Snegurochka

Prologue
Early spring. Midnight. Snowed up forest, in the land of the Berendeyans the cold reigns. Fifteen years ago Vesna and Moroz gave birth to their daughter Snegurochka and ever since the enraged Yarilo-Sun gives very little light and warmth to the world.
Surrounded with the suite of birds, Vesna appears. She meets with Moroz that promises her to leave to the North. But who is going to protect Snegurochka? As Yarilo is waiting for a chance to inflame in girl’s heart the destructive fire of love.
Vesna and Moroz decide to let the daughter to the outskirts of the Berendeyevka under the childless Bobyl Bakula care. Snegurochka is happy: she has been drawn away to people by amazing songs of the shepherd Lel. Snegurochka’s parents leave, after entrusting Leshiy (Wood Sprite) to protect their daughter.
The crowd of the Berendeyans comes: they are seeing off Maslenitsa, by cheerfully greeting the coming of the Spring. Bobyl notices the appeared from the midwood Snegurochka. To Bobyl’s joy she asks him to take her as the daughter.

Act 1
According to Snegurochka’s request Lel is singing a song. In reward he asks for a kiss. Snegurochka doesn’t understand him, and Lel runs to calls of other girls. Snegurochka is confused. Unexpectedly Kupava appears, a young girl from the village. She is full of happiness – her marriage with the beautiful, rich merchant Mizgir is coming.
A wedding ceremony begins. Suddenly Mizgir sees Snegurochka. Affected with her beauty, he rejects Kupava. She in tears curses the offender and runs away in search of intercession at the Tsar Berendey.
The Tsar’s chambers. Berendey is alarmed – Yarilo-Sun is angry with his people. Councilor Bermyata tells the Tsar of the appeared in the village unseen beauty Snegurochka – it may be her to be the reason of Yarilo’s anger.
Kupava appears, with indignation the Tsar listens to her complaints. He orders to bring Mizgir and condemns him for the eternal exile. Mizgir doesn’t argue, just asks the Tsar to take a look at Snegurochka himself. Her beauty strikes Berendey. Finding out that Snegurochka doesn’t know what love is, he offers the young men to kindle the girl’s passion till all hours. Mizgir and Lel swear to fulfill the Tsar’s wish.

Act 2
Night. In the forest reserve skomorokhs are dancing, Lel is singing the song. In reward the Tsar Berendey offers Lel to choose ‘the beauty after his heart’. Snegurochka expects the Lel’s choice to fall on her, but suddenly he chooses Kupava.
Astonished Snegurochka wanders around the forest solitary. Mizgir founds her. Appealing to her with passionate acceptance, he scares the woman away and runs away. Leshiy comes to help her, bewitching Mizgir with Snegurochka’s phantoms.
On the lake shore Snegurochka appeals to the Mother-Vesna with the request to give her the warmth of the heart. Vesna gives her a magic garland. Snegurochka is consumed with the unknown before feeling. The new meeting with Mizgir kindles her heart with reciprocal passion.
In Yarilin’s valley the Berendeyans meet the sunrise. The Tsar blesses fiancés and fiancées. Mizgir and Snegurochka appear. Burning with passion, the girl becomes the victim of the cruel Yarilo. His rays fall on Snegurochka and she, thanking her mother for the sweet gift of love, melts in amazed Berendeyans eyes. Maddened from sorrow Mizgir dies.
Wise Tsar Nerendet understands that the death of Snegurochka takes off Yarilo’s curse. There will be sun, light and warmth in the land of the Berendeyans again.