Cast & Characters

The Cast

Conductor: Valery Gergiev
Natasha Rostova: Marina Poplavskaya
Sonya: Ekaterina Semenchuk
Mme Akhrosimova: Larisa Shevchenko
Pierre Bezukhov: Kim Begley
Prince Andrey Bolkonsky: Alexej Markov
Napoleon: Vassily Gerello
Field-Marshal Kutuzov: Samuel Ramey

The Characters

Natasha Rostova (soprano) – A young girl of a modest family who gets engaged to Prince Andrei Bolkonsky. When her future father-in-law snubs her, she risks scandal by planning to elope with Count Anatol Kuragin, a married man.

Sonya(mezzo-soprano) – Natasha’s cousin. She warns Natasha that Anatol is untrustworthy, and informs Natasha’s godmother of the elopement plans.

Hélène Bezukhova (mezzo-soprano) – Pierre’s wife and Anatol’s sister. Her glamor and sophistication impress everyone, but some disapprove of her somewhat loose morals.

Maria Akhrosimova (contralto) – Natasha’s godmother. Natasha and Sonya stay with her in Moscow. When Sonya informs Maria of Natasha’s plans to elope with Anatol, Maria pleads with Pierre to help avert a scandal.

Count Pierre Bezukhov (tenor) – Hélène’s husband. He is disgusted with his wife and brother-in-law’s shallowness, and promises Maria to try to prevent a scandal. He is captured by the French during the war.

Count Anatol Kuragin (tenor) – Hélène’s brother. He is infatuated with Natasha and makes plans to elope with her, even though he is already married.

Prince Andrei Bolkonsky (baritone) – He is enchanted by Natasha’s youthful charm and optimism. He gets engaged to her, but her scandalous plans to elope with Anatol ruin his dreams of happiness. During the war he leads his own betallion of men into battle.

Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky (bass) – Andrei’s father. Prince Nikolai believes that Andrei will be marrying beneath the family if he marries Natasha, and he snubs her when she calls at their home.