Opera-legend in seven scenes by Rimskii-Korsakov; first production 1898. Known particularly for its harbor scene.
The Novgorod merchants ask Sadko (tenor) to seek wealth for the city. He meets Volkhova (soprano), the Sea Princess, who falls in love with him and tells him he will catch three golden fish in the lake. Sadko makes a bet with the crowd that he will catch the fish, then sets sail and catches them. On his way back from accumulating treasure, his fleet is becalmed because he has not offered a sacrifice to the Sea King (bass). The sailors throw gold overboard to appease the Sea King, but Volkhova tells them that one of the men must be sacrificed, and Sadko is set adrift on a raft. He sinks to the seabed, where his singing leads to his being offered Volkhova in marriage. The vigorous dancing at the wedding celebration causes ships to sink, which angers St. Nicholas, who orders Sadko back to land in a shell drawn by birds. The next morning on the shores of lake Il'men Volkhova and Sadko part, Volkhova is transformed into the river, and Sadko returns to his wife Lyubava (mezzo-soprano).
Based on summaries from the Oxford Encyclopedia of Music.