This recording of 'The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh' was made at the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy, on May 2nd and 4th, 2008.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Rimsky-Korsakov aimed to create a modern, contemporary, and even advanced opera, rejecting old-fashioned elements and overtly Christian themes.
Compositional Technique
Unlike most Russian operas, 'The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh' is through-composed and strongly symphonic, making individual vocal numbers difficult to perform as stand-alone pieces.
Compositional Technique
The orchestra in 'The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh' is so prominent in highlighting stage events that it has been described as 'the real main character' of the opera.
Historical Context
The apparent confusion of incompatible elements in the opera, such as idealism and realism, may reflect Rimsky-Korsakov's disillusionment with the unsuccessful 1905 revolution.
Composition History
Rimsky-Korsakov and his librettist, Vladimir Belsky, were attracted to the Kitezh legend as early as 1898-99, but the project remained on hold for several years.
Critical Reception
Critics and audiences were initially perplexed by the opera's blend of mysticism and realism, and by the choice of a dramatic soprano for the ethereal character of Fevronya.
