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{{Short description|Opera by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky}}
{{Infobox opera 
| name              = Cherevichki
| type              = Revision of ''[[Vakula the Smith]]''
| composer          = [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]]
| image_upright     = 1.2
| image             = Tchaikovsky by Reutlinger.jpg
| caption           = Tchaikovsky in 1888
| image_alt         = 
| native_name       = {{langx|ru|Черевички|links=no}}
| librettist        = [[Yakov Polonsky]]
| language          = Russian
| based_on          = {{based on|"[[Christmas Eve (Gogol)|Christmas Eve]]"|Gogol}}
| premiere_date     = {{start date|1887|01|31|df=y}}
| premiere_location = [[Bolshoi Theatre]] in Moscow
}}
'''''Cherevichki''''' ({{langx|ru|Черевички}} {{Audio|Ru-Cherevichki.ogg|listen}}, {{langx|uk|Черевички}}, ''Cherevichki'', ''Čerevički'', ''The Slippers'' (alternative renderings are ''The Little Shoes'', ''The Tsarina's Slippers'', ''The Empress's Slippers'', ''The Golden Slippers'', ''The Little Slippers'', ''Les caprices d'Oxane'', and ''Gli stivaletti'') is a comic-fantastic opera in 4 acts, 8 scenes, by [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky]]. It was composed in 1885 in [[Maidanovo]], Russia. The [[libretto]] was written by [[Yakov Polonsky]], and is based on the story "[[Christmas Eve (Gogol)|Christmas Eve]]", part of the 1832 collection ''[[Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka]]'', by [[Nikolai Gogol]]. The opera is a revision of Tchaikovsky's earlier opera ''[[Vakula the Smith]]''. The work was first performed in 1887 in Moscow.

==Composition history==
[[Image:N.Gogol by A.Ivanov (1841, Russian museum).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Nikolai Gogol|Nikolay Gogol]]<br />(1809–1852)]]
The opera was composed between February and April 1885 at [[Maidanovo]]. Both ''Vakula the Smith'' and ''Cherevichki'' were set to Polonsky's libretto, which was originally intended for [[Alexander Serov]], but had remained unused on account of his death. Additions and revisions for this second version were made by the composer and Nikolay Chayev.

The main thematic material of the second version of the opera is the same as in ''[[Vakula the Smith]]''. The alterations were caused by a wish to help the opera "out of the river of oblivion" (letter by Tchaikovsky of 4 March 1885). The editing primarily simplified some elements of musical texture. The lyric sphere of the opera was deepened by the introduction of a new aria inserted for Vakula: {{lang|ru|italic=no|Slyshit li devitsa serdtse tvoe}}... (Who knows, my girl, if your heart can feel my pain...). But the addition of the song of the School Teacher and the verses of His Highness enrich the genre part of the opera. Tchaikovsky also changed the cast of the chorus scenes, as in No. 13 (''Kolyadka'').

==Performance history==
The premiere was given on 31 January 1887 [OS January 19] at the [[Bolshoi Theatre]] in Moscow conducted by Tchaikovsky (it was his debut as a conductor) with stage direction by A. I. Bartsal and scenic design by K. F. Valts. During the 20th century the opera was performed very rarely, revived almost exclusively within Russia and the [[USSR]]. It received its Polish premiere in the [[Baltic Opera]] House in [[Gdańsk]] on 28 June 1952.<ref>[http://www.operabaltycka.pl/pl#/pl/o-teatrze/wykaz-premier The list of premieres at Baltic Opera House]</ref> [[Wexford Festival Opera]] presented five performances of a new production in October 1993. It was shown in the United Kingdom for the first time at [[Garsington Opera]] on 26 June 2004,<ref>[http://www.musicweb-international.com/SandH/2004/May-Aug04/cherevichki266.htm Garsington Opera premiere of ''Cherevichki'']</ref> and then at The [[Royal Opera House]] Covent Garden on 20 November 2009.<ref>[http://boulezian.blogspot.com/2009/11/cherevichki-royal-opera-20-november.html ''Cherevichki'' at the Royal Opera House]</ref> One of the later performances was broadcast, recorded and released in [[DVD]] and [[blu-ray]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Product Details - Tchaikovsky: Cherevichki (The Tsarina's Slippers) (The Royal Ballet) |url=https://www.opusarte.com/details/OABD7073D |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=www.opusarte.com}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I.: Cherevichki (Royal Opera House,.. - OABD7073D {{!}} Discover more releases from Opus Arte |url=https://www.naxos.com/CatalogueDetail/?id=OABD7073D |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=www.naxos.com}}</ref>

