The Tale of Tsar Saltan is the fairest fairy tale among all others by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1900). Turmoils experienced by its heroes are resolved happily for everyone; even villains receive forgiveness; the most important thing, though, nobody dies. The only exception is a ‘wizard’- kite: he appears for a minute in the second act and immediately perishes from ‘Tsarevich’ (prince in English) Guidon’s arrow – following the plot of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin.

Wonderfully written libretto full of musical ‘wonders’ by Vladimir Belsky and the score by Rimsky-Korsakov were already highly appraised during premiere. It was first performed by Private Opera Society (1900). Performance became legendary due to scenic design by Mikhail Vrubel and ‘mysterious look of unforgettable Tsarevna’ (The Swan-Princess). The role was created by artist’s wife Nadezhda Zabela-Vrubel (quoted in the review by famous critic and musicologist Evgeny Braudo).