Lisa asking him to wait for her after the performance. Sourin, Tchekalinsky and Tomsky hide near Herman and whisper about the three cards, making Herman think he is hearing a ghost. A pastoral, "The Faithful Shepherdess" is now performed: Daphnis, a poor shepherd, wins the hand of Chloe, beating his rich rival, Plutus. Lisa gives Herman a key to get him into her room through her grandmother's. The empress arrives.

Herman enters the countess's chamber and hides. He begs the countess to tell him her secret, but when he threatens her with a gun, the shock kills her. Blaming Herman for the countess's death, Lisa sends him away.

Herman reads a letter from Lisa, that she has forgiven him and asks him to meet her near the Winter Palace. The ghost of the countess appears and tells Herman the three cards: seven, ace and three.

Lisa's doubts are dispelled by Herman's arrival until he reveals his intention of using the secret cards. When Herman pushes Lisa away, she throws herself into the river.

Tomsky, Tchekalinsky and Sourin are all at the gambling house when the prince arrives. Herman enters, worried. He bets on the three and the seven, winning both times. When he tries to double again, only the count bets against him. Instead of an ace, Herman draws the queen of spades. The ghost of the countess appears and Herman stabs himself. Before he dies, Herman asks Lisa and the count to forgive him.

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