A new family-friendly production will premiere at the KRAZ Opera, the newly opened venue of the Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre. Young audiences and their parents are invited to the first performances of the children’s opera Cat’s House, with music by Alexander Kulygin.

Written for the youngest theatre-goers, the opera is based on the famous verse fairy tale by Samuil Marshak, a classic of Soviet children’s literature. The story follows the beautiful Cat of noble Angora lineage, the owner of a splendid house, who warmly welcomes her distinguished guests — the Goat and the Nanny Goat, the Rooster and the Hen, and the Pig. Meanwhile, she turns away her orphaned nephews, poor little kittens living in a rickety house with a leaky roof. When disaster strikes and the Cat’s own house burns down, it is the very kittens she once rejected who come to her aid.

Composer Alexander Kulygin has written extensively for the theatre, creating music for drama productions, musicals, and operas for adult audiences. His body of work also includes a substantial number of pieces for children, inspired by Russian and European literary fairy tales — among them Cat’s House.

A kind and instructive story, clear and expressive music, vibrant costumes, and the artistry of the Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre’s performers promise to captivate both young spectators and their parents.

The premiere will take place on 31 January at the Metallurgists Palace of Culture and Sports — known to Krasnoyarsk residents as the KRAZ Palace of Culture. This is where the KRAZ Opera stage is located, operating under the motto Art Close to Home.