May Night

The Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre mounted this March 9, 2008 production of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's sophomore opera, the 1880 +May Night. The original work, despite its comedic overtones, tells the decidedly dark story of the rusalki, siren-like, sub-aquatic spectral maidens that haunt the denizens of a small town; meanwhile, in another narrative thread, the mayor's son, Levko, falls in love with a local girl named Hannah. This particular production stars Dmitry Ulyanov as the Mayor, Oleg Polpudin as Levko and Natalia Vladimirskaya as Hannah. The Orchestra, Soloists, Chorus and Dancers of The Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre accompany the production, with Felix Korobov conducting; Alexander Titel directs; and Vladimir Arefiev designed the sets and costumes.