Римский-Корсаков - Легенда о Китеже//Rimsky-Korsakov - The Legend of Kitezh - English subtitles

Act I A deserted and abandoned place in the woods. Having got lost during a hunt, Prince Vsevolod, son of Yuri, the ruler of Great Kitezh, aoppears. He meets Fevroniya whom he likes. They are too much at odds with opinions and the so-called truth he had got used to. However, Fevroniya reveals a completely different worldview to him. Enraptured, Vsevolod understands that he cannot exist without her anymore. He asks Fevroniya to be his bride. Act II Little Kitezh The people in the city lead an idle life trying to forget about the impending threat. Heightened festivities are going on in the square. Grishka Kuterma is the centre of attention. Suddenly one of the citizens foretells an awful calamity that will befall the land. Deep inside, everybody hopes that they will be protected inside the unapproachable Great Kitezh. The rumour goes that today Vsevolod's bride Fevroniya shall come to Great Kitezh. Fevroniya irritates them as they believe her unworthy to live in Great Kitezh. But Grishka Kuterma publicly jeers at Fevroniya, who takes Grishka under her protection, she answers him humbly and sincerely and pities Kuterma. Poyarok tries to stop the general confusion by calling to start the wedding song. But the song is interrupted. To everybody's horror, a scared crowd runs in and announces the approach of the enemy. The Tatars burst in and cruelly kill all the scared inhabitants and blinding Poyarok. Their leaders Bedyay and Burunday carry away Fevroniya whom they liked. Act III Great Kitezh At midnight in Great Kitezh, Prince Yuri tries to assemble all citizens, from young to old, to announce the approaching threat. The people who had once followed him to this place are now at a loss. But there is nothing to count on but him. Yuri asks everybody to prepare for a heroic death. He sends all men into the battle with the Tatars.The women bid farewell to each other hoping to be reunited with their men on the other side of life. Symphonic interlude The battle of Kherzhenets All the men perish in a bloody fight with the Tatars. Vsevolod gets forty mortal wounds. In the middle of the night, Grishka Kuterma brings the Tatars to the vicinity of Great Kitezh. Bedyay and Burunday suspect that Grishka deliberately led them to the wrong place and threaten to kill him if they don't see Great Kitezh the next morning. The tired Tatars are dividing the loot. In a quarrel over Fevroniya, Burunday kills Bedyay. Then all the Tatars fall asleep. Fevroniya hears about Vsevolod’s death and mourns her slain groom. While the Tatars are asleep Grishka begs Fevroniya to release him, Fevroniya takes pity and forgives Grishka. Risking her own life she tries to rescue him. By the first light of dawn, Grishka sees Great Kitezh. He loses his mind and tries to run away, taking Fevroniya with him. The Tatars wake up and have a frightening vision. Act IV In the Woods In the middle of the night, Fevroniya is exhausted and struggles to make her way through the thick of the woods. Kuterma follows her. He speaks in delirium. Fevroniya tries to comfort him and to provide him with assistance and hope. She teaches him how to pray. But Kuterma only sees demons all around and finally runs off to the woods screaming wildly. Fevroniya tries to call him in vain. All her energy is leaving her. Lying down on the ground a happy image appears in front of her: she sees herself surrounded by her loved ones, those who were dear to her, whether she had or had not met in the course of her life, had or had not been able to help.