The world's premiere of the author's edition of "Prince Igor" opera by A. P. Borodin

15.03.2011

The world's premiere of the author's edition of "Prince Igor" opera by A. P. Borodin

A joint project of "Helikon-Opera" and State Central Museum of Musical Culture named after M. Glinka

On the 1st of April "Helikon-Opera" theatre will perform the world's premiere of the author's edition of "Prince Igor" opera by A. P. Borodin on stage of Svetlanovsky Hall of Moscow International House of Music (concert version).

"Prince Igor" is a famous proverbial work. However since its first premiere in 1890 it is known in N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov and A. Glazunov edition. After Borodin's death they finished and orchestrated unfinished opera, they created a logical and, what was important, acceptable version for censorship. But almost a quarter of the musical material doesn't belong to Borodin. And a large part of the material, created by A. Borodin, was not performed and was never later included to any of the editions. The part which was performed and which is published up to present survived lots of changes. In the 1940-ies a musical expert Pavel Lamm, who by then had returned to life the real “Boris Godunov” by M. P. Moussorgsky, restored the clavier and fragments of score of the real “Prince Igor”, according to Borodin’s manuscripts. But his work was never demanded…

Finally, “Prince Igor” will be performed the way it was written by Alexander Borodin, as a whole from the first to the last note. For the first time, the spectators will hear the scenes, which were never performed before, besides many famous arias and characters will look different. Prince Igor will be more tragical, his matchmaker Konchak – younger and more venturesome, Galitsky – more solid, Konchakovna – more hot-tempered, Yaroslavna is more strong and courageous. The unknown scenes will sound in Konstantin Chudovsky’s orchestration.

The soloists of “Helikon-Opera” theatre Alexander Kiselev (Igor Sviatoslavovich), Elena Mikhailenko (Yaroslavna), Vadim Zaplechny (Vladimir Igorevich), Dmitry Skorikov (Prince Galitsky), Mikhail Guzhov (Khan Konchak), Larisa Kostiuk (Konchak’s wife), Mikhail Verbitsky (Ovlur), Andrey Palamarchuk (Eroshka), Alexander Miminoshwili (Skula), Maria Maskhulia (Yaroslavna’s nanny), soloists, choir and orchestra of “Helikon-Opera” are engaged in the project. Conductor – People’s Artist of Russia Vladimir Ponkin.