In November and December 2015 the visitors of Mariinsky Theatre can see works of one of the Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin.
On the 5th of November the Retrospective starts with the newest opera of the composer – The Left Hander. The opera plot comes from a well-known novel by Nikolai Leskov – "A tale of the Left-Hander and the Steel Flee". Rodion Shchedrin composed this opera to the 60th Jubilee of Valery Gergiev and the opening of the new Stage of Mariinsky Theatre 2013.
Only one day later, on the 6th of November Valery Gergiev presents the audience the very first ballet of the composer – "The Humpbacked Horse", written 1956 for Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. One of the most promising modern Choreographers – Alexei Ratmansky made the choreography for this new but still loved by many piece. Further events follow on the 8th and 29th of November and on the 01st of December 2015.
7th of November is commemorated with the opera “The Dead Souls” after the novel by Nikolai Gogol. The Premiere of the opera took place on June 7, 1977 under the conduction of Yury Temirkanov and stage director Boris Pokrovsky. The team under the young stage director Vasily Barkhatov brought the opear back to life. Theatre critics and visitors of Mariinsky loved the staging after the very first performance. 2012 the opera was nominated in 8 categories for the biggest Russian award “The Golden Mask” and could take one of them for the best work of staging designer. The audience can be assured this evening they can see a prizewinner.
The retrospective goes forth with the ballet “Carmen” on 3 evenings – 17th and 25th of November and the 3rd of December. The ballet was written by Shchedrin 1967 for his wife and one of the most wellknown ballet dancers of the XXth century – Maya Plisetskaya. The choreographer Alberto Alonso from Cuba made a modern and vivid staging. He made a bright, colorful and unforgettable picture of Maya Plisetskaya in a role of a roman Carmen whose tragic destiny is so devastating because her love to Jose – a soldier. Alonso has some symbolic distinguishing features in comparison to the opera of Bizet or the Novel of Prosper Merime. The choreographer puts the leading characters in an arena for corrida, thus enlarging the passion and movement of the dancers. One have to note that “Carmen Suite” is one of the most played orchestra works of Rodion Shchedrin today.
On the 12th and 13th of December the Theatre presents the next ballet of Rodion Shchedrin “Anna Karenina”. In addition, this ballet was dedicated to Maya Plisetskaya, who not only danced the leading role but made the choreography to this piece as well. The premiere 1971 was not very easy, but after the first performance with astounding success, Bolshoi staged the ballet 103 times until 1985. 1974 there was TV production of the ballet. Polen National Opera Warsaw presents the ballet in Mariinsky Theatre in choreography of Alexei Ratmansky. In the title role the audience will see Victoria Tereshkina and Valery Gergiev behind the conductor’s desk.
The retrospective ends with the choir opera “Boyarinya Morozova” on the 16th December 2015. Rodion Shchedirn wrote the piece 2006. The libretto of Rodion Shchedrin bases on “The Life of the Archpriest Avvakum by himself” and “The Life of Boyarina Morozova”. 2008 the label of Schott Music – Wergo made the recording of the piece. The CD won one of the most prestigious German Awards “Echo Klassik”. The instrumentation of Trumpet in C, kettledrums and percussion supports the choir and 4 soloist who play the leading role in this breathtaking opera. The work shall be a recollection for all of us about the tragical religious conflicts of our time.