Chapter 13 Denys Sichynsky, Roksoliana; Historical Opera in Three Acts with a Prologue (1911)[591]

Foreword and translation from Ukrainian by Galina Yermolenko

Composer Denys Volodymyrovych Sichynsky (1865-1909) was born and lived in Galicia at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Sichynsky wrote Ðîêñîëÿíà [Roksoliana] in 1907-1908, at a time when heroic and patriotic themes in music were in high demand. The opera was first performed by the Lviv Ukrainian Theatre in Kolomyia on April 10, 1911.

The text below is the literal translation of the libretto into English. Although Sichynsky’s name adorns the title page, the libretto was not composed by him. The first redaction was written by a Galician amateur poet, I. Lutsyk. A mixture of several languages (Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, and Church Slavonic), it was poetically weak and overly sentimental and patriotic. Later, poet S. Charnetsky translated it into Ukrainian and Polish, but the dramatic design and characterization remained the same. The heroine, Roksoliana (Roxolana), lacks heroic stature here, while Suleiman appears as either too sentimental or too brutal.^[594] The libretto does

not follow the conventional format either, as it at times narrates the plot and at times quotes the songs and arias.

Sichynsky’s music, however, redeemed the weak libretto. Ðîêñîëÿíà was received enthusiastically by the public and enjoyed numerous other performances. It was later staged by the Sadovsky troupe in Kyiv. As stated in a review published in the Ðàäà [Council] newspaper on 26 March 1912, “Fortunately, Sichynsky’s music is by far superior to the text and situations of the libretto.”^[595]

The Libretto

Roksoliana was a wife of Suleiman the Great. She was a daughter of the Russian priest Lisovsky from Rohatyn. Captured and sold to the powerful Sultan’s court, she managed to gain his affection with her unusual beauty and intelligence. Not long ago, some of her letters were found, which she had written to the Polish King Sigismund August.^[596] She died in 1568.^{[597] [598]}

The opera was first performed by Lviv Ukrainian Theatre, under the direction of Josef Stadnyk, in Kolomyia on 10 April 1911.

CHARACTERS IN THE PROLOGUE

DEDICATION (in the opera, ROKSOLIANA) HISTORY (in the opera, FEDORA)

CHORUS OF MERMAIDS, CHORUS OF CAPTIVES, CHORUS OF CHILDREN

PLACE: the bank of Bosporus, near Constantinople

CHARACTERS OF THE OPERA

ROKSOLIANA [Filyomena Lopatynska] SULEIMAN [Kuzma Luhovy]

IBRAHIM, Grand Vizier [Ivan Rybchak] ABDUL BAKI, councilor to the Sultan[Vasyl Petrovych]

THE FOOL [Trofym Ivlev]

DANYLO [Vasyl Kossak]

AGLAY-KHAN [Ivan Donchak]

FEDORA [Emilia Petrovycheva]

THE SULTAN’S CHORUS, CAPTIVES, GUARDS

TATARS, JANISSARIES, HAREM SERVANTS, TORTURERS.

PLACE: Constantinople

TIME: during the reign of Suleiman the Great. Ten years pass between Act II and Act III.

Prologue

The wooded suburbs above the Bosporus, with a view of Constantinople in the background. To the right is a big mound, at the foot of which stand the spirits of War, Death, Destruction, and Slavery. A chorus of captives-spirits wearing death clothes and shackles gather around the mound. In the sea, mermaids are basking under the moon, throwing ferns into the water and singing:

Lightly, freely in the nighttime

We are floating on the waves,

Then we completely dive again

Into the deep and silent waters.

Both choruses are complaining about the Turks who cruelly destroy the Ukrainian lands and kill their inhabitants...

The allegorical characters of Dedication and History enter.

History tells Dedication that here begins captivity. Dedication is astonished that this wonderful land

. steeped in beauty,

Should be so unhappy?

Such a lovely land, such a beautiful land?

