Fairy-tale for radio based on the poem by Alexander Ptishkin. Music composed by Alan Rawsthorne and played by the BBC Northern Orchestra, under the direction of the composer. Script and production by Francis Dillon
Like Rimsky-Korsakov 's famous opera Le Coq D'Or, this radio play with music is based on Pushkin's fantastic fairy tale satirising the pomp and stupidiry of autocracy An astrologer presents the aged King Dodon with a Golden Cockerel which will give warning of coming danger. The King promises the astrologer anything he wants. But when the former returns from the war bringing the lovely Queen of Chemakha as his bride, he is furious when the astrologer demands the Queen as his reward.
He kills the astrologer, but is struck senseless by the Golden Cockerel, and the whole kingdom disappears in a clap of thunder.