The Tsar's Bride - an opera in four acts by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov based on the drama by Lev Mey. This is a play about love - passionate, hot, searing and even burning everything around him. About the Russian soul, in the depths of which will always be a place for cleanliness, poetry, sacrifice and charity. At the same time, it is a play about the terrible years in the history of Russia, when the government was in a complete chaos, and the man became a helpless toy in its hands.
Old Hebrew
The opera is based on the Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah found in Chapter 16 of the Book of Judges in the Old Testament. It is the only opera by Saint-Saëns that is regularly performed. The second act love scene in Delilah's tent is one of the set pieces that define French opera. Two of Delilah's arias are particularly well known: "Printemps qui commence" and "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix", the latter of which is one of the most popular recital pieces in the mezzo-soprano/contralto repertoire. Staged by greek director Yannis Kokkos and conducted by Valery Gergiev on May 25th, 2016 at the Mariinsky Theatre.
