___"Sukharev tower" - the ballet in two acts (2017) ___
Composition, arrangement, performance, recording and mastering - Juri Morgatchiov
Libretto - Tatiana Morgatchiova
General Field Marshal Jacob Bruce (mage and sorcerer, becoming a Raven).
Dwarf (Bruce's assistant).
Alex (a young man in which will become a dwarf; allegedly the nephew of Bruce).
Chernyshev, Grigory Petrovich (the Governor-General of Moscow).
Avdotya Ivanovna (wife of Governor-General Chernyshev).
Kate Ushakova (maid of honor of Empress Anna Ioannovna, daughter of the Earl of Ushakov, friend Chernyshev).
Peter Chernyshev (son of the Governor-General Chernyshev).
Twelve guardian spirits of the black book.
pirits of fire.
Servants, walking people at the holiday, guests at the ball.
____ Act No. 1 _____
=======➤ 1) Prologue. Sukharev tower, Bruce and Dwarf
Moscow. The reign of Queen Anna Ioannovna. Frosty night on the eve of Shrovetide week. Not a soul on the street. A carriage drives up to the Sukharev tower. Two people come out of it: the first is tall in a three - cornered hat and a long sable coat, the second is small, either a child or a dwarf. A tall, stately gentleman is Yakov Bruce, a prominent Russian statesman, soldier, diplomat, engineer and scientist, one of the closest associates of Emperor Peter I. It was for him, for Bruce, that the reputation of a warlock, a magician, and a "sorcerer from the Sukharev tower"was firmly established in Moscow legends. Bruce starts dancing, moving towards the tower. Suddenly, he grabs the dwarf's hand and moves towards the tower with him in a grotesque dance. The dance stops abruptly. Bruce takes a bunch of keys out of his pocket, goes to the tower, and starts opening the iron door. The door creaks open. A small man, looking around with predatory eyes, steps into the darkness after his companion. The door closes with a clang, and the clock chimes from the Kremlin. With the last stroke of the chimes, the light from the candle appears at the very top of the Sukharev tower, and, as if in response, the full moon looks out from behind the clouds. A moment later, a huge black Raven flies out of the tower window and heads towards the Kremlin. The city continues to sleep.
At the residence of the Governor-General of Moscow, Grigory Petrovich Chernyshev is waiting for the arrival of his dear guest, the envoy of the tsarina Anna Ioannovna, lady-in-waiting Katya Ushakova, the daughter of his old friend count Ushakov. Chernyshev indulges in memories, reflects on his friend, how quickly time flies. His son Petya also promised to come to Moscow for Shrovetide, and tomorrow morning the Governor-General is waiting for his arrival. The children are all grown up, and how nice it would be for them to be related, because a beautiful couple can turn out. However, Katya is delayed. It's winter, it's already night, and the roads aren't safe. Grigory Petrovich is nervous, impatiently pacing the office. His wife tries to calm him down.
=======➤ 3) Katya's arrival and conversation with the Governor and his wife
The Butler enters and announces the arrival of Katie. Grigory Petrovich sighs with relief and hurries to meet her. Having freed herself from her downy shawls and fur coats, Katyusha runs towards him, smiling and beaming. He kisses her rosy cheeks, smelling of frost, and leads her to his study, asking about the health of her father and mother, as well as the purpose of her visit. Katya says that the Queen entrusted her with a certain task. To complete it, she needs to meet with field Marshal General Jacob Bruce and give him a message from the Queen. Grigory Petrovich promises that he will introduce her to Bruce no later than tomorrow, during the Maslenitsa festivities on red square. Then he leads Katenka to his wife Avdotya Ivanovna, who has been waiting for the arrival of her goddaughter for a long time. After joyful hugs and kisses, they have a pleasant conversation. Meanwhile, the Raven, who was sitting on the windowsill and heard the whole conversation, hits the window with an iron beak and the glass is covered with a spider's web of cracks. With a flutter of his wings, he flies away in the direction of the Sukharev tower.
