Rodyon Shchedrin's opera "The Enchanted Wanderer" is a musical journey into the depths of the Russian soul, where the heroic and tragic, the spiritual and mundane intertwine into a single sonic fabric. The poignant score, rich in folk themes, creates a rare effect of empathy and catharsis. "The Enchanted Wanderer" is a story about a man who has traveled the path from freedom to monastery, from wild strength to repentance. The basis for the libretto is a tale by Nikolai Leskov, in which cruelty coexists with kindness, faith with recklessness, and humility with fury. Shchedrin interprets the work as an "opera for the concert stage," transforming it into a parable that lacks traditional operatic dramaturgy. Three soloists simultaneously play roles and act as narrators, as if retelling an ancient epic. In their voices, a folk intonation resonates, and the musical fabric combines ancient Russian chant, village melodies, and gypsy romance. The composer uses the sound palette with utmost inventiveness-from recorders and gusli to thunderous percussion. Shchedrin creates music not only from notes but also from pauses: here, the shades of silence are important-from anxious to lullaby-like. The poster for St. Petersburg is available on KudaGo.