Levsha

Musical comedy in two acts by Vladimir Dmitriev

Based on the story of the same name by Nikolay Leskov
Libretto — Vladimir Konstantinov and Boris Ratzer
Director — honoured artist of Russia Alexander Isakov
Musical leader and conductor — honoured worker of arts of Russia Vladimir Popov
Art-designer — Irina Dolgova
Ballet master — Nikolay Reutov

Full of fantasy and grotesque, sparkling with folk humor the story of person of natural gifts from Tula, who could excel Englishman in boldness and involution of his artistic fantasy, is skillfully stylized by Russian writer to the folk legend. 
Composer Vladimir Dmitriev already in 1974 wrote music to the staging of “Levsha”, created by famous playwrights Vladimir Konstantinov and Boris Ratzer. This is bright, surprisingly lyric story instantly became really popular. It revived the genre of Russian popular balagan performance – marry, ironic and always a little bit sad. 
“Levsha” is a story about “small great people”, about unenviable fate of a talent in bureaucratic Russia. What only this skilled craftsman can do with his hands! But he is so unprotected in the conditions of unruly autocracy of stupid tsar’s officials! It is strikingly how this person of natural gifts, without having beneficial conditions for development his talent like foreign masters have, could surprise the world by shoeing a flea! And also he put his signature on horseshoes! Surprised and that’s enough! Now everybody forgot about him, threw out as not wanted – and he is not needed by anyone except his beloved Mashka.