==Roles==
{| class="wikitable"
!|English
!|Voice type
!|Premiere cast<br>31 January [OS January 19] 1887<br>(Conductor: Composer)
|-
|Vakula, ''a smith''
|[[tenor]]
|[[Dmitri Usatov]]
|-
|Solokha, ''Vakula's mother, a witch''
|[[mezzo-soprano]]
|A. V. Svyatlovskaya
|-
|Chub, ''an elderly Cossack''
|[[Bass (voice type)|bass]]
|[[Ivan Matchinsky]]
|-
|Oksana, ''Chub's daughter''
|[[soprano]]
|Maria Klimentova-Muromtseva
|-
|A devil from Hell, ''a fantastic character''
|bass
|[[Bogomir Korsov]]
|-
|Schoolmaster
|tenor
|[[Alexander Dodonov|Aleksandr Dodonov]]
|-
|Pan Golova, ''Chub's crony''
|bass
|V. S. Streletsky
|-
|Panas, ''Chub's crony''
|tenor
|P. N. Grigoryev
|-
|His Highness
|bass
|[[Pavel Khokhlov]]
|-
|Master of Ceremonies
|bass
|R. V. Vasilyevsky
|-
|Attendant
|tenor
|
|-
|Old Cossack
|bass
|
|-
|Wood Goblin
|bass
|
|-
|colspan="3"|chorus, silent roles (Lads, lasses, elders, gusli-players, rusalki, wood-sprites, echo, spirits, court ladies and gentlemen, [[Zaporozhian Cossacks|Zaporozhtsy]])
|-
|}

==Instrumentation==
Source: [http://en.tchaikovsky-research.net/pages/Cherevichki Tchaikovsky Research]
*''Strings'': Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses
*''Woodwinds'': Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets (B-flat and A), 2 Bassoons
*''Brass'': 4 Horns (all F), 2 Trumpets (F and E), 3 Trombones, Tuba
*''Percussion'': Timpani, Triangle, Tambourine, Cymbals, Bass Drum,
*''Other'': Harp
*''On/Offstage'': Wind Band (off)

Some numbers were also arranged for voices with piano or for piano duet (4 hands) by Tchaikovsky in 1885.

==Synopsis==
''Time'': The end of the 18th century

''Place'': In the village of [[Dykanka|Dikanka]], Ukraine; St. Petersburg

===Act 1===
The widow Solokha agrees to help the Devil steal the Moon. The Devil is annoyed with Solokha's son Vakula who painted an icon mocking him. The Devil decides to create a snowstorm to prevent Vakula from seeing his beloved Oxana. While the storm rages, Solokha rides up to the sky and steals the Moon, while Oxana's father Chub and the Deacon are unable to find their way. Oxana is alone and lonely at home. She passes through several moods and the music follows her with gradually accelerating tempos. At one point, Vakula enters and watches her admiring herself. She teases him, and he says he loves her. Chub comes back out of the storm, and Vakula, not recognizing him, chases him out by striking him. Seeing what he has done, Oxana sends Vakula away in a miserable state. Young people from the village come around singing Ukrainian Christmas carols. Oxana realizes she still loves Vakula.

===Act 2===
In a peculiar and amusing first scene three men and the Devil wind up in three sacks at Solokha's hut after successively trying to seduce her, and Vakula winds up hauling the heavy sacks away. Outside three groups of carollers contend. Oxana shames Vakula into getting her the Tsaritsa's boots or else she won't marry him. He runs threatening suicide, leaving two bags which turn out to have the Deacon and Chub.

