The Sochi Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies paid tribute to Russia's icons of literature, music, opera and ballet. This summer, Les Saisons Russes du XX1 siécle stages a season of legendary works at the London Coliseum honouring three of the greatest: Sergei Diaghilev, Nikolai Rimsky Korsakov and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Part of the Russian Season at the London Coliseum, Rimsky-Korsakov’s rarely performed masterpiece Le Coq d’Or (The Golden Cockerel) was based on the last fairytale by Alexander Pushkin. It tells the story of the aged warrior Tsar Dodon who in a quest for peace in his kingdom consults a sorcerer. In return for a promise from the Tsar to grant him a wish, the sorcerer provides a Golden Cockerel to watch over the kingdom. Dire consequences ensue when the Tsar breaks his promise.

Conductor: Alevtina Ioffe. 
Performed in Russian with English subtitles.