The Snow Maiden: Rimsky-Korsakov at RNCM

Johnny James, Managing Editor
Image courtesy of the RNCM.

The Snow Maiden: Rimsky-Korsakov at Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Manchester 10 — 16 December 2023 Tickets from £15.00 — Book now

Step into a wintry tale of magic and mystique as students of the RNCM bring Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Snow Maiden to life for the very first time at the College.

The first of Rimsky-Korsakov’s operas to be based on a Russian folk tale, The Snow Maiden tells of story a teenage girl with a secret in her heart and a burning desire to leave the icy grip of her parents, Father Frost and Mother Spring, to live amongst mortals in an isolated village. We follow her transformational journey into this mortal land, which unleashes a kaleidoscope of human emotions with monumental consequences.

Image of RNCM Opera’s performance of Mansfield Park by Robin Clewley.

A lyrical evocation of the natural world, Rimsky Korsakov’s delightfully colourful orchestration and operatic writing shines as the gripping story unfolds, helpfully translated by Christopher Cowell. From delicate moments of intimacy to soaring romantic melodies and rousing choruses, it’s a vivid and imaginative musical treatment during which the mythological and mortal roles are distinctly characterised, with several individual characters designated their own leitmotifs.

Image of RNCM Opera’s performance of Mansfield Park by Robin Clewley.

The origin of the Russian tale of The Snow Maiden is unknown, but it first appeared in writing in the mid 19th century, when Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev started publishing huge volumes of Russian folklore. In 1873, The Snow Maiden was adapted into a play, with music by Tchaikovsky, before Rimsky-Korsakov arrived at the work several years later, selecting the tale as the subject for his opera. It premiered in Saint Petersburg in 1882 before being revised in 1898, after which it forever remained its composer’s own favourite work.

It’s not often this story of love, sacrifice, and human fragility reaches the stage, and it will be a pleasure to hear the exceptional students of the RNCM breathe life into it as part of the College’s packed and hugely varied Autumn Season.

The Snow Maiden: Rimsky-Korsakov at Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Manchester 10 — 16 December 2023 Tickets from £15.00 Book now

Performances

Date
Time
Session Features
12 December 2023
7:00pm — 10:00pm
13 December 2023
7:00pm — 10:00pm
16 December 2023
3:00pm — 6:00pm

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

A musician looking into the distance.
Until
MusicManchester
RNCM Spring Season 2025

From classical masterpieces to cutting edge contemporary works, world-renowned soloists to homegrown talent, the RNCM spring season has it all.

from £8
Two dancers and orchestra on stage
Until
DanceManchester
Dance:Music at the RNCM

Through a treasure trove of concerts, the RNCM’s initiative Dance:Music explores the symbiotic relationship between music and dance.

from £0.00

Where to go near The Snow Maiden: Rimsky-Korsakov at RNCM

Manchester
Restaurant
San Carlo Fumo

San Carlo Fumo may be part of a chain, but it doesn’t feel like it. Right at the top of Oxford Road, it’s lavishly decorated and specialises in cicchetti, or Italian small plates.

Utility Gift Shop
Manchester
Shop
Utility Gift Shop

Utility Gift Shop on Oxford Road is all about products that are new, unique, quirky and cool. High street shopping at its best.

exterior of Contact Theatre building
Manchester
Theatre
Contact Theatre

Following a major redevelopment, the iconic venue on Oxford Road will be reopening its doors to welcome the public back into the building this autumn. 

The Salutation pub in Manchester
Manchester
Bar or Pub
The Salutation

This traditional boozer, surrounded by imposing flats and university buildings, was taken over by Trof (of the Deaf Institute fame). The Sally, as the regulars call it, hosts an energetic, arty crowd – and its recently expanded outside area is another good reason to visit.

What's on: Music

A black woman sat down looking to the left.
Until
MusicLeeds
Sound Out Leeds 2024/25

Leeds International Concert Season is on a mission to push boundaries, expand horizons, and ask the question: ‘What haven’t we heard?’ as it presents its city-spanning Sound Out Leeds series.

from £10.00
Two dancers and orchestra on stage
Until
DanceManchester
Dance:Music at the RNCM

Through a treasure trove of concerts, the RNCM’s initiative Dance:Music explores the symbiotic relationship between music and dance.

from £0.00
A musician looking into the distance.
Until
MusicManchester
RNCM Spring Season 2025

From classical masterpieces to cutting edge contemporary works, world-renowned soloists to homegrown talent, the RNCM spring season has it all.

from £8

Culture Guides

A woman sits in a car with hands holding the steering wheel.
Cinema in the North

Vintage Alfred Hitchcock and a family friendly film festival are amongst our highlights this May.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Dynamic dance, party-performance, high-energy stand-up and a site-specific show set in a pub. All this and more in our newest theatre guide.

the artist
Music in the North

The outsiders, the oddities and the outrageous – we’re keeping it weird with a hot new batch of underground gigs about to hit Manchester, Leeds, and Liverpool.

A large sphere floats in a dark room with an ornate wall pattern, flanked by two arched windows and a checkered floor.
Exhibitions in the North

From precarious ceramics to photography festivals, spring is here and brings with it a breath of fresh air in visual art and exhibitions.

Poet Imtiaz Dharker. Photo by Ayesha Dharker
Literature Events in the North

It's like the Woolies pick'n'mix counter this month in live literature land – so much choice, we're not sure where to start digging in.

Classical Music in the North

Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.