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The action takes place in St Petersburg

Act I

The barber Ivan Iakovlevitch shaves Collegiate Assessor Platon Kuzmitch Kovalov, a pompous bureaucrat who complains that the barber’s hands stink. At home the next morning, Ivan Iakovlevitch wakes up with a headache, while his wife Praskovya Ossipovna is baking bread. To his horror Ivan Iakovlevitch discovers a nose embedded in the dough. His wife scolds him for drunkenness and many other crimes, and orders him out to get rid of the nose.

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Ivan Iakovlevitch desperately looks for a place where he can throw the nose away, only to be confronted by the District Police Inspector, who demands to know what he is doing.

Kovalov wakes up with a hangover, next to his servant Ivan. He worries about a pimple that he felt on his nose the day before. He is shocked when he notices that his nose is missing. His disbelief turns to horror as he realizes that he is awake, not dreaming, and he quickly leaves to find the Chief of Police.

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At a memorial service in Kazan Cathedral, Kovalov comes across his Nose; but all his attempts to convince the Nose that it belongs to him are unsuccessful. Ultimately Kovalov finds himself brutally laughed at by the whole funeral party.

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Act II

Kovalov fails to find the Chief of Police and goes to the Newspaper Office. There, a Countess’s footman orders a bored Newspaper Office Clerk to place an advert offering a hundred rubles for the return of the Countess’s dog. Kovalov, constantly trying to cover his face, orders the Clerk to place an advertisement for the return of his nose, but no one takes him seriously and the Clerk suggests that he see a doctor. Kovalov

reveals his missing nose, to the excitement of the Clerk, who realizes that this could be an interesting story for the paper. He offers a pinch of snuff to Kovalov, who loses his temper as the Clerks simultaneously declaim advertisements.

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Back at Kovalov’s apartment, his servant Ivan sings a romantic folksong. Kovalov returns in a bad mood, and Ivan makes himself scarce. Kovalov collapses in self-pity.

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Act III

A motley, boozy party has come together: the District Police Inspector attempts to muster and post his recalcitrant men. Friends Ivan Ivanovitch and Pyotr Fyodorovitch exchange

pleasantries. Two children accompanied by their father say farewell to their mother, while an Old Countess predicts her own death, to the disquiet of her servants. A young lady arrives

and distracts the policemen. When the Nose appears, the scene gets out of hand: the revellers catch the Nose and are about to lynch it when it is suddenly returned to its normal size.

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The District Police Inspector returns the Nose to Kovalov at his apartment. He drops hints about reward money, which Kovalov reluctantly provides. Kovalov struggles unsuccessfully to stick his nose back on his face. He calls for the Doctor, who is equally unsuccessful. Kovalov decides that he must be the victim of the witchcraft of Madame Pelageya Grigoryevna Podtotshina, who wants him to marry her daughter. His friend

Iaryshkin suggests that he write to her and settle the matter.

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When Kovalov’s letter arrives, Madame Podtotshina and her daughter immediately respond with their own letter.

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As more and more people want to catch a peep at the Nose and the man who has lost it, the police only narrowly manage to prevent heavy riots. Suddenly Kovalov’s nose is back in place. He is full of joy. Ivan Iakovlevitch comes to shave him and the two exchange pleasantries – although the barber’s hands

still stink.

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Finally Kovalov can present himself jauntily again in public. He meets Madame Podtotshina and her daughter, who invite him to lunch, and he fantasizes about being able to flirt with women again. Then he decides to have a meal – but his adventures are not over yet…

Ulrich Lenz