Act II
On the eve of the Battle of Borodino
Getting ready for the battle of Borodino, militiamen are building a redoubt. The troops are being brought in. Lieutenant-Colonel Denisov, looking for Field-Marshal Kutuzov, meets Prince Andrei and tells him about his plan of a partisan campaign at the enemy’s rear. Prince Andrei, on meeting Denisov, who had once proposed to the fifteen-year-old Natasha Rostova, is carried back by both sweet and sad memories. Pierre Bezukhov arrives on the battlefield to see the battle for himself. He distracts Prince Andrei from his gloomy thoughts about Natasha’s breach of their engagement and the death of his father. “The burning of Smolensk and its abandonment formed an epoch in Prince Andrei’s life. A novel feeling of anger against the enemy have made him forget his own sorrow. He was entirely devoted to the affairs of his regiment and was considerate and kind to his men and officers.” In the regiment they called him “our prince”, they were proud of him and they loved him. Field-Marshal Kutuzov appears, warmly welcomed by all. “A wonderful, a matchless people,” he says. “The beast will be mortally wounded by all of Russia’s might, it will be driven out of our sacred land.”
The Shevardino Redoubt during the Battle of Borodino
Napoleon, encircled by his marshals is watching the course of the battle from the Shevardino Redoubt. In his dreams he already imagines Moscow captured, a deputation with the keys of the great city. But instead of glad tidings about their victory, news about killed and wounded generals arrives from all sides; messengers of the French commanders come to Napoleon one after another to ask for reinforcements. Napoleon has a presentiment of impending catastrophe.
A Council of War in Fili
Field-Marshal Kutuzov is holding a council of war in Fili. Should they risk the loss of the army and the fall of Moscow, fighting from disadvantageous positions, or retreat from the capital and save the army, and with it the hopes for a successful outcome to the war? Having heard the views of Bennigsen, Barclay de Tolly, Yermolov and Rayevsky, Kutuzov issues the order to retreat to protect the army and Russia’s well-being “The enemy will not be in Moscow for long. This will be their last victory.”
A street in Moscow, occupied by the French
Moscow is deserted, abandoned by its residents. The deputation with the keys of the city awaited by Napoleon has not arrived. Pierre has remained in Moscow “to meet Napoleon and kill him, either to perish or put an end to the misery of all Europe.” Pierre learns from the Rostov family’s chatelaine that the Rostovs have left Moscow. At Natasha’s insistence, the wounded soldiers staying in their mansion have been taken with them. It is concealed from her, however, that Prince Andrei is among them. Moscow burns. A group of prisoners accused of starting fires are led in by French soldiers. Among them are Pierre Bezukhov and Platon Karatayev, a wounded soldier taken by the French from a hospital. Fulfilling Marshal Davoût’s order, the French soldiers execute several Russians by firing squad. The fire becomes increasingly intense. The compassionate Muscovites gather around a group of madmen coming out of the hospital. The panic-stricken artistes of the French theatre flee. Napoleon and his suite are making their way through smoke. He marvels at the courage of the Russians.
A gloomy peasant hut in the village of Mytishchi
The heavily wounded Prince Andrei is lying in a peasant hut at Mytishchi. His anxious thoughts about the destiny of his homeland and Moscow, about Natasha are affected by delirium. When Andrei sees Natasha entering the hut, he takes her for one of his visions. But on being convinced that before him is the “real, living and breathing” Natasha, Prince Andrei confesses his love to her. Natasha, both happy and suffering, begs him for forgiveness. But Prince Andrei’s strength leaves him. Again he begins to rave, and Natasha feels with horror the life of her beloved passing away with the end of his delirium.
The Smolensk road during a blizzard.
Groups of exhausted people are staggering along the Smolensk road. These are the remains of Napoleon’s army, shamefully retreating from Moscow. Many of the French soldiers are to find their deaths on the snowbound Russian land. The regular troops of the Russian Army led by Field-Marshal Kutuzov are arriving. He congratulates all on the victory, “The enemy has been beaten... Russia is saved!”
