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The astrologer admits the tale is gory, but advises not to worry, reminding the audience it is a fairy tale.
Composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov based opera The Golden Cockerel from A. Pushkin's fairy tale. The general satire is one which for a time was under the ban of the Imperial Russian censor. The Golden Cockerel or Le Coq d'Or was Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's last and considered his best opera. The setting is a legendary place in Southern Russia.
Cast of Characters King Dodon (Bass)Prince Guidon, Son of King Dodon (Tenor)Prince Afron, Son of King Afron (Baritone)General Polkan, BassAmelfa, The Royal Housekeeper (Contralto)The Queen of Shemakhan (Soprano)The Golden Cockerel (Soprano)The Astrologer (High Tenor)
Dodon calls his advisors and asks them how to keep his enemies out of the ways he can peacefully retire. Prince Guidon suggests they provision the city and retire within the wall. Prince Afron wants to disband the army until such time that the enemy means to attack. The astrologer brings the king a golden cockerel that will warn him of approaching danger. He also asks the king to put in writing his promise to reward him.
Notable aria is the hymn to the sun by the Queen of Shemakhan (Chémakhâ)
Read on
Alexander Glazunov Biography
Alexander Borodin Biography
Sergei Prokofiev Biography
Act I. Vast Hall in King Dodon's Council Chamber
Sources:
Epilogue [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], before the Curtain
Act II. A NarrowPass with Small Bushes and Cliffs
While the king's subjects await his return anxiously [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], he comes back with his new queen in a lavish and splendid procession. As his reward, the astrologer demands for the queen. The king refuses. He strikes the astrologer with his scepter, killing him. The golden cockerel pecks the king, who dies. Queen Shemakhan and the cockerel disappear.
Plot Synopsis of The Golden Cockerel
Act III. A Street before the Council Chamber outside the Royal Palace
The king finds both of his sons slain on a gorge. While searching for the enemy, he encounters the queen of Shemakhan. She says she means to capture his town, but since she has no soldiers, he did not take her seriously. The queen sings and the king is overcome by her beauty. The truth is that the princes killed each other over her. At the queen's insistence, the king sings and dances for her. Before long, he finds himself offering his kingdom to her.
Amelfa serves the king dinner. Everyone rests and takes a nap, but is awakened by the cockerel's first warning crow. The two princes, Guidon and Afron, don't want to fight, but the king insists. When a second alarm is given, the king himself leads the older men to fight.
Through a muted trumpet, the cockerel's cry is heard followed by the music associated with the Queen of Shemakhan. Heralded by a motive on the celesta, the Astrologer appears before the curtain to announce that it is only a fable which he is setting. He disappears and the curtain slowly rises.
Martin, Nicholas Ivor. The Da Capo Opera Manual. New
Prologue, before the Curtain
The Golden Cockerel (Le Coq d'Or) is a Russian fairy tale opera in three acts written by Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (March 18, 1844-June 21, 1908). Libretto was written by V. Bielsky after a poem by Aleksandr S. Pushkin. It was first performed in Moscow [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], Solodovnikov Theater, October 7th, 1909.