The Tale of Tsar Saltan (Suite from the Opera) - Rimsky-Korsakov

‘The Tale of Tsar Saltan’ is an opera in four acts by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and is based on the 1831 poem of the same name by Aleksandr Pushkin. The story features Prince Gvidon who becomes separated from his father, the Tsar, landing on an island full of magical objects and creatures, one of whom is an enchanted swan that eventually marries the Prince after being transformed into a princess. The orchestral preludes to three of the acts of the Opera were compiled into a suite: ‘The Tsar's Farewell and Departure’, ‘Tsarina in a Barrel at Sea’ and ‘The three Wonders’. Commissioned by the orchestra of ‘St. Jan Wierden’ in the Netherlands, Dutch arranger Egbert van Groningen transcribed the suite of ‘The Tale of Tsar Saltan’ for Symphonic Band.