Plot synopsis:
This four part Russian opera ranks as the Russian Parsifal, and is a beautiful, mythical story of an earthly paradise.

The maiden Fevronia, who is a shepherdess, has a chance encounter with a man, (whom she later finds out is the son of Price Yuri, ruler of Great Kitezh), who proposes marriage to her. She accepts this proposal and both are welcomed by the people into the city of little Kitezh. Then the Tatars attack, take Fevronia prisoner and force the drunk, Grishka, to lead them to the city of Great Kitezh. Fevronia prays that God performs a miracle and render the city of Great Kitezh invisible.

News of the capture of little Kitezh reaches Great Kitezh, and crown prince Vsevolod leads his army into battle against the Tatars. The Kitezh army is annihilated, and the Prince is killed. While the Tatars are preparing to plunder the town, the bells from the city begin to sound, but at dawn, the city has disappeared, and only its reflection remains in the lake.

Fevronia and Grishka, who have escaped the defeat are lost in the Forest. Grishka runs off and around Fevronia, the forest is magically transformed into a spring garden. The ghost of Vsevolod appears and leads her into the invisible city of Kitezh.

Recorded live at the Rimsky-Korsakov Festival in the Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg in February 1994.