The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevronia

Act 1

Place: Woods  beyond the Volga River.

These wild forests with dense thickets and bogs are the home of  the beautiful maiden Fevronia. She is a daughter of nature, being on friendly terms with the birds and wild animals, and knowing all the mysteries of the forest. One day she meets a young man in the forest, who has been hunting and has lost his way. Fevronia welcomes the stranger in a friendly manner. She is treating his wound with herbs. He falls for her beauty, spiritual integrity and love of people and of nature and places a ring on her finger.  Promising to send marriage-brokers soon, the young man leaves. Led by Fyodor Poyarok, hunters come out of the forest. Fevronia learns from them that her fiance is Vsevolod, son of Prince Yuriy, Kitezh ruler.

 

Act 2

Place: “Little Kitezh”

Holiday festivities are going on in this place, because the wedding procession of Princess Fevronia is expected to come through.  Guslar sings a song in which he describes the vision of the weeping Mother of God.  The procession approaches to the sound of bells. All joyfully greet the princess, only Grishka Kuterma (the local drunkard)  dares to remind her that she is a poor commoner. The people chase away Grishka and the confidant of the prince, Fyodor Poyarok, gives the girls a sign to start a wedding song.

Suddenly the merrymaking is interrupted with the sounds of the military horns. The town is surrounded by an army of invading Tatars. They kill the townspeople  brutally. Fevronia is captured by the Tatars and is racked by anxiety for the fate of her bridegroom and the city of Great Kitezh, which tatar khans Bedyay and Burunday  will attack next. Grishka agrees to betray Russia and to lead the Tatars to the city, while Fevronia prays that it be rendered invisible.

 

Entr’acte “The Battle of Kerzhenets”

Act 3

Place: “Great Kitezh”

Hearing of the invasion, the people of Great Kitezh gather in the main square before the Assumption Cathedral. The prince's huntsman Fyodor Poyarok, whom the Tatars have blinded, tells them of the atrocities committed at Little Kitezh and that Fevronia is captured by the Tatars. A boy announces that the Tatars approach. At the behest of Prince Yuriy, everyone is praying to Heavenly Virgin for intercession. The people prepare for battle, and Prince Vsevolod leads a battalion ready to fight to the end. Then, a golden fog rises over the Lake and shrouds the city, hiding it from the enemy: only the church bells drone faintly.

 

Act 4

 

Scene 1 - At the lake Svetlyi Iar

Dark night. After a long trek through the wilderness, Grishka has led the Tatars to the bank of the lake. Unable to see the city for the fog, the Tatars accuse him of treachery and tie him to a tree, intending to kill him in the morning. They make fires and share out their loot. Two of the Tatar leaders, Burunday and Bedyay, quarrel over Fevronia and Bedyay is slain. The Tatars sleep, and Fevronia is heard mourning Vsevolod, who has fallen in battle. The Kitezh bells are heard ringing in the commotion. Grishka, tormented by fear and remorse, begs her to release him, and she does so believing that kindness will heal his soul. He rushes to drown himself, but  his feet seem to grow into the ground. He stops at the shore as the dawn shows that, while the city remains invisible, the reflection of it can be seen in the water, and the bells ring out ever louder. The Tatars are stricken with fear by the sight and disperse.

Forces leave Fevronia. She falls on the grass. She dreams of lush flowers, strange animals and candles burning in the trees. Paradise birds Sirin and Alkonost proclaim to her calm and happiness. Prince Vsevolod appears. He goes to meet Fevronia and shares bread with her. The young couple moves to Great Kitezh.

Symphonic picture

“Walking in the Invisible City”

Scene 2 - The Invisible City

The fog is scattered. There is legendary Great Kitezh, the city of beautiful people with gracious hearts.  Fevronia and Vsevolod are met by white-clad citizens. Among them are Fedor Poyarok, the boy and Prince Yuriy. Fevronia is delighted with the radiant kingdom. The girls again sing a wedding song, which has been interrupted by an enemy raid in Little Kitezh. Fevronia sends a message of hope to insane Grishka, telling him that one day he will also  find the way to the Invisible City.

Solemn bells sound.  

Vsevolod leads his bride to the altar.

The Cathedral doors open, revealing an indescribable light.

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