Opera Club: ‘The Night Before Christmas’
All are welcome to watch a free screening of Rimsky-Korsakov’s melodic opera “Christmas Eve” on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 1:30 p.m. in the Learning Center of Clubhouse 3. Opera Club President Margaret Gillon will introduce this old world tale based on Nicolai Gogol’s short story “The Night Before Christmas.”
In Act 1, it’s Christmas Eve, and the audience is introduced to Vakula, a local blacksmith in the village of Dikanka, Ukraine, painting a picture of the Devil on the church wall to the dismay of the Devil himself, who states it lacks enough satanic power. In response to this omission, Satan invokes a blinding snowstorm to block Vacula’s plan to win the love of Oksana, the village beauty.
In Act 2, Oksana tells Vakula she will only marry him if he brings her the highly decorated boots worn by the EmpressTsarina. Vakula then turns to the Devil for help.
In Act 3, Vakula travels to the capital at St. Petersburg and with Luciferian assistance, convinces the Tsarina with his amusing quest for love and who then bestows on him her boots.
In Act 4, Vakula returns to the village to offer the boots to Oksana who accepts his proposal of marriage, reciprocating his love, regardless of the gift received.
The production is in Russian with English subtitles. People are encouraged to wear masks indoors. No dues or fees are collected. For more information contact Margaret Gillon at 562-370-3844 or Margaretgi@yahoo.com. —Sylvan Von Burg