History points to the mermaids and says that these are the maidens who preferred drowning in the sea and become mermaids to living in the Turkish harem. History also points to the flies of St. John the Baptist, saying that these are the spirits of the children who died unbaptized in captivity.

The Chorus of the captives tells her how their bones are thrown around the entire Turkish land and that it is very hard for them to lie buried in a foreign ground, in captivity, waiting in vain for the assistance from their compatriots, who may have forgotten about them.

Dedication says that she will do everything in her power, even at the cost of her own life, to save the unlucky people from captivity.

The entire Chorus implores her to do so.

ACT I

(In the SultanS court)

The henchmen of Sultan Suleiman (Ibrahim-Pasha, Abdul Baki, and the Fool) praise his wisdom and bravery. He swears to them that he will not rest until he conquers all the nations of the world.

Suleiman’s closest assistant, Ibrahim Pasha, says that no one in the world is able to put obstacles in the Sultan’s path. Then the Fool steps forth and sings that death will find everyone and will overcome even the powerful Sultan...

There was a glorious Shah, a courageous fighter,

an awesome Shah!

He fought like a lion, full of fame and power, on all sides.

He conquered all the lands.

The world was praising him

all days and nights.

But once he was bitten by a little grass-snake.

And this is how this young and glorious man died...

The Sultan agrees that it is true:

Bright and simple truth is in this song.

Death devours everyone, even the Prophet!— what a mighty force.

There will come a time, unknown to anyone,

When Suleiman’s eyes will close forever.

Whether short or long that life is.

As long as I have power in my hand,

and can hold my sword in it,

I assure you that

from that sword’s luster,

thrones will tremble,

and will perish down.

The Chorus of captives sings again in honor of the Sultan.

The Sultan informs his men that tomorrow, at the sunset, he intends to launch a war campaign against the Persians, but for now they are free to make merry and carouse.

At the Sultan’s order, two Cossacks begin to dance.

The whistles and cries of the Tatars can be heard. There must be new captives. Aglay-khan steps forward and informs the Sultan that he has just returned from Ukraine:

Ukraine is totally devastated;

there are ruins in place of villages and houses.

The entire Ukraine has been covered

with blood—all in honor of Suleiman!

Aglay offers the Sultan the best Ukrainian people as his new captives.

At the sight of the captives, Suleiman is filled with anger and cruelty, and he gives an order to behead all of them at once.

The captives are singing their last death song:

We are praying for the last time

to Thee, o Lord Father—have mercy upon us!...

Take our blood as a tribute,

and give rescue to Ukraine,

Our Almighty God!.

Suleiman is further angered by the captives’ composure,—he orders for his sword to be brought in, so that he himself could behead the captives.

The Tatars bring in Roksoliana. Once Suleiman sees her, he puts down his sword in confusion. He is stunned by Roksoliana’s beauty:

What is it, do I see an earthly creature,

or an angel from heaven has assumed this shape?

Suleiman asks her who she is, and Roksoliana answers:

I will not say many words:

I am Roksoliana,

whom none of you know.

I was captured by your army,

I am a priest’s daughter,

and your captive here!

And these poor, unlucky people

are my brothers and sisters,

from the Ukrainian lands.

She then begs the Sultan to pardon her fellow captives.

Suleiman, impressed with her beauty, promises to do so:

I take them all

under my protection,

trust me,

I will forgive them all!

I grant life to all of you.

Roksoliana fall don to the ground, thanking him for this kind act...

Suleiman gives an order to put a veil on Roksoliana’s face and to take her to his harem.

Danylo, Roksoliana’s brother, rips apart his shabby clothes, dashes to the Sultan, and begs him to be beheaded, for he cannot live without Roksoliana.

Roksoliana, already covered with the veil, asks Suleiman to forgive her brother this rashful act.

Suleiman not only forgives him, but also sets him free. Roksoliana is taken to the Sultan’s harem.

ACT II

(The scene is set in the seraglio garden. All around are cypress trees; a wall and a tower made of scabbed stones are seen on one side.)

