Ruslan and Lyudmila

Ruslan and Lyudmila (Glinka). Scenario by Konstantin Bakhturin from lib. by Valerian Shirkov and others; 5 acts; first performance St Petersburg 1842, conducted by C. Albrecht.

Kiev, legendary times: Lyudmila, daughter of Svetozar, is to marry Ruslan. A minstrel, the Bayan, forecasts that despite the trials ahead, true love will win through. Lyudmila consoles her previous suitors, Prince Ratmir (loved by Gorislava) and Prince Farlaf. Suddenly it goes dark and Lyudmila disappears. Her father promises her in marriage to whosoever finds her. The magician Finn tells Ruslan that the abductor is the dwarf Chernomor, whose strength lies in his long beard. Ruslan finds a magic sword which can defeat the dwarf. Ruslan and the others set out to find Lyudmila, but as they approach her Chernomor puts a spell on her. Ruslan cuts off the dwarf's beard and finds his love, but she is still under the spell and is now abducted by Farlaf, helped by the evil enchantress Naina. Ratmir declares his love for Gorislava. Finn gives him the magic ring which will waken Lyudmila, and he and Ruslan set off for Kiev to break the spell. Their wedding can now take place.