| Scene II: Some time later; Vasilissa's father remarried to a woman with two daughters of her own after the death of Vasilissa's mother, before dying himself, leaving Vasilissa with her cruel Stepmother and sisters. Vasilissa is forced to work as a scullery maid, while her sisters only pretend to do their chores, and Vasilissa's Stepmother orders her around and tells her to work harder. One night, the Stepmother retires to bed, but first explains to save firewood she will put out all of the lights except for one candle by which the girls are to do their chores. The girls continue to work, until the candle flickers and goes out. Not knowing what else to do, Vasilissa feeds her doll a scrap of bread, and it awakens to console her. The doll tells Vasilissa that she must journey through woods to see the witch Baba Yaga, for she can give her more fire. Vasilissa takes the doll and leaves the house to set out on her journey through the woods. in this recording the stepmothers voice is a clarinet, and the dolls voice is a synthetic voice. |
