The Oprichnik

opera by Tchaikovsky

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July 15, 2026

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The Oprichnik is an opera by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, first performed in 1874. While Tchaikovsky is renowned for operas like Eugene Onegin and The Queen of Spades, The Oprichnik did not achieve significant critical acclaim. The opera's initial success was limited, and Tchaikovsky himself agreed with the critics' assessment of its shortcomings. The opera's subject matter and style did not resonate as strongly as his other works, particularly his instrumental compositions and ballets.12

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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Middle years
…1872 he finished another opera, The Oprichnik. While spending the summer at his sister’s estate in Ukraine, he began to work on his Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, later dubbed The Little Russian, which he completed later that year. The Oprichnik was first performed at the Maryinsky Theatre in…
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…1872 he finished another opera, The Oprichnik. While spending the summer at his sister’s estate in Ukraine, he began to work on his Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, later dubbed The Little Russian, which he completed later that year. The Oprichnik was first performed at the Maryinsky Theatre in…
Read More