Kitezh: The Invisible City Beneath the Waves

In his third series for The Essay, composer Erland Cooper turns his attention once again to the mythical world. This time, he embarks on five imaginary journeys to cities. Accompanying him are writers, academics and storytellers who know all about these legendary locations. Each episode is scored by Erland's own music.

In this episode, we journey into the dense forests of central Russia to uncover the legend of Kitezh. Known as the "invisible city," Kitezh is said to have vanished beneath the pearl-shaped waters of Lake Svetloyar to escape marauding medieval invaders. According to legend, God "disappeared" the city in response to the prayers of its righteous citizens, leaving the attackers to find nothing but an empty lakeshore. Accompanying Erland is Dr. Jane Costlow, an expert in Russian literature and culture, to discuss how this mythical city became a vital spiritual refuge.

Producer: Victoria Ferran
Exec producer: Susan Marling
A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 3