Emanuil Manolov Siromachkinya

Bulgarian National Radio - 1955 - Andrea Andreev (c)

Libretto after the ballad by Ivan Vazov
Opera is unfinished: 2 Acts (4 were planned)
First staging: 29 December 1900 in Kazanlak
Restoration by Vladimir Zaimov

Synopsis

The scene is Bulgaria during the XIX century. The society is divided between the very poor and the very rich people, creating many social problems. The moral of the story is that robbers are more human than the greedy rich man.

Act I

Scene 1 - The Poor Woman drops to her knees in front of a chancel screen. She sings a recitative and decides to fight with her misfortune.

Scene 2 - Robbers enter the room of the poor family. After seeing the hungry and frozen children a change in their spirit occurs. The look of horror on their faces is changed to compassion when they meet the returning unhappy mother. The Leader of the Robbers and the Poor Woman sing a duet of sympathy. The Landlord, a greedy rich man, suddenly enters in a storm. Blinded by selfishness and greed he demands all the amounts due him by the Poor Woman. She begs for clemency but the embittered Rich Man chases her out.

Act II "Laughter and Tears" (Named by the Composer)

A magnificent orgy with songs and merriment at the Rich Man's mansion. The mixed choir sings "I went out alone into the large field and in the dark forest". The Poor Woman enters suddenly and again begs for clemency. The cruel Rich Man is inexorable and pushes away the Poor Woman. She stands up against the reveling rich people and with her last strength sings the aria "I am proud, people". The Poor Woman has decided to rescue her children at any price and save her human dignity. Almost dead she returns home where her cold, weeping and hungry children are waiting for her.

Emanuil Manolov (1860-1902) returned to Bulgaria in 1885 following study in Moscow. Siromachkinya (The Poor Woman) is regarded as the first Bulgarian opera, though Manolov did not finish it. Following an amateur performance in 1900, it was completed by others and staged by the Bulgarian Opera Society in 1910. This is the only known recording of the work. The completion/restoration by Vladimir Zaimov was broadcast by Bulgarian National Radio in 1995.