The Russian surrealist comedy opera!

Shostakovich's surrealist opera returns to the Royal Opera House this October, based on the satirical story by Nicolai Gogel that put St Petersberg firmly on the literary map. The Nose follows the hilarious struggles of Russian civil servant Major Kovalyov, who wakes up one morning without a nose! Upon his search for the errant appendage, he becomes embroiled in a desperate struggle with the authorities as the mischievous body part harbours a higher station than its owner!

Although based during the time of Tzarist Russia, the work was only finished and performed in 1930, by which time the revolution was 13 years old, and Soviet values firmly disapproved of works that portrayed the country's past frivolities. It wasn't until the 1960s that Shostakovich's talent for wit was rediscovered, and the opera making a triumphant return. This production is conducted by Ingo Metzmacher, with a fresh new translation provided by David Pountney.