The heroine in Tchaikovsky’s 1887 opera “The Enchantress” being featured on this week’s Sunday Opera (5/2 3:00 p.m.) is one of those poor people who’s just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nastasya is an innkeeper who is much loved and desired, especially by Prince Nikita and his son Yurly who originally seeks her out to avenge his seething mother who believes that Nastasya is to blame for her husband’s philandering. However, when Yurly sees Nastasya, he immediately falls in love with her. Adding to the conflict is an old decon named Mamirov who is now Nastasy’s sworn enemy because she rejected his advances. Mamiraov tries to wreak his revenge on Nastasya through the more-than-willing Princess with disastrous results. Our cast includes Oleg Klyonov, Lyudmila Simonova, Lev Kuzelsov, Rimma Giuskova, and Pyotr Glubokly with the Great Academic Choir and Symphony Orchestra of All-Union Radio and Television with Gennedy Provatorov conducting.
Stay tuned after the opera for more music by Tchaikovsky as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra plays his charming Orchestral Suite No. 1 with Neeme Jarvi conducting.