The Golden Cockerel: A Russian Fairy Tale

There are some things that we humans go to any lengths to protect. Family? Definitely. Reputation? Yup. A wealthy and extensive Tsardom? Of cour– wait, what?! Okay, fine. Most of us don’t carry the fate of an entire Tsardom on our shoulders. Tsar Dadon, on the other hand? Yeah, I don’t envy that guy. In this hilarious Pushkin tale, Tsar Dadon is so desperate to protect his Tsardom that he actually goes so far as to buy a magic golden cockerel from a sketchy eunuch. Highly recommend against this, folks. Yes, the cockerel might (keyword: might) be able to protect the Tsardom, but at what cost? What will Tsar Dadon lose in the process? Will it be family? Reputation? A wealthy and extensive Tsardom? All of the above and more? Bargains always have a way of coming back to you. The question is: will the mighty Tsar Dadon end up with the short end of the stick? This time, the answer might surprise you – listen in to find out! WEBSITE ILLUSTRATION DESCRIPTIONS: A selection of Ivan Bilibin’s original set and costume sketches for Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s corresponding opera (of the same name). Super cool stuff. See them here: https://rheasslavicadventures.com/2020/11/19/the-golden-cockerel-a-russian-fairy-tale

Om Podcasten

Baba Yaga. Vasilisa the Beautiful. Ivan Tsarevich. Veles. Koschei the Deathless. Boginka. Kikimora. Domovoy. Vodyanoy. The Firebird. Ded Moroz. Snegurochka. Vampir. And, of course, the Tsars. These are just a few absolutely iconic characters from Slavic folklore. And with this podcast, Slavic Fairy Tales, they will become your most loved heroes and your most notorious enemies, regular figures in your imagination and the stars of your dreams. I’m your host, Rhea Kapur, a student absolutely enchanted by the Russian language and Slavic culture. I’ll be reading you all kinds of Slavic stories, passed down through the generations by babushka after babushka, told in a fiery pechka or as a little rebyonechek snuggles into bed. We’ll hear the tales of Russia, Poland, Serbia, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine, Croatia, Macedonia, and more, all with a little cultural context tidbit at the end of each show. So, every Wednesday night, grab a soft blanket, dim the lights, get cozy, and let your mind travel into the story. Check out rheasslavicadventures.com/slavic-fairy-tales-podcast for more. До скорого, Рая!