Kashchey the Deathless


Kashchey the Deathless is a one-act opera in three scenes by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. The libretto was written by the composer, and is based on a Russian fairy tale about Koschei the Deathless, an evil, ugly old wizard, who menaced principally young women. Rimsky-Korsakov perceived it as 'an autumn tale' that is juxtaposed to his previous 'spring tale', The Snow Maiden. A similar fairy tale was also used by Igor Stravinsky and Michel Fokine to create their iconic ballet, The Firebird.
The opera was composed during 1901–1902 and the work was completed in 1902. It was first performed the same year in Moscow.

Performance history

The premiere took place on 25 December 1902 at the Solodovnikov Theater in Moscow. It was conducted by Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov with set designs by Sergey Malyutin.
The St. Petersburg premiere followed on 9 April 1905 and was given at the Komissarzhevskaya Drama Theatre performed by students of the St. Petersburg Conservatory and conducted by Alexander Glazunov.
Other important premieres took place in 1917 at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, conducted by Emil Cooper; in 1919 in Petrograd at the Theatre of Opera and Ballet conducted by Khessin; in 1924 in Barcelona, given in Russian; and in 1928 in Salzburg, also given in Russian.
The United Kingdom premiere took place in 1994. The work was given more recently in London, in concert performance on 5 September 2008.
The United States premiere, given in Russian, took place in January 2018, at Island City Opera in Alameda, California conducted by Lidiya Yankovskaya, directed by Richard Bogart.
The Australian premiere, sung in Russian, took place on 18 March 2018 in the Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne, Australia. Produced by CitiOpera, conducted by Alan Cook

Roles

Publication

The full score and vocal score were published by Bessel in 1902 and also in Rimsky-Korsakov's Complete Works, volumes 12 and 40, Muzgiz, Moscow 1954.

Synopsis

Scene 1

Kashchey's realm
The beautiful Tsarevna Beloved Beauty, imprisoned by the evil wizard Kashchey the Deathless in his gloomy kingdom, longs for her beloved groom Ivan-Korolevich. She is upset when she looks into Kashchey's magic mirror and sees Ivan together with Kashcheyevna, the daughter of Kashchey. Kashchey is afraid that Ivan could discover the secret of his immortality and cause his death. He reveals that he hid his death in one of Kashcheyevna's tears: if she ever cries, Kashchey will be able to die. Fortunately for Kashchey, Kashcheyevna is hard and cold. Kashchey breaks the mirror and sends the Burya-Bogatyr to Kashcheyevna to ask how safely she keeps his death.

Scene 2

Kashcheyevna's domain
Kashcheyevna prepares a magic potion to lull the Prince to sleep and force him to forget his beautiful Princess. She also whets her sword, planning to kill Ivan while he sleeps. When Ivan-Korolevich enters, she gives him the potion and tries to seduce him. He falls asleep and Kashcheyevna tries to strike his head off, but cannot do it. Burya-Bogatyr suddenly appears, awakening Ivan and ending Kashcheyevna's charm. Burya-Bogatyr also reveals that the Tsarevna is imprisoned in Kashchey's kingdom and that Kashcheyevna has something to do with preserving Kashchey's immortality. Ivan follows Burya-Bogatyr back to Kashchey's kingdom.

Scene 3

Kashchey's realm
The Tsarevna sings a lullaby to Kashchey. Ivan arrives and attempts to free the Tsarevna. Kashcheyevna arrives and pleads with Ivan to go with her instead, since he is the first man to awaken love in her heart. Moved to compassion, the Tsarevna kisses Kashcheyevna, who begins to cry. Invisible voices announce the death of Kashchey. Kashcheyevna is turned into a weeping willow. Burya-Bogatyr opens the gates to show the lovers the way out of the gloomy kingdom, and into the world of light, spring, and love.

Structure of the opera

;Scene 1
  1. Dni bez prosveta
  2. Ya vizhu devu krasoty chudesnoy
  3. Temny yeyo ochi
  4. Vy, gusli samogudy
;Scene 2
  2. Nastala noch
  3. Glukhaya noch
  4. Pit'yo prokhladnoe
  5. Zasnul
;Scene 3
  2. Bayu, bay, Kashchey sedoy
  3. Mereshchitsja
  4. Prosti, lyubimy korolevich moy
  5. Konets zlomu tsarstvu

Recordings

Audio recordings
;Video recordings
  • 1987 Konstantin Pluzhnikov, Natalya Lapina, Elena Rubin, Alla Oding, Sofia Yalysheva, Valery Lebed, Yuri Stoyanov, Alexander Morozov. Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony Orchestra of Leningrad, A. Trifonov
  • 1991? Helikon Opera director Dmitry Bertmann, DVD of 1991 or 2003 production