Ruslan and Lyudmila

Ruslan and Lyudmila (1842) is a fairy-tale opera, a story of knights, sorcerers, nymphs, dwarves and even a giant talking head. Mikhail Glinka was the founding father of Russian opera, and in Ruslan and Lyudmila he included elements of folk music, piquant harmonies and unusual scales to add a distinctively Russian colour. The opera is based on a poem by Alexander Pushkin, and it established a tradition of mythical classical works which continued in Russia throughout the 19th century. The most popular section today is the “Overture”, a dazzling orchestral showpiece that opens with frenzied strings, then settles into a lyrical cello theme. The story begins at a banquet to celebrate the betrothal of Ruslan, a knight and Lyudmila, daughter of the prince of Kyiv. She sings the cavatina “I’m sad, dear father!” Lyudmila is kidnapped, and Ruslan sets out to rescue her. The culprit is the evil sorcerer Chernomor, but the good wizard Finn helps Ruslan overcome his magic powers. Ruslan comes upon the site of a past battle. He sings the aria “O field, field, who has strewn you with dead men’s bones”. Here he meets the giant head, who bequeaths Ruslan a mighty sword to defeat Chernomor. In Chernomor’s magical gardens, Lyudmila awaits Ruslan. We hear a series of exotic dances: the “Turkish Dance”, “Arabian Dance” and “Lezginka”. Chernomor puts Lyudmila under a sleeping spell, but Finn is able to counter the spell with a magic ring. The story is resolved when Ruslan awakens Lyudmila and restores her to her father’s court.