The directory «Plots»

«The Tale of the Golden Cockerel»

The Golden Cockerel is a 1834 poem by Alexander Pushkin and an opera in three acts by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov to a Russian libretto by Vladimir Ivanovich Belsky based on that poem. First performance by the Zimin Opera at Solodovnikov Theatre in Moscow on September 24, 1909.

Previously, the opera was commonly performed in French under the still recognized title Le Coq d'Or. Nowadays, the opera is almost exclusively sung in Russian. The Golden Cockerel is part of the standard operatic repertoire. There are several recordings of it, and it is occasionally performed.

The bumbling King Dodon talks himself into believing that his country is in danger from the neighbouring State governed by the beautiful Queen Shemakhan.

He asks for advice from a mysterious Astrologer, who gives him a magic Golden Cockerel, which promises to look after his interests.

The Golden Cockerel confirms that Queen Shemakhan certainly has some territorial ambitions, so King Dodon foolishly decides to make a pre- emptive strike against the neighbouring State, and sends his army, led by his two sons, to start the battle. However, his sons are both so inept that they manage to kill each other on the battlefield.

King Dodon then decides to lead the army himself, but further bloodshed is averted because the Golden Cockerel ensures that the old king becomes besotted when he actually sees the beautiful Queen. The Queen herself encourages this situation by performing a seductive dance - which tempts the King to try and partner her, but he is clumsy and makes a complete mess of it.

The Queen realises that she can take over Dodon’s country without further fighting - she engineers a marriage proposal from Dodon, which she coyly accepts.

The final scene starts with the great Bridal procession in all its splendour - and when this is reaching its conclusion, the Astrologer appears and says to the king “You promised me anything I could ask for if there could be a happy resolution of your troubles.......” “Yes, Yes, “ said the king, “Just name it and you shall have it”. “Right,” said the Astrologer, “I want Queen Shemakhan!”. At this, the King flares up in fury, and strikes down the Astrologer with a blow from his mace. The Golden Cockerel, loyal to her Astrologer master, then swoops across and pecks through the King’s jugular.

Kyrgyzstan, 1999, Queen of Shamakhan and Dodon

Madagaskar, 1988, Rimski-Korsakov, the Golden Cockerel

Russia, 1994, «Golden Cockerel»

Russia, 1997, Golden Cockerel

USSR, 1969, The Golden Cockerel

USSR, 1982, The Golden Cockerel

Russia, 1994.01.20, Moskow. Tsaritsa of Shamakhn

Russia, 2001, 225th Anniv of Bolshoy theatre