The Invisible City of Kitezh, completed in 1905, is a remarkable opera that fuses folklore, mysticism and realism. Its subject is the story of the advancing Mongol army’s entry to Great Kitezh and the city’s subsequent miraculous survival. Rejecting archaisms and the more religiously inclined suggestions of his librettist, Rimsky-Korsakov sought to create an opera that “is contemporary and even fairly advanced”. It is therefore through-composed, hinting at times at Wagnerian procedure, and flooded with the composer’s rich, apt and brilliant orchestral palette, fully supportive of the powerful vocal writing.
1 Act III Scene 1: Good Fortune to You, Citizens of Kitezh (Poyarok, Chorus, Prince Vsevolod)
2 Act III Scene 1: God Still Preserves Greater Kitezh (Chorus, Poyarok, Prince Vsevolod)
3 Act III Scene 1: Oh Glory, Vain Wealth! (Prince Yury)
4 Act III Scene 1: Wondrous Queen of Heaven (Chorus, Prince Yury, Page)
5 Act III Scene 1: Wondrous Queen of Heaven (Chorus, Page)
6 Act III Scene 1: God's Will Be Done (Prince Yury, Prince Vsevolod, Chorus)
7 Act III Scene 1: What Are We Standing About for, Sisters (Female Chorus, Page, Prince Yury)
8 Act III Scene 1: Entr'acte: The Battle Near Kerzhenets
9 Act III Scene 2: Here Is the Oak Grove (Kuterma, Burunday, Bedyay, Chorus)
10 Act III Scene 2: Don't Worry! We Shan't Touch You (Bedyay, Burunday, Chorus)
11 Act III Scene 2: It Was Not Hungry Ravens (Chorus, Burunday)
12 Act III Scene 2: Ah, My Dear Husband, My Hope! (Fevronya, Kuterma)
13 Act III Scene 2: No, That Accursed Ringing (Kuterma, Fevronya)
14 Act III Scene 2: Ah, Folks, at Liberty (Kuterma, Chorus)
- Disc 3 -
1 Act IV Scene 1: Oh, I Can't Go on (Fevronya, Kuterma)
2 Act IV Scene 1: Well, Let's Go Pray If You Want (Kuterma, Fevronya)
3 Act IV Scene 1: What's Happening to Me (Kuterma, Fevronya)
4 Act IV Scene 1: Let Me See: What Pretty Flowers (Fevronya, Alkonost)
5 Act IV Scene 1: Is That You, Radiant Light of My Eyes (Fevronya, Ghost of Prince Vsevolod)
6 Act IV Scene 1: The Bridegroom Has Come (Sirin, Fevronya)
7 Act IV Scene 1: He Who Partakes of Our Bread (Ghost of Prince Vsevolod, Fevronya) - Symphonic Prelude
8 Act IV Scene 2: The Lord Promised Those Who Seek (Sirin, Alkonost, Chorus)
9 Act IV Scene 2: Radiant Kingdom! (Fevronya, Chorus, Prince Vsevolod)
10 Act IV Scene 2: I Bow to You, Righteous People (Fevronya, Prince Yury, Prince Vsevolod, Sirin, Alkonost, Page, Poyarok, Chorus)
11 Act IV Scene 2: Ah, My Faithful Bride (Prince Vsevolod, Fevronya, Prince Yury, Poyarok, Chorus)
The Invisible City of Kitezh, completed in 1905, is a remarkable opera that fuses folklore, mysticism and realism. Its subject is the story of the advancing Mongol army’s entry to Great Kitezh and the city’s subsequent miraculous survival. Rejecting archaisms and the more religiously inclined suggestions of his librettist, Rimsky-Korsakov sought to create an opera that “is contemporary and even fairly advanced”. It is therefore through-composed, hinting at times at Wagnerian procedure, and flooded with the composer’s rich, apt and brilliant orchestral palette, fully supportive of the powerful vocal writing.