===Act 3===
A forest sprite warns water nymphs that Vakula is coming and that he wants to commit suicide. The Devil jumps out of Vakula's sack and tries to get his soul in exchange for Oxana but Vakula instead climbs on the Devil's back. Vakula forces the Devil to take him to St. Petersburg. The Devil puts down Vakula in the tsaritsa's court and disappears into the fireplace. Vakula joins a group of cossacks who are going to see the tsaritsa. In the hall of columns, a chorus sings the tsaritsa's praises, a polonaise. Vakula requests the tsaritsa's boots in a minuet, and it is granted because it is an unusual and amusing thing to ask. The Devil takes Vakula away as Russian and Cossack dances commence.

===Act 4===
The Act opens in the town square on a bright Christmas morning. Solokha and Oxana think Vakula has drowned himself, and mourn for him. Oxana runs off weeping when villagers invite her to the Christmas feast. Vakula returns with the boots, asks Chub to forgive him for the beating and asks for Oxana's hand in marriage. She enters, tells Vakula that she wants him, not the silly boots. Chub calls for the kobzari (the lutenists), and everyone celebrates.

==Structure==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
:Overture

'''Act 1'''<br>
''Scene 1''<br>
:No. 1 Scene and Duet (Solokha, Devil)
:No. 2 Snowstorm

''Scene 2''<br>
:No. 3 Aria (Oksana)
:No. 4 Scene and Arioso (Oksana, Vakula)
:No. 5 Scene (Oksana, Chub, Vakula)
:No. 6 Scene and Duet (Vakula, Oksana)
:No. 7 Final Scene (Oksana, Vakula, Choir)

'''Act 2'''<br>
''Scene 1''<br>
:Entr’acte
:No. 8 Scene (Solokha, Devil)
:No. 9 Scene (Pan Golova, Solokha)
:No. 10 Scene (Deacon, Solokha)
:No. 11 Scene and Quintet (Chub, Solokha, Vakula, Deacon, Devil)
:No. 12 Arioso (Vakula)

''Scene 2''<br>
:No. 13 Choral Scene
:No. 14 Scene and Cherevichki Song
:No. 15 Finale (Oksana, Vakula, Chub, Choir)
{{col-break}}
'''Act 3'''<br>
''Scene 1''<br>
:Entr’acte
:No. 16 Chorus of Rusalkas
:No. 17 Scene and Vakula's Song (Vakula, Devil)

''Scene 2''<br>
:No. 18 Scene (Devil, Vakula, an Old Zaporozhian Cossack, Choir)

''Scene 3''<br>
:No. 19 Polonaise (Vakula, Master of Ceremonies, His Highness, Choir)
:No. 20 Couplets (His Highness, Choir)
:No. 21 Minuet and Scene (Vakula, Catherine II, His Highness, Choir)
:No. 22 Russian dance and Cossack dance
:No. 23 Scene (Master of Ceremonies, Devil, Vakula

'''Act 4'''<br>
:No. 24 Duet (Solokha, Oksana)
:No. 25 Finale (Oksana, Chub, Pan Golova, Panas, Solokha, Vakula, Choir)
{{col-end}}

==Related works==
*[[Mykola Lysenko|Lysenko]]: the opera [[Christmas Eve (Lysenko)|''Christmas Eve'']] (1872)
*[[Tchaikovsky]]: The opera ''[[Vakula the Smith]]'' (1874, the earlier version of ''Cherevichki'')
*[[Rimsky-Korsakov]]: The opera ''[[Christmas Eve (opera)|Christmas Eve]]'' (1895)

Lysenko's and Rimsky-Korsakov's ''Christmas Eve'' operas and Tchaikovsky's ''Vakula the Smith''/''Cherevichki'' are all based on the same story by Gogol.

