Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) composed some fifteen operas. Snegurochka (Snow White), his third opera, written in 1880 and 1881, comprises four acts preceded by a prologue. The opera is based on the play of the same name written in 1873 by Ostrovsky. It was premiered at Saint Petersburg in 1882, whereas its first foreign perfomance was in New-York precisely forty years later. It deals with a charming legend about Winter and Spring in an imaginary Russian province. The music is simple and lyrical. The 'Procession' and especially 'The Dance of the Tumblers' are the only excerpts of this completely forgotten opera which are still on the repertoire nowadays.
