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- Rimsky-Korsakov, Nicolai
Duration: 2 minutes
Description: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844–1908) composed his opera THE TALE OF TSAR SALTAN between 1899 and 1900, based on Alexander Pushkin’s 1831 fairy-tale poem of the same name. In 1901, he assembled the SUITE, Op. 57 from THE TALE OF TSAR SALTAN, comprising three movements—”The Tsar’s Farewell and Departure,” “The Tsarina in a Barrel at Sea,” and “The Three Wonders”—which capture the opera’s most evocative scenes through brilliant orchestral color and vivid storytelling. The opera was premiered in Moscow in 1900 under the direction of Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov and quickly became admired for its lush harmonies and magical atmosphere. THE FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE from the opera’s interlude has achieved separate fame as a dazzling virtuoso showpiece and occurs in the first scene of the second act. The stage directions read: “Out of the sea comes a bumble bee and flies about the swan.” Instrumentation: 2.2+1(EH).2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(1): Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set) [EH, Hns3&4, Tpts, Tbns, tuba, Timp, and Cym play 1st chord only, so also: 2.2.2.2: 2.0.0.0: Str (9.8.7.6.5)]. Reprint edition.