Das Märchen vom Zaren Saltan

Lo spettacolo

The fantastic and exceptional sound of the score mirrors the world of mythical creatures like the swan princess, a squirrel which cracks golden nuts and the 33 knights who alighted from the sea.

Tsar Saltan chooses one of three sisters as his wife, who shall bear him a heroic son. The boy Gwidon is born during his father's absence and his scorned aunts feel that their time for revenge has finally come. They send a message to the tsar telling him that his wife gave birth to a deformed creature. Saltan orders the czarina and her son to be locked inside a barrel and thrown into the sea. After a long odyssey and many adventures, they return to the tsar, who regrets his former deeds. Gwidon finally marries the beautiful swan princess.

Nikolai Rimski‐Korsakow composed "Das Märchen vom Zaren Saltan" for the celebration of Alesander Pushkin's 100th birthday in 1899.