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| | Arts Calendar / May 1 / Opera |
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 Opera in three acts to music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Libretto by Viktor Burenin based on Alexander Pushkin’s poem Poltava. Music Director: Tugan Sokhiev. Stage Director: Evg?ny Pisarev. Set Designer: Zinovy Margolin. Opera is based on Pushkin’s poem Poltava where personal drama is intertwined with critical events of Peter the Great period. The story reaches culmination on narrative about Poltava battle and it provides rich material. The fact is that Tchaikovsky is alien to a ‘grand style’ – thus it is needless to expect such a style of Peter I and Charles XII parts in Mazeppa. What attract composer primarily are characters feelings, emergence and the dynamics of the conflict. Moral aspect of Mazeppa was essential for Pushkin – ‘insidious evil’ he called him: betrayal of Peter I and revenge to Kochubei. Tchaikovsky follows Pushkin's interpretation and does not idealize Mazeppa; however, his hero is more complex and multi-sided. The ability to bend people to his will, backbone for reaching specific goal, authority and ruthlessness, intensity of the feelings – contradictory traits of hetman are revealed in the opera to the fullest. Lyrical aria ‘Oh, Mariya’, which became most popular, was created later (due to request of first Mazeppa performer – Bogomir Korsov). Aria organically completes the image.
Bolshoi Theater  |
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 Spring tale in four acts with prologue by Alexander Ostrovsky to music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Music Director: Ivan Nikiforchin. Stage Director: Alexei Dubrovsky; Set and Costume Designer: Maria Utrobina; Lighting Designer: Damir Ismagilov. Sixteen years ago, Spring Beauty and Frost gave birth to a daughter, Snegurochka the Snow Maiden, and since then the angry solar god Yarilo has not been giving the Earth enough light and warmth. The Wood-Sprite heralds the approach of Spring Beauty. Surrounded by an escort of birds, she descends. The birds sing and dance to keep warm. The forest is covered with snow, the land is cold. Frost appears. It's time for him to leave the country of the Berendeys. But who will protect his child? After all, Yarilo is just waiting for an opportunity to ignite the fatal fire of love in the girl’s heart. The parents decide to send their daughter to the Berendey settlement in the care of the childless Bobyl Bakula and his wife Bobylikha. The Snow Maiden is happy: she has long been attracted to people by the wonderful songs of the shepherd Lel. Spring and Frost entrust the Wood-Sprite to guard his daughter.
Bolshoi Theater New Stage |
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