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| '''''Ephraim''''' (Эфраим) ([[TH]] 211 ; [[ČW]] 451) was a projected opera in 4 acts which Tchaikovsky considered in 1875 and 1876.
| | Nothing is known about this short sketch ([[TH]] 224 ; [[ČW]] 475), which was made on Tchaikovsky's blotting pad in 1885. An accompanying list suggests that this may have been intended as part of a cycle of piano pieces, with the titles: "Etude in A minor, ''Marche funèbre, Valse 1, Valse 2, Mazurque, Mazurque, Russe, Russe, Rêverie, Scherzo" <ref name="note1"/>. |
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| The subject was suggested to Tchaikovsky by his friend [[Konstantin Shilovsky]] in 1875, after the composer had rejected outright [[Konstantin Shilovsky|Shilovsky]]'s previous libretto ''The Reluctant Queen'' (Царица поневоле), which was also set in ancient Egypt. The manuscript libretto is dated "1875", but the earliest reference to the opera in Tchaikovsky's correspondence appears in a letter of 10/22 February 1876 to his brother [[Modest]], in which he wrote that "I'm wavering between ''Ephraim'' and ''[[Francesca da Rimini (projected opera)|Francesca]]'', although I think the latter takes precedence" <ref name="note1"/>.
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| Although Tchaikovsky made notes on the manuscript of [[Konstantin Shilovsky|Shilovsky]]'s libretto, he soon rejected it in favour of other possible subjects, including ''[[Francesca da Rimini (projected opera)|Francesca da Rimini]]'' and ''[[Othello]]''. On 14/26 June 1876, he told [[Konstantin Shilovsky|Shilovsky]] that he would not be using his libretto for the time being <ref name="note2"/>, although some months later he suggested the subject to [[Sergey Taneyev]], who also went on to reject it <ref name="note3"/>.
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| [[Konstantin Shilovsky]]'s story was set in Ancient Egypt:
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| {{quote|The goddess Taozer is in love with a Jewish youth Ephraim, a guard at the Pharaoh's palace. But Ephraim is betrothed to Leah, and he rejects the advances of Taozer, who is humiliated. The Pharaoh is in love with Taozer, and asks her to be his bride. Taozer agrees, but only as a ploy to take her revenge on Ephraim. She invites Ephraim, Leah and her mother Deborah to celebrate their forthcoming marriage. During the celebrations, she serves Leah with a goblet containing a sleeping potion, but Ephraim believes she has been murdered. Taozer promises to revive her, if Ephraim will spend just one night with her. Later that night, Ephraim meets Taozer in the palace garden. He pleads with her to renounce her claim on him, and bring Leah back to life. They are overheard by the Pharaoh, who has been brought to the garden by Deborah. When the Pharaoh realises that Taozer has deceived him, he murders her, revives Leah, and rewards Ephraim for his fidelity. The action takes place at the time of the Egyptian enslavement of the Israeli people <ref name="note4"/>.}}
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| [[Konstantin Shilovsky|Shilovsky]]'s manuscript libretto, with annotations by Tchaikovsky, is preserved in the [[Klin]] House-Museum Archive (a{{sup|6}}, No. 29).
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| ==Notes and References== | | ==Notes and References== |
| <references> | | <references> |
| <ref name="note1">[[Letter 445]] to [[Modest Tchaikovsky]], 10/22–11/23 February 1876.</ref> | | <ref name="note1">The blotting pad and sheet of paper are preserved in the {{RUS-KLč}} at [[Klin]] (ref. В{{sup|6}}, No. 1).</ref> |
| <ref name="note2">[[Letter 473]] to [[Konstantin Shilovsky]], 14/26 June 1876.</ref>
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| <ref name="note3">[[Letter 576]] to [[Sergey Taneyev]], 5/17 July 1877.</ref>
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| <ref name="note4">See {{bib|1958/14|Музыкальное наследие Чайковского}} (1958), p. 120–121.</ref>
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| </references> | | </references> |
| [[Category:Projected Works]] | | [[Category:Projected Works]] |
| [[Category:Operas]] | | [[Category:Piano Music]] |
Nothing is known about this short sketch (TH 224 ; ČW 475), which was made on Tchaikovsky's blotting pad in 1885. An accompanying list suggests that this may have been intended as part of a cycle of piano pieces, with the titles: "Etude in A minor, Marche funèbre, Valse 1, Valse 2, Mazurque, Mazurque, Russe, Russe, Rêverie, Scherzo" [1].
Notes and References
- ↑ The blotting pad and sheet of paper are preserved in the Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve at Klin (ref. В6, No. 1).
