Above: Maralin Niska
In the Autumn of 1969, I spent almost ten weeks in New York City. I had taken a room at the Henry Hudson Hotel, and was supposed to be job-hunting. But instead, I spent all my time (and limited money) going to the opera. The Met was closed due to a strike, but the New York City Opera was going strong. I think I went to every single performance they gave during those weeks, always in the 4th Ring standing room.
One opera the NYCO were offering that Fall was Borodin’s PRINCE IGOR, in English; this Russian masterpiece was brand new to me. I saw it five times, the last performance bringing together three singers I especially admired: Maralin Niska (Yaroslavna), Edward Pierson (Igor), and William Chapman (Khan Konchak). Gustav Meier was the conductor.
With my money running low, I recorded only about 20 minutes from the performance in order to save cassette space:
First, as Prince Igor is about to lead his troops out to meet the attacking Polovtsians, a solar eclipse develops. His wife, Yaroslavna, sees this as a bad omen and begs her husband not to leave, but he is adamant. Maralin Niska, as Yaroslavna, bids him farewell on a sustained top note. (In this ensemble, you briefly hear tenor James McCray as Igor’s son, Vladimir.)
Later, awaiting her spouse’s return, Yaroslavna sings a wistful lament. Ms. Niska’s soft singing was always so affecting.
When her city is attacked by the hoards of Polovtsians, Princess Yaroslavna and the boyars barricade themselves in the great hall as the palace is set aflame. Ms. Niska took an exciting high option to cap the ensemble.
Captured by Khan Konchak, Prince Igor sings of his despair over his defeat, and of his beloved wife far away. Edward Pierson had such an expressive voice, and excellent diction.
Khan Kochak wants to befriend his prisoner; he suggests that he and Igor should join forces. William Chapman wowed the audience with his vivid singing here.
How does the story end, you may ask: Prince Igor at last returns home, broken by defeat…and by the loss of his son Vladimir in battle.
And how did my plan to work and live in the Big Apple work out? Not well, though not as sadly as the defeated Prince Igor’s. Broke, I went back to the little town, where I lived until moving to Hartford, Connecticut, in 1975. I finally made it to my Dream City in 1998, shortly before turning 50.
~ Oberon
Oberon's Glade 