Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov has always fascinated me as much for his choice of subject matter, as his music. No other serious composer dwelt so long on fairy tales and legends as did Rimsky, and he created whole new methods of instrumentation to bring his vision alive.In just two weeks I will be helping The Orchestra of the Music Makers share his vision of the Arabian Nights in Cheltenham and Lichfield, as I paint along – and tell stories – during performances of Scheherazade. But while we might know him best for that work, there are many others that bring fairy tales to both the concert hall and the stage.
One of his earliest works, a “musical picture” was based on the legend of Sadko, a Russian hero, who is sent to the bottom of the sea, where he almost marries the daughter of the Sea King. The subject later inspired a whole opera in seven spectacular scenes, with a remarkable underwater ballet!
Another musical picture, called simply “Skazka” (the Russian word for Fairy Tales) began life as a portrait of that famous witch Baba Yaga. While his second symphony is almost a blue print for his more famous Scheherazade, using another Oriental tale – of the Persian poet Antar – who fell in love with the fairy Gul-Nazar, Queen of Palmyra.
But if that sounds extraordinary enough, his operas are even more imaginative and spectacular. Just the titles sparkle with promise: There’s May Night – about the beautiful but dangerous Rusalki (spirits of drowned maidens) and Snegurotchka (Snow Maiden), the innocent child of Winter and Spring. Then there’s Christmas Eve, Kaschey the Deathless, The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh, The tale of Tsar Saltan (with it’s famous Flight of the Bumble-Bee), The Golden Cockeral… all full of magical sounds and characters.
Tragically these works are rarely, if ever staged. Most have never been performed in the UK, where Scheherazade remains the only regularly performed work. My absolute dream would be to design and stage a fairy tale opera like this, for children…
Meanwhile, I hope anyone who comes to the concerts will, like me, fall in love with this beautiful, magical, and colourful world and will be inspired to explore some of his other beautiful music… I’m certain they will not be disappointed by this marvellous musical magician!
FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO BOOK FOR “SCHEHERAZADE” Click here for Cheltenham on July 7th:
http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/find-events/music/m19-sinbad-the-sailor-and-scheherazade
And click here for Lichfield, July 8th:
http://www.lichfieldfestival.org/blog/2012/04/orchestra-of-the-music-makers/
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