Rimski-Korsakov, Majskaja noč (May Night), Lemešev, Nebolsin, 1948

Recording from 1948. The cast is listed at the beginning of the video.
The libretto of May Night, Rimsky's second opera, derives from a fairy tale by Gogol. It tells the story of the love of Levko and Hanna who plan to marry despite opposition from his father, The Governor. Levko tells Hanna the legend of the girl who drowned herself to escape her stepmother and became a 'rusalka' (east European version of a 'mermaid'). However, the stepmother also drowned and now cannot be distinguished from the 'good' rusalki. Later Levko finds his father serenading Hanna and complications arise at a drinking party of the Mayor leading to the sister-in-law being mistaken for the devil and nearly burned alive. Retreating to the tranquillity of the lake Levko sings in praise of Hanna. The rusalki appear, ensure that the Governor is outwitted and a happy ending ensues.

Видео Rimski-Korsakov, Majskaja noč (May Night), Lemešev, Nebolsin, 1948 канала Herur22