The opera was composed by Rimsky-Korsakov based on the drama of the same name by Lev Mey, whereas the plot was taken from “History of the Russian State” by Nikolay Karamzin. The events take place in the Alexandrovskaya sloboda in 1572 – the capital of oprichnina, where Ivan the Terrible stayed for a long time.
Composer himself named The Tsar’s Bride one of his best creations. This was one of the most beloved operas of Galina Vishnevskaya who starred with the part of Marfa at the Bolshoi Theater and even staged it together with Mstislav Rostropovich in 1986 at the famous Monte Carlo Opera. The premiere of The Tsar’s Bride took place in October 2003, and since then the opera has firmly entered the Opera Centre’s repertoire.
Stage director — Ivan Popovski
Sets and costumes — Alla Kozhenkova
Conductor — Anton Torbeev