Flight of the Bumble-Bee

Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844 - 1908)

Arranged:  Rachmaninoff

The famous "Flight of the Bumble-Bee" is found in Act 3 of Rimsky-Korsakov's tenth opera, the Tale of Tsar Saltan.  The Tsar's wife and son, Prince Guidon, have been thrown into the sea in a barrel, as a result of the plotting of the prince's wicked aunts.  They arrive at an enchanted island and the prince is given the opportunity to visit his father by

turning into a bumble-bee.  During the visit he takes revenge on his aunts by stinging them!  All turns out well in the end as the Tsar visits the island and is joyfully reunited with his wife and son.  We are playing this arrangement on two pianos, dovetailing the melodic changeovers between the pianos to make them sound as one.

© Apollo Recordings 2001