Iolanta (Original edition)

Libretto by Modest Tchaikovsky after the play 'King René's Daughter' by Henrik Hertz; German version by Hans Schmidt (R,G)

2S,M,A,2T,2Bar,2B; chorus;
2.2(II=corA).2.0-4.2.3.1-timp-2harp-strings

Cyrillic vocal material with German phonetic notation available upon request

In the Vosges, a garden with blooming rose bushes and trees full of ripe fruit and a pavilion; mid-15th century

The blind Iolanta is brought up in a secluded garden and must not be told of her blindness by order of King René. Vaudémon and Robert enter the garden; Robert is supposed to marry Iolanta. When Vaudémon sees her asleep, he is charmed at once. At this point, René approaches the garden with the physician Ebn-Chakia; the king is even ready to give up his power if only the doctor can give his daughter her sight back. But Ebn-Chakia tells him that this is only possible if she herself wants to be cured. Vaudémon, who knows nothing of René's order, has become aware that Iolanta is blind and explains to her what seeing is. With a trick, René manages to make Iolanta declare that she wishes to be cured. Robert, the bridegroom-to-be, then returns. However, he is in love with Matilda, the Duchess of Burgundy…

Romantic