A huge black Raven flies through the window of the Sukharev tower and takes the form of Bruce. He hurriedly descends into the vaulted dungeon. On the table, covered with scarlet velvet, lies a huge book. This book contains the secret knowledge that Bruce is so eager to get. He puts his hand to the book to open it, but suddenly the twelve guardian spirits of the book appear. They begin to dance around the book, pushing Brus away from it until he, realizing his impotence before the book's security spell, runs out of the basement. Guardian spirits calm down and disappear into the dark space of the dungeon.
Bruce gets the idea that only a pure soul can open the book of secret knowledge. Going down to the secret room where he practices alchemy, Bruce plots witchcraft and imagines how to turn an evil scary dwarf into a beautiful young man. The magician begins to dance around a large cauldron containing dead water, adding various alchemical elements to the water. The fire under the cauldron grows brighter and at the climax, the fire spirits appear and waltz with Bruce. The waltz stops, the fire spirits disappear, and a silver cloud forms over the cauldron. Bruce steps aside, assessing the preparatory work he has done, then claps his hands and his faithful dwarf appears at the same moment. They again dance a grotesque dance, at the end of which Bruce, as if pushing the dwarf, gestures to the owner to order him to jump into the cauldron. The dwarf jumps. Bruce adds live water to the cauldron. A silver cloud descends on the cauldron like a lid. Bruce performs magic actions. The silver cloud turns to steam and as it dissipates, the silhouette of a man appears. Bruce reaches out and helps a beautiful young man out of the cauldron, whose eyes, despite the changed appearance, still hid the evil essence of the dwarf.
=======➤ 6) Morning and pre-holiday bustle in the Governor's house
The morning comes. You can hear the bell ringing. In the house of the Governor-General pre-holiday bustle. There are happy and joyful faces around. The house is filled with the smell of pancakes. Preparations for the holiday are in full swing.
=======➤ 7) The arrival of Peter and the conversation with the mother
The doorbell rings mischievously and cheerfully in the hallway. Avdotya Ivanovna hurries to meet her son Petenka, who, stamping his valenki and shaking off the snow from his fur coat, smiles at her like a boy. Stopping in front of her son, she waves her hands and says softly with tears of joy in her eyes: "Petrusha has arrived!" She crosses her son and hugs him. They're having a conversation.
Red square is gradually filled with the buzz of people arriving for the holiday. All kinds of food appear on the counters. The ubiquitous boys scurry between the counters. Music is playing. It appeared on the square buffoons and musicians announce the beginning of Maslenitsa. The weather is beautiful. Snowflakes fall from the bright blue sky. Representatives of the merchant class are beginning to appear among the merry common people, who are stomping to the beat of the music.
=======➤ 9) The emergence of the nobility, the Governor and his family, Bruce and Alex
The Moscow nobility appears on the square. And here, finally, is the Governor and his family. Petenka leads Katenka by the elbow, looking into her eyes, which sparkle with joy. Grigory Petrovich and Avdotya Ivanovna look at the young people with emotion. A moment later, the Governor, noticing a familiar black cocked hat in the crowd, thought - the hunter and the beast is running. Bruce, seeing the family, nodded to the Governor, indicating that he was heading in his direction.
After bowing formally to the family, Bruce fixes his gaze on Katya. A young man steps out from behind Bruce and also bows to the family. Bruce introduces him as his nephew Alex. Walking along red square, the Governor tells Yakov about the purpose of Katya's visit. Katya comes up to them, takes the mitten off her hand, curtseys, hands Bruce a folded piece of paper, and quietly says that here is a list of elixirs for the mother Queen. Bruce takes the note and briefly holds Katya's fingertips in his hand. On Bruce's hand, a blood-colored ruby flashes in a ring, indicating to the magician that here she is, a pure soul who will help him open the book of secret knowledge. At the same time, Katya feels dizzy, falling under the spell of the magician. Bruce, opening a piece of paper and running his eyes over it, bows to Catherine and says that the Queen's order will be completed by Forgiveness Sunday. The Governor, smiling happily, pats the magician on the shoulder and invites Bruce and his nephew to the end of Shrovetide ball. They bow and the two groups go their separate ways.
=======➤ 10) Continuation of holiday. Dance around the effigy of winter
Festive festivities on red square are gaining momentum. Everywhere you can hear the merry playing of pipes and horns, and the voices of the rampant people sound louder and louder. The holiday is in full swing. But the attention of all the walkers is attracted by the installation of an effigy of winter, around which the round dance begins. Petya and Katya join the dance. At the last moment, Katya grabs Alex's arm and pulls him into the dance.
