"Devichnik. Sleep at the opera" concert performance was held in "Helikon-opera

25.02.2013

"Devichnik. Sleep at the opera" concert performance was held in "Helikon-opera

On the 23rd of February, the Defenders Day in Russia, Moscow Musical Theatre "Helikon-opera" under Dmitry Bertman presented traditional "Devichnik". Every year only the female part of the troup participates in the parody show. Their topics are never repeated. This time the parody show was called "Sleep at the opera".

It is not a secret that many spectators fall asleep coming to an opera theatre. Artistic Director of "Helikon-Opera" does not see anything wrong in that. After all, maybe a lovely, kind, eternal opera exists only to give the modern man to hide in a dark hall of the theater and have some rest.

All conditions for a healthy sleep were created in “Helikon-opera” that evening. The lights were dimmed, calm relaxing music was on, guests were greeted by the stewards, who were dressed in long flannelette nighties, night caps and slippers instead of the usual tuxedo. The stewards instructed guests how to behave, for example, it was allowed to speak in a whisper only, it was forbidden to rustle with the playbills or candy wrappers, the cells had to be switched off to a sleep mode, it was recommended to sleep during the performance, so that to receive a brighter impression from the final. Apllausing and “Bravo” screams were allowed only after everybody’s awakening. The light signals were used instead of bells. The entrance after the third bell was forbidden, those who were late could sleep at the benches in the lounge.

The program of the concert included the most famous lullabies of the world’s opera repertoire from G. Donizetti and W. A. Mozart to I. Dunaevsky and T. Khrennikov. The key tone of the evening was given by the orchestral “The praise to a hermitage” from the “Legend of Invisible Town of Kitezh” by N. Rimsky-Korsakov.

Right after that Lidya Svetozarova rised from her seat in the hall and sang Volkhova’s Lullaby. The intonation was kept by Elena Ionova, who sang “My Lovely Dream” from “The Story of a Real Man” by S. Prokofiev, also from her seat in the hall. Maya Barkovskaya, Maria Maskhulia and Natalia Zagorinskaya echoed with the “Summertime” from “Porgy and Bess” by G. Gershwin. Tatiana Kuindji, who rised from the hall and performed Maria’s Lullaby” from “Mazeppa” by P. I. Tchaikovsky, fell asleep in a very spectacular way right on the stage sofa.

Inna Zveniyatskaya, Marina Karpechenko and Ekaterina Oblezova put conductor Vladimir Ponkin to bed and carefully covered him with a blanket. Ekaterina Oblezova replaced him at the conductor’s stand. The Sylphs were fluttering around the hall, the main of them (Lidiya Svetozarova) performed Nanneta’s aria on the roller skates.

“Svetlana’s Lullaby” by T. Khrennikov and “Dodon’s Dream” from “The Golden Cockerel” finally hypnotised everybody, so that the awakening was surprising with Boni’s song from “Silva” by I. Kalman, performed by all participants of the concert.

People's Artist of Russia Natalia Zagorinskaya, Honored Artist of Russia Anna Grechishkina, Elena Ionova, Marina Karpechenko, Tatyana Kuindji, Ekaterina Oblezova, winners of international competitions Maya Barkovskaya, Mary Maskhulia, Lydia Svetozarova, Karina A. Flores, female artists of the choir, actors of the orchestra headed by the People's Artist of Russia Vladimir Ponkin took part in the show. Maestro once again demonstrated his outstanding talent of dramatic actor. This conductor has never denied himself the pleasure to take part in a public fooling around. Stage Director - People's Artist of Russia Dmitry Bertman. Lighting Designer - Alexander Nilov. Author of video projections - Maxim Losev-Demidov. Sound - Stas Shevtsov.