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Programme Note

Lyric-dramatic scenes.

Synopsis:
Set in Russia around the time of Napoleon’s invasion, this is a love story of Prince Andrei Bolkonsky and Natasha, told against the background of the fighting between the French and the Russian armies.

First performed as a concert of 11 scenes on 7 June 1944 by the USSR State Symphony Orchestra with conductor Samuil Samosud. These 11 scenes were staged for the first time on 31 March 1955 at the Leningrad State Academy's Maly Opera Theatre, conducted by Eduard Grikurov. Ultimately a version for 13 scenes was staged for the first time on 8 November 1957 at the Stanislavsky Opera Theatre in Moscow with Alexander Shaverdov as the conductor.