The table sculpture “Volkhova” was created in 1959 in honor of the 1100th anniversary of Novgorod. It features a girl in a long dress with a natural look — the bottom is dark green, trimmed by the images of grass and algae, and the top is sky blue. On her head is a crown with pendants made of small pearls and starfish.
The name of the table sculpture — “Volkhova” — referred to an old Novgorod epic story about the gusli-player Sadko and the opera of the same name composed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. The old story was transmitted orally from one generation to another, so there were several versions of the plot. For his opera, Korsakov decided to combine several plots of the epic in one piece of work instead of choosing only one version.
According to the plot, the main character came to the houses of the rich, where Novgorod merchants were feasting. They were discussing their savings and power, and Sadko rebuked them for their idle talks. The hosts of the evening did not like it, so they made him leave.
Then Sadko came to the deserted shore of Lake Ilmen and began to play a sad melody on the gusli. At this time, the water was stirred, and Sadko saw a group of swans swimming towards the shore in his direction. They turned into beautiful maidens and went ashore — among them was the princess Volkhova, the daughter of the Sea King. She liked Sadko’s songs, predicted that the musician would become wealthy and happy, and promised that he would catch three goldfish that lived in the lake.
Sadko went back to the city and decided to bet with the merchants that he could catch goldfish — the merchants laughed, but agreed to bet. The gusli musician threw a net into the water and immediately pulled it out with three fish. This is how Sadko became the richest man in Novgorod. He decided to go and trade abroad — he gathered companions, bought goods, and set off on his way.
During one of his trips, a storm began, and the ship stopped in the middle of the sea. The Novgorod people realized that the Sea King was asking for tribute. The crew tried to pay him off: they threw barrels of gold and silver into the water, but it did not help. Then, after drawing lots, Sadko went underwater, and the Sea King took him captive to the bottom. There, the main character played the gusli and danced for the King until the Mighty Elder Warrior appeared and started a storm.
At that moment, Sadko and the king’s daughter Volkhova escaped to the surface. She left the musician on the shore and turned into the Volkhov river, which flows out of Lake Ilmen.
The name of the table sculpture — “Volkhova” — referred to an old Novgorod epic story about the gusli-player Sadko and the opera of the same name composed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. The old story was transmitted orally from one generation to another, so there were several versions of the plot. For his opera, Korsakov decided to combine several plots of the epic in one piece of work instead of choosing only one version.
According to the plot, the main character came to the houses of the rich, where Novgorod merchants were feasting. They were discussing their savings and power, and Sadko rebuked them for their idle talks. The hosts of the evening did not like it, so they made him leave.
Then Sadko came to the deserted shore of Lake Ilmen and began to play a sad melody on the gusli. At this time, the water was stirred, and Sadko saw a group of swans swimming towards the shore in his direction. They turned into beautiful maidens and went ashore — among them was the princess Volkhova, the daughter of the Sea King. She liked Sadko’s songs, predicted that the musician would become wealthy and happy, and promised that he would catch three goldfish that lived in the lake.
Sadko went back to the city and decided to bet with the merchants that he could catch goldfish — the merchants laughed, but agreed to bet. The gusli musician threw a net into the water and immediately pulled it out with three fish. This is how Sadko became the richest man in Novgorod. He decided to go and trade abroad — he gathered companions, bought goods, and set off on his way.
During one of his trips, a storm began, and the ship stopped in the middle of the sea. The Novgorod people realized that the Sea King was asking for tribute. The crew tried to pay him off: they threw barrels of gold and silver into the water, but it did not help. Then, after drawing lots, Sadko went underwater, and the Sea King took him captive to the bottom. There, the main character played the gusli and danced for the King until the Mighty Elder Warrior appeared and started a storm.
At that moment, Sadko and the king’s daughter Volkhova escaped to the surface. She left the musician on the shore and turned into the Volkhov river, which flows out of Lake Ilmen.
