Mariinsky On Screen: War and Peace (NR)

synopsis

Based on the 19th century novel by Tolstoy, the opera of War and Peace tells the story of young Natasha who falls for dashing widow Prince Andrei. But his father disapproves of their proposed union causing the match to be postponed. Meanwhile Natasha's head is turned by the charming Anatole Kuragin who neglects to mention that he is already married. This individual and personal story is overtaken by political events as Napoleon's army closes in on Russia, making war inevitable. A brand-new production of Prokofiev's epic masterpiece, War and Peace was filmed live at the recently opened Mariinsky II and conducted by the internationally acclaimed Artistic Director of the Mariinsky Theatre, Valery Gergiev.