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| | Arts Calendar / June 14 / Opera |
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 Opera in three acts to music by Anton Rubinstein. Libretto by Pavel Viskovatov based on the poem of the same name by Mikhail Lermontov. Music Director: Artyom Abashev. Stage Director, Set Designer: Vladislavs Nastavsevs. Costume Designers: Vladislavs Nastavevs, Maya Mayer. Sung in Russian with English surtitles. Lermontov's poem was banned as sacrilegious until 1860. Its popularity and its lurid story made it an excellent candidate for an opera libretto, and Rubinstein himself worked out the scenario from which Viskovatov produced the final text. The opera was premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, on 25 January 1875, conducted by Eduard Napravnik. The stage design was by Mikhayil Bocharov, Matvey Shishkov, and Lagorio. The Moscow premiere was in 1879 at the Bolshoi Theatre, conducted by Enrico Bevignani. The opera was published by V. Bessel and Co., St. Petersburg, in 1876. A further edition was in 1968 by Muzgiz, Moscow. Storm. Everything on earth is frozen and waiting for its Lord. The Demon appears. He is expelled from paradise, cursed by God and people, he can find no peace anywhere. The Demon hates the whole world. The Angel persuades the Demon to repent – then he, the apostate, will be forgiven. But is the dubious heavenly bliss worth sacrificing freedom and struggle, without which the Demon sees no value in life? The Demon rejects the idea of reconciliation...
Bolshoi Theater New Stage  |
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