 For a deeper understanding of this work from the composer's point of view, the reader is directed to his autobiography, as well as to his own incomplete analysis of the opera from 1905.The Moscow premiere followed that of St. Petersburg three years later in 1885.It was presented by the Russian Private Opera (the Opera of Savva Mamontov in Moscow), conducted by Enrico Bevignani with scenic Design by Viktor Vasnetsov, Isaak Levitan, and Konstantin Korovin; Tsar Berendey – Grigoriy Erchov, 
Bermyata – Anton Bedlevitch, 
Spring Beauty – Vera Gnucheva, 
Grandfather Frost – Stepan Vlasov, 
The Snow Maiden – Nadejda Salina, 
Bobyl Bakula – G. Kassilov or Nikolay Miller, 
Lel – Tatyana Liubatovitch, 
Mizgir – Mikhail Malinin (Boris Mikhailovich Malinin and Marina Raskova’s father), 
Second Herald – M.Skuratovskiy.