The Nightingale (opera)
Role Voice type Premiere cast , 26 May 1914 ( Conductor : Pierre Monteux )
Nightingale ( Соловей ) coloratura soprano Aurelia Dobrovolska
Fisherman ( Рыбак ) tenor Aleksandr Varfolomejev
Cook ( Кухарочка ) soprano Maria Brian
Emperor ( Император ) bass Pjotr Pavel Andrejev
Chamberlain ( Камергер ) bass Aleksandr Belianin
Bonze ( Бонза ) bass Nikolaj Goulajev
Death ( Смерть ) contralto Elisabeth Petrenko
1st Japanese emissary ( Японский посол 1 ) soprano Mamsina
2nd Japanese emissary ( Японский посол 2 ) bass Vasilj Saranov
3rd Japanese emissary ( Японский посол 3 ) tenor Fodor Ernst
Roles
The Nightingale (Russian: Соловей - Solovyei; French: Le Rossignol) is a Russian conte lyrique in three acts by Igor Stravinsky. The libretto, based on the tale of The Nightingale by Hans Christian Andersen, was written by the composer and Stepan Mitusov. It was first performed on 26 May 1914 by the Ballets Russes at the Palais Garnier in Paris. Stravinsky had begun work on the opera in 1908, but put it aside for several years after he had received the commission from Sergei Diaghilev for the ballet The Firebird. He completed it in 1914, after he had completed his other two major ballets for Diaghilev, Petrushka and The Rite of Spring. Because the time between the writing of the first and second acts extended over six years, stylistically the work reflects Stravinsky's significantly changed approach to composition, and this can clearly be detected when performances are given. Stravinsky subsequently turned aside from large productions to concentrate on chamber music and the piano.