The Edition
Four versions have survived of the opera “Pikovaja Dama”. All versions have been published in this score, as far as possible within the same musical sequence. In numbers 14 and 24 it was necessary to publish the variant parts in consecutive sections.
For the new edition, the work has been comprehensively revised. In the process, priority has been given to fully researching all versions, together with their precise identification and reproduction. Wrong notes and incorrect dynamic, articulation and phrasing marks have been corrected.
As well as the original Russian text and the German translation, the full score and corresponding vocal score contain a transcription based on the German language made according to current standards.
In making this revision, editorial decisions were made primarily on the basis of the available sources. These were complemented by the editor’s experience and knowledge of Tchaikovsky’s compositional practices and methods of notation.

Materials
Selected arias, duets and ensembles from the opera are now available separately as individual numbers – the full score and vocal score are available to buy and the performance material is available on hire.
The music pages for the individual numbers have been taken from the full score, vocal score and orchestral parts of the critical new edition. As a result, the page numbers, bar numbers and layout are unaltered and concordant with the material of the complete stage work.
A special feature of the material is excellent legibility and the placement of the page-turns in the orchestral parts. For information on the versions and their sequence a corresponding article precedes the music text or a sequence table illustrates the sequence.

The publication of the stage work / Versions A/B/C/C
The Revised Scores of the individual titles each contain the complete music text of all Versions.
A: Autograph first version – spring 1890
B: Version of the first performance – December 1890
C: Version of the first edition – First edition of the vocal score - 1891
C sup ossia/sup: Alternative version of the first edition – First edition of the vocal score - 1891

The sequence
Version letters and cut marks indicate the sequence of each version and guide users through the music text. They are reproduced in the full score, the vocal score and the orchestral parts and match across all the materials, as do the bar numbers.