G. Schirmer controls the rights in the English translation by Rosa Newmarch for this work but does not supply orchestral materials.

    • Libretto by Modeste Tchaikovsky after Pushkin’s story (1834). English translation by Rosa Newmarch.
    • English

    Programme Note

    Cast List:
       HERMANN, a young officer in love with Lisa: Tenor
       LISA: Soprano
       COUNTESS, Lisa's grandmother: Mezzo-Soprano
       COUNT TOMSKY, Hermann's friend: Baritone
       PRINCE YELETSKY, Lisa's fiancé: Baritone
       PAULINE, Lisa's friend: Contralto
       TCHEKALINSKY, Officer
       SOURIN, Officer
       NAROUMOV, Officer
       TCHAPLITSKY, proprietor of the gambling establishment: Tenor
       THE GOVERNESS: Mezzo-Soprano
       MARY, Lisa's maid: Soprano
       MAJOR-DOMO: Tenor

    CHARACTERS IN THE INTERLUDE
       CHLOE: Soprano
       DAPHNIS: Contralto
       PLUTUS: Baritone

       Promenaders, Lisa's Friends, Servants, Gamblers, etc.

    Synopsis:
    Hermann, a young officer, wants to marry Lisa, the granddaughter of a Countess known as The Queen of Spades who is said to know the secret of winning at cards. Hermann tries to find out the Countess’s secret in order that he can raise enough money to marry Lisa. Although the Countess dies before telling him, her ghost appears and reveals the secret to him. Hermann’s increasing obsession with winning at cards costs him his possessions, his betrothed and eventually his own life.