Work of the Week – Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Christmas Eve

The most fitting date for the most fitting piece: 23 December 2022 marks the Rundfunk-Symphonieorchester Berlin’s performance of Christmas Eve by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. This opera, also known as "Winter Solstice', consists of four acts highlighting traditional Kolyada songs, historically sung in Russia on the night before Christmas. With projections by video artist Benjamin Spencer Weiß, Vladimir Jurowski is conducting at the Philharmonie Berlin, featuring ensemble members from numerous major German opera houses and the George Enescu Philharmonic Choir.

The story by Gogol becomes an opera by Rimsky-Korsakov

The plot is based on ‘The Night Before Christmas’ by Nikolai Gogol and the libretto penned by Rimsky Korsakov himself. In a small Ukrainian village residents are celebrating the festive season singing carols on Christmas Eve. Everyone except the blacksmith Wakula who is unhappily in love with Oksana. The beautiful landowner's daughter agrees to marry him - but only if he gives her the Tsarina's golden shoes. With the help of the devil, he manages to procure the shoes and nothing stands in the way of Wakula's wedding to Oksana. The work concludes with the village singing a hymn of praise in honour of the poet Gogol.

The songs that are sung in front of the windows on the eve of Christmas are called Kolyada songs. The housewife or the master of the house, or whoever has just stayed at home, is accustomed to throw a sausage, a loaf of bread or a copper coin, depending on his fortune, to those who sing. [...] Last year Fr. Ossip tried to ban the Koljada songs because the people were serving Satan in this way. But in these songs, there is not a word about Koljada. They mostly sing about the birth of Christ and end by wishing good health to the master of the house, the housewife, the children and the whole house. (Nikolai Gogol)

For those who get snowed in this Christmas, Opera Frankfurt's production from the 2021/2022 season has been recently released on DVD / Blu-ray to watch from the comfort of your living room and for a limited time can also be viewed online free of charge, the link to which is below. Following this, a revival in Frankfurt is planned for the 2023/2024 season.

Links:

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Composer profile

Christmas Eve: Work details

Website Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

Production of the Opera Frankfurt on Opera Vision / Youtube

illustration: Dreamy Art / Adobe