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Opera Music Plot Synopsis
Rimsky Korsakov: Kaschei the Immortal
The beautiful Tsarevna is held captive and spellbound in
the magic kingdom of
the monster Kashchei, where she hourly awaits deliverance
at the hands of Ivan
Korolevich, her lover. The latter, seeking Kashchei's ``death''
(which according
to tradition is an object that, once found, will end the ogre's
existence), is
waylaid by Kascheievna, Kashchei's daughter. She prevails
upon him to drink a
potion, promising him that by this means he will find the
sought-for ``death.''
His enslaver is about to kill him when the benevolent Burya
Bogatyr awakens the
hero, and transports him on a magic carpet to Kashchei's kingdom.
Kashcheievna
makes a further effort to secure Ivan for herself, promising
him the release of
his betrothed; and when the latter gives expression to a feeling
of pity for
her, she weeps. It is in the tears of his daughter that Kashchei's
``death'' is
hidden, and at their flow his kingdom crumbles and the monster
dies. The lovers
regain their freedom, and Kashcheievna is transformed into
a weeping willow.
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