from the Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden
The action takes place in the country of the Tartars in the 12th Century
Scene 1 : The outskirts of the Polovtsian camp
Scene 2: Another part of the camp
Scene 3 : Before the tents of Konchak
Cast
Chorus of Polovtsian maidens,
Russian prisoners, Polovtsian soldiers and slaves, and followers of Konchak
Conductor,
EUGENE GOOSSENS
Chorus Master, Robert Ainsworth
Producer, Harald Andre
The scene of Act 2 is laid in the Polovtsian camp, where Igor and Vladimir are held captive. After a haunting chorus of Polovtsian maidens, Konchakovna, daughter of the Polovtsian chief, sings a beautiful nocturne as she awaits her lover, the handsome young prisoner Vladimir. Russian prisoners pass, singing, and Vladimir appears. His first song is one of the most popular numbers of the whole opera.
After a love duet the lovers part, and then Igor wanders in, lost in gloomy thoughts. The treacherous Ovlur urges him to break his word of honour and escape, but he refuses. And finally the good-natured Polovstian chief Konchak appears, offers Igor his friendship, and sends for his slaves to dance and dispel his prisoner's melancholy. The Act closes with the magnificently barbaric Polovtsian Dances, often heard in the concert-hall.