The opening of the 19th season
12.08.2008
TO THE OPENING OF THE 19th SEASON IN HELIKON-OPERA
On the 12th of August the meeting of the troupe took place in Helikon in Arbat, where the totals of the 18th season were summed up and the plans for the 19th season were announced.
THEATRE’S LIFE IN FIGURES
169 performances (27 titles) were played last season. Among them
1 premiere – “Le Nozze di Figaro” by W. A. Mozart
4 renewed performances – “Aida”, “The Snow Queen”, “Lulu” and “Les Contes d’ Hoffmann”.
26 concerts were given, including the one to the jubilee of Eldar Ryazanov and to the 18th birthday of Helikon-Opera.
The troupe of the theatre is still the youngest in the country, the average age of the artists is 30-35 years. The makers-up apply only age-specific make up.
The tense work schedule didn't influence personal happiness. Two weddings were played last season: Konstantin Chudovsky and Elizaveta Ageyeva, as well as Alexey Dedov and Maya Barkovskaya became husbands and wives.
Performances-record-holders of the last season
“The Queen of Spades”- “a long-liver” – 15 years on stage!
The renewal of “Lulu” after a two year break.
“Les Contes d’Hoffmann” is the best-selling performance!
Tours of the last season
12 tours were accomplished – 4 along Russia and 8 abroad.
“Il Barbiere di Siviglia” was shown in Spain and Cyprus, “Boris Godunov” and “Lady Macbeth…” were shown at Eva Marton’s “Bartok+” festival in Hungary.
The best tours – Italy, Sicily island, Catania, a joint production of “The Tsar’s Bride” together with Massimo Bellini theatre, Paris with “Aida” and “Vec Makropoulos” performances and Khanty-Mansiysk with “Kaffeekantate”, “Siberia”, “Il Barbiere di Siviglia”, “The Tsar’s Bride”, “Gershwin-gala”.
The most difficult tour – Ivanovo with “The Tsar’s Bride”.
Went down in history
Audio CD of “Boris Godunov” by M. P. Moussorgsky (D. D. Shostakovich edition) was released for the first time in the world.
The acquisitions
13 people joined the troupe – 6 soloists, 3 artists of the orchestra, 4 artists of the choir.
Today’s cast of the troupe is 283 people.
Titles
2 artists – Ksenia Viaznikova and Sergey Toptygin were awarded with “The Honoured Artist of Russia” title.
THE UPCOMING 19th SEASON
Premieres
Theatre will open its new season with the premiere of “Rasputin” opera by American composer Jay Reise (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th October). The journalists will see the new performance on the 29th September. Jay Reise is expected to visit the premiere.
The world’s premiere of Rasputin took place on the 17th September 1988 on stage of New York City Opera. Its music was called “beautiful and bewitching” (The Washington Times).
“The historical truth about that man, doesn’t worry me, because we won't know it until The Judgement Day,” says Dmitry Bertman, ”My attitude to him is not important. It is important to show from what and from whom the history of the nation sometimes depends on”. Helikon-Opera warns: for every regent there is his own Rasputin.
In October 2008 with the help of “Uralsib” company the theatre begins its work upon the big project, David Tukhmanov’s opera “Tsarina”. This is a charity project of “Uralsib” and “Meta” fund. The premiere will be held on the 10th of July 2009 in Saint-Petersburg.
Opera has never been staged, it has just been written, All troupe of “Helikon-Opera” participates in this project, but there are also stars engaged. One of them is People’s Artist of USSR Elena Obraztsova.
High Invitations
“Helikon-Opera” will perform “Traviata” (2 performances) on stage of UNS theatre in Baku in January2009.
Upon the invitation of the governor of Khanty-Mansiysk autonomic region Alexander Philipenko “Helikon-Opera” is starting a longstanding joint project together with Concert Theatre Hall “Yugra-Classic”.
In January 2009 the first creative “change” will happen. “Helikon” will perform “The Snow Queen” in Khanty-Mansiysk, and the Siberians will show “The Snow Maiden” ethno performance in Moscow.
For the end of 2009 the joint production of “Dunaevsky-gala” is planned.
Festivals
In March 2009 the theatre will participate in Al Bustan festival in Beirut for the 12th time. This time Lebanon will perform “Les Dialogues des Carmelites”. The theatre will also give the concert of choral music.
Jubilees
In the beginning of August 2009 the theatre will go to Tallinn (Estonia) to participate in jubilee celebrations on the occasion of 70th year anniversary of the big friend of “Helikon-Opera” Eri Klaas. Maestro’s birthday will be marked by two productions of one-act operas “Gianni Schicchi” and “Suor Angelica”. “Helikon-Opera” will also bring its other performances to Estonia.
Days of culture
In October 2008 the theatre will participate in the Days of Russian Culture in Bulgaria with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Russia. “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” and “Boris Godunov” will be shown.
Moscow International House of Music
The new season the theatre is going to play “Nabucco” and “Gershwin-gala” on the Big Stage of Moscow International House of Music. The series of concerts of Helikon-Opera soloists in the context of Mikhail Egiazaryan’s project “The Gift of Singing Soul” will take place in chamber hall of the House.
Reconstruction
The sore point. The theatre will still held the 19th season in Novy Arbat, meanwhile expecting the order for its own building. In summer 2008 Yuri Luzhkov visited the building site, and following his visit the works were liven up.
In present the placing of reinforced concrete poling and fortification of the foundation is made. The restoration works are taking place inside the building. The works on constructing the trench in theatre’s yard will start in October. It should turn into a new stage with the hall for 550 seats. As the result of reconstruction the squares of the theatre will be increased from 3,5 thousands square meters to 11 thousands square meters.
They promise that the object will be ready in the end of 2010.
We hope and believe!