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| | Arts Calendar / December 25 / Opera |
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 Comic-fantastic opera in two acts by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, 120 min. Libretto by Yakov Polonsky based on the story “Christmas Eve” by Nikolai Gogol. Sung in Russian. Conductor of the premiere: Igor Gromov. Stage Director: Olga Ivanova. The widow Solokha agrees to help the Devil steal the moon. The Devil is annoyed with Solokha's son Vakula who painted an icon mocking him. The Devil decides to create a snowstorm to prevent Vakula from seeing his beloved Oxana. While the storm rages, Solokha rides up to the sky and steals the moon, while Oxana's father Chub and the Deacon are unable to find their way. Oxana is alone and lonely at home. She passes through several moods... At one point, Vakula enters and watches her admiring herself. She teases him, and he says he loves her. Chub comes back out of the storm, and Vakula, not recognizing him, chases him out by striking him. Seeing what he has done, Oxana sends Vakula away in a miserable state. Young people from the village come around singing Ukrainian Christmas carols. Oxana realizes she still loves Vakula.
Boris Pokrovsky Chamber Stage  |
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