As the curtain is being lifted, the Chorus of captives is heard singing:

Oh, ye, blue sea, quickly, quickly bring us a note from Ukraine, whether they still remember, still recall their unhappy brothers.

The Fool and Ibrahim enter. The Sultan is said to have changed greatly:

FOOL: Ha-ha-ha!

Our Master does unusual acts, his own glory he has tarnished, — he wants to find paradise in his serail, I tell you!

He, who captured kings,

the glory of the East, a lion on the throne, now, ha-ha-ha, what a joke! he writes poems for Roksoliana!

The Sultan enters. Ibrahim tells him that he has received news that the people are very dissatisfied with their Sultan’s actions. A rebellion might break out... The Sultan cuts him short and throws him out; he then sings:

Is it my fault that my heart has been awaken in my chest? that I have to love that girl with all my heart?

In the entire world

there is nothing that brings me joy,

I cannot sleep, I feel sorrow,

I feel pain...

Here I am, ruler and master of hundreds of thrones.

I could have her in my bed,

coiling like a snake,

as any other girl,

but no, never!...

Suleiman and Abdul-Baki move further to the backstage.

The Chorus from the tower is singing a sad song:

Death, Death, you that can save us,

why do you not reply to our supplications? (etc.)

Roksoliana and Fedora enter.

Fedora asks Roksolana why she goes to the tower so often. Roksoliana replies that her heart calls her there, to listen to the singing that can be heard from the tower. Though rich and enamored of the Sultan, she does not feel happy. Then she asks Fedora to sing a song.

FEDORA: Small, silent, and bitter tears

Fall like rain on Ukraine,

and where you fall, there you grow

like blue forget-me-nots!

Where the Dnieper sparkles, and the snowball tree is sorrowful,

where beautiful bells are ringing,

where children are playing in cherry orchards,

where a sad song is trembling in the air!

Oh, my bitter tears,

fall down onto my native land!.

They both burst into crying.

The Chorus of the captives can be heard again from the tower:

Our native Land, our Mother!

Show us your mercy!

We beg you: look at us

in the dark dungeons!. (etc.)

Roksoliana is again touched by their singing; it hurts her heart. She is suffering along with her brothers and sisters.

Suleiman approaches her and asks her for a word of endearment. If she stops treating him so indifferently, the captives will no longer suffer.

He reveals his feelings toward her:

You are like water for me in a hot summer.

You fascinate me, and my heart is aching.

The fire of love is burning in my soul.

How unfortunate I am!

Tell me if you want to be crowned?

If you say one word, I will take my sword

To conquer the entire world,

And warm blood like a river will flow.

But if you want, the sun of happiness will shine

Onto the whole world!

Roksoliana falls down on the bench and faints.

Abdul Baki advises the Sultan to leave her alone—and they both leave the stage.

Roksoliana is deeply preoccupied with her thoughts. She sees her native Ukrainian village. It seems to her that everything, even the soft wind blowing in her native fields, is whispering to her:

“Give your consent to be crowned and release us.”^[599]

She then has a vision of the graveyard in her native village; she sees her father by her mother’s grave. It seems to her that he asks her the same:

“My dear, give your consent to be crowned and release us.”

Afterwards she hears a sad song—a supplication coming from the tower:

The sons and daughters of the same land that she comes from pray to God asking him to change their fate through Roksoliana’s sacrifice.

Moved by this, she decides to sacrifice herself for the happiness of others. — Danylo enters and implores her to escape with him to their native land,

—where the sun does not burn so much,

where wheat grows profusely,

where warm winds blow,

where periwinkles grow by the houses...

Their escape, says he, is a sure thing, as all the guards have been bribed.

But Roksoliana is determined to save her compatriots. She says that love will make the Sultan more merciful to them.

Having heard that, Suleiman embraces her, and they both sing:

Those hearts cannot be blamed,

For they are chained together by love.

