This is the last opera composed by Russian composer PI Tchaikovsky in 1892. The premiere of this one act lyric opera will be celebrated at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town on July 30. It is a Russian production.

The libretto for Iolanta was written by the composer’s brother Modest Tchaikovsky and is based on the Danish play King René’s Daughter by Henrik Hertz.

Iolanta, the daughter of King René has been blind from birth, but no one has ever told her. She is betrothed to Robert, who is also unaware of her misfortune.

Iolanta’s father is the king. A physician states Iolanta can be cured, but only if she is told and desires to see. The king refuses the treatment, fearing for Iolanta’s happiness.

Vaudémont discovers Iolanta’s blindness and they fall in love, after he explains light and colour to her. The couple is discovered and the king threatens to kill Vaudémont if the physician’s treatment fails . . .

The second part of the programme consists of arias and extracts from Tchaikovsky’s opera, Eugene Onegin, s ung in Russian with English surtitles. Sixty five opera and orchestra members of the Ekaterinburg State Academic Theatre, one of the oldest and most known theatres of Russia, perform these works.

Performances are at Artscape Theatre, July 30 & 31, August 1 at 20:15, August 2 at 14:30 and 20:15 and August 3 at 14:30. Ticket prices are R140, R191, R242, R303 – book at Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat 021 421 7695.