Yesterday evening about twenty of us took a train to Poltava. Not a place I’d heard of which exposes my ignorance. I hadn’t heard of Tchaikovsky’s opera Mazeppa either; there is a connection.
On Wednesday night in the opera house in Kiev Madama Butterfly was on and a few observers went. Mazeppa is a different story.
“Mazeppa is a blood-thirsty tale of crazy love, abduction, political persecution, execution, and vengeful murder. The action takes place in Ukraine at the beginning of the 18th century. The protagonists are the historical figures Ivan Stepanovych Mazeppa (c. 1640–1709), the Hetman of the Ukrainian Cossacks, and Vasyl Leontiyovych Kochubey (c.1640–1708), a very prosperous Ukrainian nobleman and statesman.” (Wikipedia)
At the beginning of Act III there is an orchestral interlude describing the Battle of Poltava (1709) in which Peter the Great defeated Charles XII of Sweden. Charles is heavily out-numbered but has secured support from the Cossacks led by Mazeppa. This decisive battle marks the end of Sweden’s expansionist ambitions and also doomed Ukraine to Russian subjugation for almost 300 years.
Where did Tchaikovsky dream up this opera, which should surely be put on at Wexford? All paths lead to Pushkin, specifically his narrative poem , Poltava. As it’s a narrative poem it’s much too long to quote here so, as lecturers and army officers often say, do it in your own time.
Top tip for readers planning a trip to Poltava; stay at Palazzo Poltava. As the cards fall I must reluctantly pack my bag this morning and head out to my Area of Observation. I will be back at the Palazzo on Monday for one night..
I seem to remember a poem by Byron called Mazeppa’s Ride.
My English teacher frequently quoted two lines; The sky spun like a mighty wheel, I saw the clouds like drunkards reel.
I think that Mazeppa was strapped to the back of a galloping horse.
Is this the Mazeppa of the opera?
Enjoying your many wanderings.