==Recordings==
<gallery>
Image:Cherevichki-Album cover Melik-Pashayev.jpg|1948 Bolshoy Theatre
Image:Cherevichki-Album cover.jpg|2000 Cagliari Lyric Theatre
</gallery>

*1948, Aleksandr Melik-Pashayev, Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra and Chorus, G. Nelepp (Vakula), E. Antonova (Solokha), Al. Ivanov (Devil), M. Mikhailov (Chub), E. Kruglikova (Oksana), S. Krasnovsky (Village-head), F. Godovkin (Panas), A. Peregudov (Deacon), An. Ivanov (His Highness), O. Insarova (Yekaterina II), I. Ionov (Master of ceremonies), V. Shvetsov (Sentry), I. Sipaev (Zaporozhian Cossack), M. Skazin (Forest Sprite)
*1973, Fedoseyev/Fomina/Simonova/Lisovsky/Krivchenia/Klenov (Melodiya)
*2000, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Cagliari Lyric Theater Orchestra and Chorus, Fabio Bonavita, Pavel Cernoch, Ekaterina Morosova, Vladimir Ognovenko, Vladimir Okenko, Grigory Osipov, Valeri Popov, Valentin Prolat, Albert Schagidullin, Ludmila Semciuk, Barseg Tumanyan, Frantisek Zahradnicek
*2004, Howarth/Duprels/McCafferty/Dwyer/Zimnenko/Earle (Garsington label)
*Recorded 2009, released 2010 in [[Blu-ray|Blu-Ray]] and [[DVD]] by [[Opus Arte]]/Naxos: Vsevolod Grivnov (Vakula), Olga Guryakova (Oxana), Larissa Diadkova (Solokha), Maxim Mikhailov (The Devil), Vladimir Matorin (Chub), John Upperton (Panas), Alexander Vassiliev (Pan Golova),Viacheslav Voynarovskiy (The Schoolmaster), Olga Sabadoch (Odark), Changhan Lim (Wood Goblin), Andrew Macnair (Echo), Sergei Leiferkus (His Highness), Jeremy White (Master of Ceremonies) & Mara Galeazzi & Gary Avis (Principal Dancers), Dancers of [[The Royal Ballet]] & Orchestra of The [[Royal Opera House]], Alexander Polianichko (conductor), [[Francesca Zambello]] (stage director) <ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
* An Orchestral Suite entitled "Les Caprices d'Oxane" was arranged from the opera by Constantine Saradjeff (1877-1954) and recorded in 1953 by the Philharmonia Orchestra, conductor Anatole Fistoulari, for the Parlophone label. The title used on the LP was "The Slippers" but when reissued on the Guild CD label in 2014 it became "The Tsarina's Slippers."

==See also==
* [[List of Christmas operas]]

==References==
'''Notes'''
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMSLP2|work=Cherevichki_(Tchaikovsky,_Pyotr_Ilyich)|cname=''Cherevichki''}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060816080807/http://www.tchaikovsky.host.sk/work/cherev.htm Information on ''Cherevichki'' (English)]
* [http://en.tchaikovsky-research.net/pages/Cherevichki Tchaikovsky Research on ''Cherevichki'' (English)]
*[http://opera.stanford.edu/iu/libretti/Slippers.htm Libretto, complete text (Russian)]
*[http://belcanto.ru/cherevichki.html Information (Russian)]
*[http://www.answers.com/topic/vakula-the-smith-opera-op-14-original-version-of-the-slippers Answers]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015127/http://www.russiandvd.com/store/product.asp?sku=39241 Gennady Rozhdestvensky performance CD album 1]
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=wa6r_GcqBM8C&dq=Cherevichki&pg=PA23 On ''Cherevichki'' at Google Books (''An Introduction to Tchaikovsky's Operas'')]
{{Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky}}
{{Christmas Eve (Gogol)}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Russian-language operas]]
[[Category:Operas by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky]]
[[Category:Operas]]
[[Category:Operas based on works by Nikolai Gogol]]
[[Category:1887 operas]]
[[Category:Operas set in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Christmas operas]]
[[Category:The Devil in opera]]
[[Category:Works based on Christmas Eve (Gogol)]]