And these chains cannot be broken,

And their happiness will be endless,

As happiness and paradise are,

Where strong faith and love exist!

Afterwards, Suleiman gives an order to open all the prisons and set the captives free,—and he introduces Roksoliana to the viziers as his wife, the tsarina of the East.

Everyone falls on their knees and bows down before her.

ACT III

(A kiosk in the seraglio garden.)

The viziers are filled with indignation, as the Sultan influenced by Roksoliana wants to live in peace with his neighbors and does not allow the Tatars to invade Ukraine. They join in a conspiracy against Suleiman, at the head of which is Suleiman’s son, Mustafa. Suleiman is to be chained, and Roksoliana is to be thrown into the waters of Bosporus...

FOOL: Mustafa and his army are ready.

But they do not want to shed anyone’s blood any more.

The Sultan must be chained, and Roksoliana

Must be condemned!

Could anyone imagine or hear, in the whole world,

A more amusing word than “tsarina”?

White-faced enchantress,

She does what she wants.

She receives ambassadors,

Tells them to live in peace.

She protects the guilty people,

She defends her Rus’.

They agree to act at midnight, after which they leave the stage.

Suleiman and Abdul Baki enter. From their conversation, it is clear that they know about the conspiracy. Abdul Baki advises Suleiman to abdicate the throne and to live a long and happy life with Roksoliana. Otherwise, he must follow the will of his people and turn himself into a cruel tyrant.

Suleiman loses his patience:

I will become a tyrant!

I am out for blood!

Warm blood!

The Fool enters. He has also joined the conspiracy against Suleiman. Suleiman gives an order to put the Fool into a dark underground prison, where he is to be killed.

Then the Sultan orders Aglay-Khan to take the guards and to entice his son into the kiosk and to kill him there. Aglay-Khan executes the order.

Suleiman sings:

I have murdered my own son!...

No, I am a Ruler of the East,

from an imperial line!.

If God asks me,

Why I shed my own blood,

He will understand

The stars of happiness fall down!

Roksoliana enters and asks Suleiman why he is so sad. He mumbles something to her. Then Roksoliana tells him that she knows everything about the conspiracy.

Suleiman begs her to return to her native land, as some terrible things are about to happen here.

SULEIMAN: I call you my Wife,

You are my happiness, sun, and light!

You are more important for me than the throne,

And you know that!

Now I beg you;

Go back to your country,

And as you leave, you will take my heart with you

I beg you!

When you go back home,

I will be sure you are safe.

Please go back, go back home!

But she refuses to do so, saying that a wife must share with her husband both happiness and grief.

Suleiman gives an order to bring in the traitor Ibrahim and the entire council.

The Chorus of viziers enters, along with Ibrahim, the janissaries, and the guards. Everyone greets the Sultan. They praise him for his wisdom and bravery. The Sultan asks Ibrahim whether he knows anything about the rebellion. Ibrahim assures him his people are content. Then the Sultan orders to bring in a cup of poison and tells Ibrahim to drink it. Ibrahim refuses, but the guards force him to do it. Ibrahim falls down dead.

Suleiman gives an order to open the door to the kiosk and shows the viziers the body of his son. Everyone is frightened, and a great stir takes place. The Sultan orders the janissaries to imprison all the viziers, and to call for Roksoliana.

When she enters, he sings:

SULEIMAN: Have a look at my throne, I had a woman

She was the sun for me

She was like an angel

I do not want to live in this world without her

Everything I have belongs to her!

But look, look!

I am Sultan again!

He strikes Roksoliana with a dagger. While falling, she says:

Ah, farewell!

Do not be sad, for soon

there will be no sorrow, nor pain.

I will be where the stars shine,

Where the days are warm!

I’m coming.

What do I see? my native house,

our cherry orchard—my father and mother are calling me !...

and she dies.

The Sultan falls into a fit of rage; he gives orders to torture all the rebels and to assemble his troops, with who he intends to march onto Hungary, when the sun rises, in order to drink the blood of his enemies!.

THE END

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