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| | Arts Calendar / June 10 / Opera |
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 Opera by Modest Musorgsky. Original edition by Dmitry Shostakovich. 145 min (with intermission). Stage Director: Dmitry Bertman. Music Director: Vladimir Ponkin. Sung in Russian. The action of "Boris Godunov" opera takes place in the Troubled (Smuta) times, when after the death of Ivan the Terrible the epidemy of imposture began. The thirst for unlimited power became the common disease. "Boris Godunov" is one of the best famous repertoire Russian operas and also the absolute champion in number of editions, which it is performed in. M. Mussorgsky left two author editions, and N. Rimsky-Korsakov five (!!!) different versions. In 100th anniversary since birth of D. Shostakovich "Helikon-Opera" turns to the edition made by him in 1940 on demand of Bolshoy Theatre. After Shostakovich began a new orchestrating of Musorgsky's clavier, he partly became a co-author. The destiny of this edition was uneasy. The premiere took place in Kirovsky theatre of Leningrad in 1960 only. This edition can be heard very seldom, because it is very complicated for performing. The whole troupe of "Helikon-Opera" is engaged in this performance, first of all, the unique team of basses.
Helikon Opera  |
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 12:00, 19:00. Pyotr Tchaikovsky's opera in two acts. 160 min (with interval). Symphonic suite Nutcracker is performed as part of the production. Libretto by Modest Tchaikovsky after “King Ren’s Daughter” by Heinrich Hertz. Sung in Russian with English surtitles. Music Director: Anton Grishanin. Stage Director: Sergey Zhenovach. Designer: Alexander Borovsky. Iolanta and Nutcracker were commissioned from Tchaikovsky by the Mariinsky Theatre management. It is thought that the idea of uniting the one-act opera and two-act ballet into a single production to be shown on the same evening originated with the then director of the Imperial Theatres Ivan Vsevolozhsky. In July 1891 Tchaikovsky began composing the music for Iolanta, starting off with the Iolanta and Vaudemont duet. He was full of enthusiasm. The composer wrote to his brother Modest: "I'm in love more than ever with the subject of Iolanta, and your libretto is quite perfect… Oh yes, I will write an opera such that the audiences will weep". The production is by Sergey Zhenovach, the artistic director of The Theatre Art Studio, and an acknowledged ma?tre of giving major works of literature a new lease of life on stage. Working with him on the production were his permanent co-authors: scenographer Alexander Borovsky and lighting designer Damir Ismagilov.
Bolshoi Theater New Stage |
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