Murad IV

OVERTURE

The overture begins with the melancholic motif of Murad IV. The fugue introduction based on Itri’s “Salât-ı Ummiye” theme, which will later set the Qur'an scene, demonstrates the composer's true mastery in contrapuntal composition technique. Then follow the motifs of the Grand Vizier Topal Recep Pasha, who spread fear and horror, and his soldiers, and the Folk Song of Young Osman... The overture, filled with bright harmonic colors punctuated with Murad IV’s terrorizing and commanding motifs, and Kösem Sultan's motifs, is infused with sweet, lively, sentimental melodies.

Murad IV is an innovation that the composer has brought to opera with respect to presenting the state and mood of key characters with multiple leitmotifs based on time changes.

SCENE I

In front of Bâbüssaâde Gate – standing council of state

A group of rebels consisting of janissaries and cavalrymen, provoked by Topal Recep Pasha, uses the fact that Grand Vizier Husrev Pasha is dismissed and replaced by Hafız Pasha as an excuse, and revolts, marching to Topkapı Palace and demanding Sultan Murad IV to come to court. The sultan, together with Recep Pasha, comes to the front of Bâbüssaâde to listen to the rebels, and sits on his throne. The rebels recite the names of Yahya Efendi, the Shaykh al-Islam, Mustafa Pasha, the Chief Treasurer, Hasan Halife, the Head Janissary, Musa Çelebi, one of the sultan’s courtiers, and Grand Vizier Hafız Pasha, and ask these people to be handed over to them. Despite pleading with them and saying, “the state’s authority would be shaken,” Sultan Murad fails to persuade the rebels, and is forced to relieve these people from their duties on condition that their lives are spared. And, upon further pressure from the rebels, he promotes Topal Recep Pasha, the current vice vizier, to grand vizier.

Nef’i, the famous poet of the period, arrives at the court of Murad, and recites his new poem. He tells the Sultan to take control of the state, which Murad already wants very much. But he is unsure about where to start. Murad heeds the poet's words “…beware of the unrests.” Kösem Sultan, who enters the court after Nef’i, tells the sultan that Hüsrev Pasha is marching toward Istanbul and asks her son to write a decree to have him killed. Sultan Murad feels that this is the “unrest” he has anticipated. Knowing that his mother is collaborating with Recep Pasha, he dances to her tune.

Overture description is derived from the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet brochure on Murad IV (1979-80 Season). 2 Bâbüssaâde is the third gate of Topkapı Palace, and literally translates as the Gate of Felicity. Standing council of state and ceremonies would be held in front of this gate. Standing council of state is the meeting of statesmen, with all but the sultan standing.

He calls for the Chief of Police and gives him his orders: Hüsrev Pasha, who is in Tokat, will be beheaded at once, and his head will be hung from the palace’s gate as a warning sign for the rebels.

Kösem Sultan is scared of the sultan’s tough stance. She speaks with Recep Pasha, who comes into her chambers, and suggests pulling back. However, Recep Pasha says that the outcome would be in their favor. Kösem Sultan consents, on condition that Murad is not harmed and the rebels do not attack the palace again.

The rebels, who are at the gates of the palace, now ask for Hafız Pasha's head. Murad is unwilling to hand over his former grand vizier to the rebels. However, the Pasha refuses to escape and walks toward the rebels. The sentimental melody that the orchestra plays meanwhile consists of quarter notes. The rebels behead the Pasha in front of the sultan. Murad, deeply affected by this incident, prays to God to give him strength to avenge the grand vizier’s death from the rebels, “…God, give me strength”.

SCENE II

Kösem Sultan’s chamber

Recep Pasha and Kösem Sultan are plotting to dethrone Sultan Murad. Kösem wants her other son, Prince Kasım to take the throne. However, Recep Pasha has other ideas now that his interests are in conflict with those of Kösem Sultan. So, he says that Bayezid, the oldest of the princes, should take the throne, and tells her that this is also what the janissaries and cavalrymen want. Kösem Sultan feels unsafe because she is not Bayezid’s mother but Recep Pasha, as her son-in-law, assures her. Desperate, Kösem Sultan accepts. Meanwhile, Dilfigar eavesdrops on the conversation between the two.

Sultan Murad is alone in his room. Enters Dilfigar, who tells the sultan about what she has heard. Taking action, Sultan Murad orders Recep Pasha, the provocateur of the rebels, to be strangled. He also bans his mother Kösem Sultan from leaving the harem.

Kösem Sultan, unable to leave the harem despite coming up with all kinds of excuses, understands that her son has taken control, “…the star born from my night”.

Sultan Murad organizes the next standing council of state himself, and invites representatives of janissaries, cavalrymen, scholars and the people. He gives a very confident speech, occasionally quoting from the Qur'an, and manages to impress all the people in attendance. He announces that he will launch a campaign to re-conquer Baghdad, and asks them to wow by saying, “Baghdad will be ours again”. Then, he lifts the heavy mace with one hand to show his strength, and wows, “Whoever disobeys my command/threatens the order I instituted, will have their brain crushed with this,” as the audience looks at him in fear.

SCENE III

A large portion of Istanbul has been devastated by a massive fire. This situation forms the basis for the new prohibitions that Sultan Murad imposes. Claiming that the fire was caused by “unsuitable and immoral places,” he shuts down coffeehouses and taverns, and prohibits tobacco and alcoholic beverages. He declares that those who disobey his orders will be violently punished, as he, himself, and others conduct strict checks. Oppression is felt increasingly every day. Meanwhile, Nef’i, who is exempt from the bans at the mercy of Sultan Murad, still finds the prohibitions wrong, and sharply criticizes the grand vizier, the viziers and particularly the sultan in his satires. Even the sultan’s thinly veiled death threat does not deter the poet. He sings the aria of death that opens with, “All the eras will smell the rose that I helped to blossom,” and surrenders himself to his executioner.

Sultan Murad announces the news that the Revan Castle is conquered to the people by town criers, and orders everyone to celebrate this victory in a festive mood, “Everyone, men and women of all ages, whether Muslim or other, will celebrate according to their traditions; those who do not will meet their fate!” But, the prohibitions shall not be violated, he says, “Nothing illicit according to law, nothing bad according to mind is allowed!”.

Despite increasing oppression and bans every day, alcoholic beverages and tobacco are still sold at secretly run taverns in certain districts of the city. Murad, dressed in disguise, mixes with the people, and while walking the streets of Istanbul together with an executioner and chief of police to catch those disobeying the prohibitions, he enters the tavern that Bekri Mustafa secretly operates. They drink together and chat. Murad, who finds Bekri Mustafa's jokes clever, spares his life.

Sultan Murad is in his chamber. He calls for his chief of staff and tells him that Venice is next after Baghdad. He also orders the beheading of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Fener, who is secretly corresponding with Moscow.

Baghdad has been conquered. The conquest is announced to the public by town criers; the victory is to be celebrated for seven days and seven nights in a festive mood with fetes and carnivals. The health of Sultan Murad, who wanted the preparations for the Venice campaign to be completed as quickly as possible, has deteriorated. He begins to drink the wine sent to him as a gift from Cyprus. He feels faint as he drinks and has a seizure, writhing in pain. As his strength slowly leaves his body, he sings the aria of death, “Oh, the pain I suffer.”