Main Stage

Premiere: 2003 February, Lisbon
Premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre: 2003 June

The Enchantress (or The Sorceress)(Russian: Charodeyka) is an opera in 4 acts by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. The opera was composed between 1885 - 1887 in Maidanovo, Russia. The libretto was written by Ippolit Shpazhinsky, and is based on his drama of the same title. The opera was first performed in St Petersburg in 1887.

The action takes place at the last quarter of the 15th century at the tavern and brothel near Nizhny Novgorod. Nastasia (Kuma), the charming owner of the inn, has made herself an enemy in rejecting the devious Mamyrov, the right-hand man of the local governor Nikita Danilovich Kurliatev. He spreads the gossip that Nastasia is an enchantress, and every man whom she meets falls for her. Yuri, Nikita’s son, begins to frequent the inn, as does his father, who falls madly in love with Nastasia (without any success), who threatens her that he will reach his goal by whatever means. Mamyrov confronts Nikita’s wife, Evpraksia, with the truth, while her son – not yet personally involved with Nastasia – swears to avenge his mother. While confronting Nastasia he learns that it is he whom she loves. They both plan to flee during the night not knowing that, by now, Mamyrov has worked out an elaborate plot to wreak his revenge on Nastasia as well as on Nikita and his family with devastating effect.