Opera Club: ‘Sadko’

All are invited to watch Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s musical folk tale “Sadko” on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at a new time: 2:30 p.m. in the Learning Center of Clubhouse 3. Based on numerous folk tales recorded by Russian authors, the composer created his own libretto to accompany the story and ballet that turned his tone poem into an opera. Club President Margaret Gillon will introduce this entertaining mythical tale that has fascinated generations of Russian viewers with melodies from childhood to their senior years.

The opera presents us to Sadko, a restless minstrel/balladeer in Novgorod who sings, “If I had access to the sea, I would be rich.” On the shores of Lake Ilmen, he sees a flock of white swans that turn into beautiful maidens, daughters of the Sea Tsar who are all betrothed to the Lake, except for the youngest, Princess Volkhova, who insists on marrying a mortal. When she sees Sadko, she gives him a golden fish to grant his wish to be rich.

Sadko returns to town and wagers with fellow tradesmen that he can show them how to catch more such fish in the sea of the Vikings, Indians and Venetians, each of which is illustrated in song. Guided by Sadko, the tradesmen leave Novgorod. After 12 years at sea, with no riches caught, his crew sets him afloat aboard a plank to appease the Sea Tsar. As he hits the bottom, the Sea Tsar decides to grant him his daughter Princess Volkhova in marriage, who then sings him a lullaby to sleep. When Sadko awakes he finds the Princess has turned herself into the river Volkhova, and his wife in real-life, Lyubava, is happy to find him back.

The production is in Russian with English subtitles. People are encouraged to wear masks indoors, if desired. No dues or fees are collected. For more information, contact Margaret Gillon at 562-370-3844 or margaretgi@yahoo.com.

—Sylvan Von Burg