Zolotoy Petushok
The Golden Cockerel
King Dodon takes counsel with his nobles in order to devise a means
whereby the constant plotting of a neighbouring hostile ruler may be
frustrated. Ere a practicable scheme has been evolved, there enters
an Astrologer, who proffers a golden cockerel. With the bird watching
over the city the king may sleep; danger will be sounded by a warning
crow. At the cockerel's first alarm the king despatches his two sons
to lead his army; at the second he decides to betake himself to the
field of battle. The first sight that meets his gaze is that of his
two sons, who have done each other to death. At dawn he perceives a
tent. Dodon and his General mistake this as belonging to the leader
of the opposing army, but to their astonishment there emerges from it
the lovely Queen of Shemakha. She completely infatuates and ruthlessly
fools the old Dodon, who finally asks her to share his throne. On their
return in state to the capital, Dodon is reminded by the Astrologer of
his promised token of gratitude. The king, asking his price, is horrified
by a demand for the person of his bride. Infuriated, he slays the
Astrologer. The queen deserts him, and he is killed by the golden beak
of the avenging cockerel.
(In a brief Epilogue, the Astrologer returns to life and assures the
spectators that only he and the queen are mortals; what they have
witnessed is but a fantasy.)
synopsis by M. Montagu Nathan, Rimsky-Korsakof, Duffield & Co.,
New York, 1917.
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