Libretto by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, based on Friedrich Schiller's eponymous tragedy translated by Vasily Zhukovsky and Jules Barbier's Jeanne d'Arc 

Musical director: People's Artist of the Republic of Bashkortostan Artem Makarov

Director: People's Artist of the Russian Federation, laureate of the State Prizes of the Russian Federation Georgiy Isaakyan

Chorus master: People's Artist of Belarus, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus Nina Lomanovich

Designer: Alexey Tregubov

Lighting designer: Honoured Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation Irina Vtornikova

Conductors: Vitali Hryshchanka, Vladimir Ovodok

Sung in Russian with Russian and English surtitles

Premiere: 17 and 18 June 2025

Act I

Production plot

In a modern French town, the birthplace of Joan of Arc, celebrations in honour of the saint take place. The townspeople gather in the cathedral to watch the mystery of Joan’s life.

Opera plot

Village girls have gathered in the square in front of the church, near the cherished oak tree. Forgetting about the troubles that have befallen France, they sing carefree songs and decorate the tree with wreaths. This inopportune merriment annoys old Thibaut, Joan’s father. He is preoccupied with thoughts of the terrible disasters threatening the people, and the fate of his daughter. Thibaut wishes to keep Joan safe and decides to marry her to Raymond, who he sees as a reliable protector. The girl opposes her father's decision, declaring that she has been given a mission by God.

Alarm bells sound. With shouts and tears, peasants run from all sides to the village, driven by the enemy from their homes. Old peasant Bertrand tells about the fall of Paris and the siege of Orléans by the mysterious and invincible British leader Salisbury. The city is in danger.

Smitten with fear, the people pray for salvation.

Production plot

During the mystery, which tells about the life of Joan, a girl from among the audience suddenly addresses the audience with the texts of St. Joan, urging them to realize the heroic feat that was accomplished centuries ago. General confusion reigns.

Opera plot

A messenger runs in and announces that the formidable enemy has fallen in battle near Orléans. A solemn anthem is played.

Production plot

Left alone, Joan offers up a prayer to heaven and hears the voices of angels calling her to a feat.

Act II

Production plot

The girl Joan, consumed with thoughts of Joan of Arc’s feat, wanders around the town; pictures of the past come to her mind.

Opera plot

In the Château de Chinon, Charles VII is being entertained by a chorus of minstrels,  forgetting about everything.  The Dauphin's situation is so bad that he has nothing to pay for their service: the treasury is empty. The expected fall of Orléans threatens total ruin. Knight Dunois tries to awaken royal ambition and sympathy for the suffering fatherland in vain. Neither exhortations nor the frightening prospect of death and disgrace can bring Charles back to his royal duties. He is completely consumed by his love for Agnès, a love that has paralyzed his will and aspirations. 

Knight Lauret appears, mortally wounded in battle. He begs Charles to hurry to his regiments and, having lost his last strength, dies at his feet. Frightened by the unexpected incident, Charles finally loses heart and orders his courtiers to prepare for flight. Hearing this, Dunois renounces the service of such a king and leaves to die with honour defending Orléans. Only Agnès consoles Charles and promises to share with him the sorrows and torments that have befallen him.

Production plot

Once again, as during the mystery in the cathedral, Joan hears voices.

Opera plot

Unexpectedly, trumpet sounds and shouts of the people are heard. Dunois returns, accompanied by the archbishop and the courtiers.

Charles is informed of the victory of the French army and the flight of the enemy. The archbishop confirms the story of the "glorious maid" who, at a critical moment, has snatched victory from the hands of the English.

Production plot

Joan finds herself at an exhibition dedicated to the history of France, and, seeing wax figures of King Charles and characters of historical events, enters into an internal dialogue with them.

Opera plot

Accompanied by the knights and a crowd of people, Joan of Arc arrives at the castle and tells the king about the will of heaven that she has perceived: she will become an instrument for the liberation of her native country. Charles is happy and puts Joan at the head of the entire army.

Act III

Scene 1

Production plot

Joan hides from her classmates in a deserted university gym. A crowd of students appears and makes fun of her. One of them stands up for the girl, and the young people fall in love.

Opera plot

On the battlefield, Joan of Arc encounters Lionel, a Burgundian knight, who has betrayed his homeland. A heated fight ensues between them. She disarms the knight and raises her sword over the doomed man's head, but, conquered by his beauty, lowers her weapon and offers her enemy to flee. Lionel is moved and surprised by her generosity. Tormented by the thought of her broken vow, Joan is in despair. The recent enemy is filled with sympathy for the girl's grief, and love awakens in his soul. Lionel decides to stay and go over to the side of his compatriots. He solemnly gives his sword to Dunois, who has come to the rescue of Joan.

Production plot

In the same gym, the townspeople gather to attend a student performance dedicated to another event in the life of Joan of Arc – the coronation in Reims. During the performance, Joan loses consciousness.

Opera plot

A noisy celebration takes place in front of Reims Cathedral: the jubilant people, who have defended their fatherland, glorify the king and Joan of Arc. Thibault stands sullen in the merry crowd. Suspecting the devil's aid in her fantastic deeds, Joan's father intends to save his daughter’s soul, even at the cost of her life.

The king ascends the throne to addresses the people and thank them for the return of the crown. He declares Joan the savior of the fatherland and orders an altar to be erected for her. Thibault, who unexpectedly emerges from the crowd, accuses his daughter of dealing with the forces of hell and demands that she publicly prove her innocence. When asked if she considers herself holy and pure, Joan, who finds her love for Lionel criminal, keeps silent. Outraged by the doubt that has seized the people and the knights, Dunois takes up his sword to prove the falsity of the terrible accusation, but at that moment, a thunderclap is heard. The frightened people retreat from the heroine in fear, prophesying her inevitable punishment from heaven. Lionel vows to protect her, but Joan, who is deeply depressed, drives him away.

Scene 2

Production plot

After a nervous breakdown at the performance, Joan ends up in a clinic. Here she is visited by her father and her friend, whom she still calls Lionel.

Opera plot

Slandered by her father, abandoned by the people, forgotten by the king, Joan of Arc indulges in heavy thoughts about her right to happiness. The thought that she is the "leader of salvation and victories" prevents her from experiencing love, and yet Joan is unable to cope with her feelings. When she sees her beloved looking for her, she rushes to him, and they ardently and passionately confess their love for each other.

A detachment of English soldiers rushes in. Trying to protect Joan, Lionel dies in a fight with them; the girl stretches out her hands to the enemies, who immediately put chains on them.

Scene 3

Production plot

Joan leaves the hospital and returns to the cathedral to attend the mystery about the burning of St. Joan. At the climax, the girl herself ascends the theatrical bonfire, trying to feel what Joan went through.

Opera plot

A bonfire is built in a square in Rouen. Crowds of people surround the place of the impending execution. Shouts of curses are heard far and near. When Joan appears, there are also cries of sympathy.

Seeing the fire, Joan loses her presence of mind for a moment, but quickly regains control and asks for a cross. The murmur of the people becomes clearer, as the people doubt the guilt of the maid, and indignation at the impending brutal execution is growing.

The priest blesses the heroine. The executioner lights the fire.

The proud and strong Joan of Arc, turning all her thoughts to heaven, accepts death with dignity and humility.