Prologue

Snow Maiden is the daughter of Grandfather Frost and Spring Beauty who had an unlikely affair sixteen years previously. Since then the land has suffered from bitter winters and cold springs as the sun god Yarilo is jealous of the affair. Spring Beauty tries to protect everyone from Frost’s icy ways as he enjoys torturing all nature with freezing winds.

Frost and Spring fight over their daughter’s future – Spring thinks Snow Maiden should be given some freedom to grow up, but Frost is worried she will fall in love and that passion will melt her heart and kill her. Spring persuades Frost to let their daughter live among humans while he is away and they agree to entrust her to Bobyl.

Snow Maiden is overjoyed to hear that she is to live among humans as she has been moved by the yearning beauty of Lel’s songs. Frost is concerned about her feelings for Lel and warns Snow Maiden. He calls on the Spirit of the Wood to protect Snow Maiden while Spring offers her love whenever she might need it.

A carnival procession arrives in which winter is ritually banished and spring welcomed. Bobyl and Bobylicka notice Snow Maiden and are delighted to adopt her into their family.

Act I

Snow Maiden is charmed by Lel and his songs. She asks him to sing for her and he asks for a gift in return. She gives him a flower, but soon Lel becomes distracted by the other girls and leaves her. Her friend Kupava is sympathetic but cannot wait to share the news of her impending wedding to Mizgir. When Mizgir arrives, he woos Kupava in customary fashion until he sees Snow Maiden and abandons Kupava. Humiliated and in despair Kupava curses Mizgir in front of the assembled people, who condemn him and advise her to seek justice from the Tsar.

Act II

The Tsar is worried that the country has become loveless and the people cold-hearted as the summers have grown shorter. He decides to organise a festival to celebrate the god of love and sunlight in which all the young couples can be married.

Kupava runs in. She begs the Tsar to punish Mizgir for betraying and humiliating her. Mizgir arrives, confesses his guilt and the Tsar insists that Mizgir marry Kupava. When Mizgir refuses, the Tsar exiles him. However, when Snow Maiden appears, entranced by her beauty, the Tsar changes his mind. He asks Snow Maiden to choose a husband but she cannot, and he realises she doesn’t know what love is. The Tsar then challenges the assembled people to find someone to melt her frozen heart with love that night.

Act III

The young men and women are celebrating in the forest. Moved by Lel´s singing the Tsar suggests he choose a girl. Snow Maiden hopes he will pick her but he chooses Kupava instead. All the couples run into the forest and Snow Maiden is left alone in despair.

Mizgir appears and at first declares his love passionately but when she doesn’t respond he becomes violent. The Wood Spirit comes to her rescue and Snow Maiden runs away into the forest.

Lel and Kupava find each other in the forest and share their love for each other. Snow Maiden watches them in despair and calls on her mother to teach her how to love.

Act IV

Snow Maiden is abandoned and alone until her mother Spring Beauty arrives surrounded by flowers. The women initiate Snow Maiden into the world of love and Spring’s spell opens up Snow Maiden’s heart. Spring warns Snow Maiden to stay away from the sun.

Mizgir runs in, desperately looking for Snow Maiden. He is surprised to see the change in her as she discovers and explores her new feelings. However, dawn is breaking and Snow Maiden is aware that she needs to avoid the sun.

The people arrive to celebrate the start of summer and the Tsar blesses all the assembled couples. Mizgir enters to ask him to bless his union with Snow Maiden. When the Tsar asks Snow Maiden for her consent, she is illuminated by the sun and melts. The sun warms the people’s hearts and banishes cold and darkness.