The Fair at Sorochyntsi

Scenes where Mussorgsky did not compose the music are bracketed and marked in italics. The ordering of scenes follows Shebalin's completion. The opera begins with an overture suggestive of early morning. This is usually accompanied visually by a scene depicting the fair stalls being set up and visitors arriving. Merchants peddle their wares to crowds of visitors arriving from all around. The Gypsy makes reference to a red jacket that the devil is looking for, while the lad Gritsko woos Parasya. Her father, Cherevik, at first is indignant at this forwardness, but, after realizing that Gritsko is the son of a close friend, he agrees to let Gritsko marry his daughter. The two men go into the tavern to celebrate, as evening settles and the people disperse. Cherevik and his buddy, Kum, come out of the tavern in a drunken state. After they wander around in the dark, [Khrivya, Cherevik's wife, comes out of their house, and he announces Parasya's engagement. But Khivrya objects, and, while Gritsko overhears, drunken Cherevik concedes that the wedding will not happen.] Gritsko, alone, bemoans his sadness. [The Gypsy enters, and the two make a pact: Gritsko will give the Gypsy his oxen for fifteen rubles if the latter can make Cherevik change his mind.] Kum's Hut Inside Kum's house, where they are lodging, Khivrya quarrels with Cherevik, getting him to leave, so that she may keep her secret rendezvous with Afanasy Ivanovich, the son of the village priest. When the latter arrives, she o…

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