On the second night of Laetitia’s Santa Fe Opera tour, the production was Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Golden Cockerel, which premiered in Moscow in 1909. Outside Russia, it is generally known as Le Coq d’Or. It’s a satirical tale about an arrogant and incompetent czar whose amorous pursuit of a neighboring queen leads to the loss of his kingdom. He has a number of characteristics in common with certain modern politicians.
Opera Golden Cock (Coq d’Or)
Is a tale of a fool bumbling Czar
Who with lustful ardor
Gives away the whole store.
Politics today hasn’t come far.