Rogneda () is an opera in five acts, composed by Alexander Serov between 1863 and 1865. The scenario, by the composer, was based on the novel Askold's Grave (Аскольдова могила, 1833) by Mikhail Zagoskin and the poem Rogneda (ca. 1825) by Kondraty Ryleyev. The actual Russian libretto was created by Dmitry Averkiev in the same manner as with the composer's previous opera, Judith, with the words written to fit the vocal lines after the music had been composed. This opera forms a sequel of sorts to Alexey Verstovsky's highly successful singspiel, Askold's Grave, which premiered in 1835, just the year before Glinka's A Life for the Tsar reached the stage. No less a patriotic opera than those two, Rogneda in its plot combines elements of the life of the title character with the Christianization of Russia, dated in 988 with the conversion of Vladimir I of Kiev. With its huge cast and sprawling plot, the opera demands spectacle of a Meyerbeerian order. Performance history The premiere performance took place on 27 October 1865 at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, conducted by Konstantin Lyadov (the singer Mikhail Sariotti as Vladimir Krasnoye Solnyshko), while the Moscow premiere took place during the following year at the Bolshoy Theatre in Moscow conducted by Shramek. The premiere of the opera proved to be a resounding hit, and the work remained extremely popular through the end of the Russian Empire. Roles (Vladimir) Krasnoye Solnyshko [i.e., Bright Sun], prince of the capital Kiev: baritone Rogneda, one of his wives: mezzo-soprano Izyaslav, her 13-year-old son: contralto Dobrynya Nikitich, the prince's uncle: bass Rual'd, a young Varangian, a Christian: tenor Ingerd: tenor Drulav: bass Old Man Wanderer: bass Supreme Priest of Perun: bass The Prince's Jester, a merry skomorokh: tenor Skul'da, a Varangian witch: mezzo-soprano Mal'frida, one of Rogneda's slaves: soprano Izyaslav's Nurse: soprano Master of Hounds: baritone 1st Hunter: tenor 2nd Hunter: bass Bogatyrs; members of the prince's armed forces; city elders; guests at table; cupbearers; huntsmen; falconers; huntsmen in charge of hounds; hunters on horse and on foot; priests of Perun and immolators of sacrifices; wanderer-pilgrims; women at the feast; female slaves of Rogneda; skomorokhi; male and female dancers; warriors; captive Pechenegs, Varangians; people. Synopsis Time: The end of the 10th century Place: In and around Kiev Note: Acts 1 and 5 may contain more than one set of stage decor Act 1 Inside Skul'da's cave,