After returning home, Katyusha retires to her room. She's confused. Katya is sure that Petya is her betrothed and at the same time she can't forget Alex's face. Sinking into a chair, she falls asleep. She dreams that she is walking through a garden full of lilac flowers. To the sound of a waltz, she begins to dance among the fragrant flowers. Suddenly Alex appears and takes her dancing to the Sukharev tower. They go down into the dungeon. Katya sees a large room with a vaulted ceiling and in the center of the room - dancing to the magic music of friendly spirits-guardians. A black Raven circles the ceiling. The guardian spirits part and Katya sees a table covered with scarlet velvet, on which lies an ancient book. Alex asks Katya to open the book. She agrees and reaches for the book. But at this moment a black Raven descends on the book, and Katya instinctively pulls her hand away. The guardian spirits become warlike and drive the Raven away from the book. At the same moment, Petya appears, who scoops her up in his arms and carries her out of the tower. This is the end of the dream and Katya wakes up.
____ Act No. 2 _____
=======➤ 12) Bruce's meeting with Katya before the ball
Shrovetide week passed. And before the ball starts, Katya meets Bruce. He passes her elixirs for the Queen. The order is completed. Taking advantage of the meeting, Bruce tries to bewitch her and bend her to his will. There is a scene of the" white dove "confronting the" black crow", at the end of which Bruce calls for the help of the spirits of fire. But all in vain, Katya in a light waltz eludes him. Bruce is left with nothing.
Grand opening of the Governor's ball. Suddenly it is interrupted by the Governor's comic exit from the Maslenitsa dance. His wife, hands on hips, picks up the joke, but gently and feminine, and elegantly leads to the minuet. Grigory Petrovich and Avdotya Ivanovna begin to dance a slow minuet. Gradually, others join the dance.
The atmosphere of the ball seems to disappear, Katya is left alone, highlighted by a ray of light. In the background, in the semi-darkness, you can see the figures of the ball participants. She will have to make a choice by listening to her heart.
And again, with bright lights and an expressive ekosez, the noisy atmosphere of the ball breaks in, but not for long. Everything calms down immediately. Katya remains in the center and Alex approaches her from one side, and Petya from the other, and the three-way dance begins, at the end of which Katya gives her hand and heart to Petya. Thus, Love wins, breaking Bruce's spell. After hugging each other, Katya and Petya leave, leaving Alex alone.
Left alone, Alex is distraught at first and tries to follow them, but then realizes that all is lost. The lights go out, one spotlight illuminating the drooping figure of Alex, the other the distant figure of Bruce. Bruce reaches out and points a finger at Alex. On Bruce's finger, the light from the ruby gradually fades. Alex realizes that the sorcery stops, he returns to his true form. In despair and anguish, he shrinks, crouching and covering himself with a cloak. Gradually increasing light, and with it to the tune of from time to time - and the noise of the ball. Appear in the galloping dance of a couple. They run into Alex and rip off his cloak. Seeing a dwarf instead of Alex, the guests at first start to retreat in horror, but after a funny and ridiculous curtsey of the dwarf, they curiously surround him and start laughing, pointing at him with their fingers. The dwarf, shrinking, tries to leave, but at the last moment makes another ridiculous curtsy, but with a tragic connotation. The guests stop laughing and look at him with regret. Meanwhile, taking advantage of the confusion, Bruce, opening the window and turning into a Raven, leaves the residence.
Once in the tower, Bruce hastily descends to the basement to try again to open the black book, using the strongest spell. But the twelve guardian spirits, closely surrounding the table, block his way to the book. Bruce, who has unleashed all his magical powers on the guardians in several attempts, fails to break through to the book. The guardians, attacking Bruce in an aggressive dance, chase him up the stairs to the astronomical tower, where Bruce is forced to fly out of the window in his own body. Belated passers-by passing by the Sukharev tower look up in horror at the last flight of the magician, overshadowing themselves with the sign of the cross.. A midnight clock chimes from the Kremlin. Everything calms down. At the very top of the Sukharev tower, the light from the candle goes out in the window and the silhouette of the tower dissolves into darkness.
