The theatre
"Helikon-Opera" building in Bolshaya Nikitskaya street, Moscow
What is “Helikon”?
What is “Helikon”? Some people think it is a mountain in ancient Greece, where singers and musicians die for the sake of Apollo and muses. The others are convinced that Helikon is nothing else but a massive wind instrument. But first of all, for 30 years this word has been associated with a musical theatre, founded in Moscow on April 10, 1990 and united the new talents.
Dmitry Bertman, the People’s Artist of Russia, General-Director and Artistic Director and the founder of Helikon-Opera, has staged over a hundred productions in Russia and abroad in such countries as Austria, Finland, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Canada, New Zealand, France, Sweden, and Estonia. The production team includes the acknowledged masters: Chief Conductor of the theatre — Vladimir Ponkin, People’s Artist of Russia; Set and Costume Designers — Igor Nezhny and Tatiana Tulubyeva, Honored Artists of Russia; Light Designer — Damir Ismagilov, Honored Art Worker of Russia; Choreographer — Edwald Smirnov, winner of international competitions; Principal Chorus Master — Evgeny Ilin.
Dmitry Bertman
The theatre company of Helikon-Opera, initially consisting of seven enthusiasts, counts more than 500 persons nowadays. It includes a good ensemble of soloists, many of whom are Honored Artists of Russia, winners of international competitions and awards, as well as symphonic orchestra and chorus of the musicians giving concerts at the best sites of Moscow besides participation in the repertoire productions. The soloists of Helikon-Opera appear on the most prestigious opera stages of Europe and America. Almost all the artists of the chorus have diplomas of conductors and choirmasters.
Every season Helikon-Opera presents to the Moscow audience more than 200 performances and each of them gives the audience the joy of contact with live art. Today the theatre repertoire consists of more than 75 unique productions. Helikon-Opera always tries to withdraw from “convenient”, worn out stage impersonations to surprise with novelty and audacity of conception, bright vocal and dramatic performance, taking care of the composer’s idea at the same time. Its shows are sold out for every performance. This is one of the most interesting and visited theatres of the Russian capital.
Scene from "Les Dialogues des Carmelites"
Helikon-Opera has won a reasonable recognition of opera professionals that may be proved with nine awards of “The Golden Mask” in various categories at different times, prizes of the Moscow Opera Festival, the “Gvozd Sezona” (Nail of a Season) Awards of the Russian Union of Theatre Workers.
The theatre is popular not only in Russia, but also abroad. It collaborates with the modern musicians of the highest rank. The production “Die Fledermaus” conducted by Mstislav Rostropovich, became quite an event in the musical world (Evian, France, 2000). Production of “Aida” as a part of the festival devoted to G. Verdi as well as the concert of the Helikon chorus and orchestra featuring Roberto Alagna (Strasburg, France, 2001) excited a great interest. Opera “Norma” with the brilliant Maria Gulegina opened the Festival Summer-2004 in Santander (Spain); the concert of the theatre artists with Angela Gheorghiu took place at the same location. The European press justly appreciated “Nabucco” by G. Verdi staged by Dmitry Bertman (Paris and Dijon, France, 2004). The part of Abigail there was performed by the prima donna Maria Gulegina and a soloist of Helikon-Opera Svetlana Sozdateleva. One year later Dmitry Bertman put the opera on the stage of the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint-Petersburg. The conductor of the play was maestro Valery Gergiev. “Nabucco” in the Bertman’s production featuring Placido Domingo and Maria Gulegina entered the celebration program on the occasion of opening Mariinka-2.
Scene from "Nabucco" by G. Verdi in Dmitry Bertman's production (Paris, France)
Helikon-Opera is a permanent participant of the international festivals “Bartok+” (Miskolc, Hungary), “Birgitta” (Tallinn, Estonia), “Al Bustan” (Beirut, Lebanon), San-Sebastian (Spain), the Festival of Music and Dance in Bangkok (Thailand), and others. In 2010 “Boris Godunov” by M. Mussorgsky edited by D. Shostakovich opened the festival in Santander (Spain), while “The Makropulos Case” by L. Janáček was welcomed at the festival devoted to this composer in Brno (Czechia). “The Tsar’s Bride” by N. Rimski-Korsakov finished the program of the Russian Culture Festival, organized by the Social and Cultural Initiatives Foundation supported by the Ministry of Culture (Cannes, France, 2011). Helikon-Opera was the main participant of the largest musical forum of the Baltic Region — Saaremaa Opera Days (Estonia, 2012). The theatre artists gave the gala-concert at the 153rd General Assembly of the International Exhibitions Bureau, Paris (2013).
During the international tours Helikon-Opera is welcomed not only by audiences but also by critics. Numerous reviews in respectable press such as Financial Times, Le Monde, The Independent, The Washington Post, Le Figaro, and International Herald Tribune show an active participation of the theatre in the world musical process.
From 2007 the building in Bolshaya Nikitskaya street, 19/16 was under reconstruction. A unique renewal project with the adjustments for the theatrical needs was developed by a group of the Mosproekt-4 architects under the supervision of Andrey Bokov, President of the Russian Union of Architects. In accordance with the project there are two new halls for 200 and 500 seats in possession of Helikon-Opera. At the time during the reconstruction works the creative team was located in Novy Arbat avenue, 11. For eight years 17 plays were produced on this stage: “Boris Godunov” by M. Mussorgsky, “Siberia” by Umberto Giordano, “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” by G. Rossini, “Le nozze di Figaro” by W. A. Mozart, «Rasputin» by J. Reise, “Kalinka-opera”, “Cartoon-Opera”, “Being a Guest at Opera Fairytale”, “Vampuka, the African Bride” by V. Ehrenberg, “The Love for Three Oranges” by S. Prokofiev, “Das Liebesverbot” by R. Wagner, “Back in the USSR!”, “KALMANiYA”, “Cartoon-Opera”, www.nibelungopera.ru, “Un Ballo in Maschera” by G. Verdi, “La Belle Helene” by J. Offenbach. In 2009 Helikon-Opera and “META” Enlightenment Foundation represented the world premiere of the opera “Tsarina (Catherine the Great)” by D. Tukhmanov on the stage of the Aleksandrinsky theatre of Saint-Petersburg. The Moscow premiere took place in the State Kremlin Palace. In the capital the play was also staged in the Bolshoi Theatre and the Theater of Operetta. With the support of “META” Enlightenment Foundation there was an unequalled broad-scaled tour throughout Russia — “Tsarina” was shown in 15 Russian cities from Saint-Petersburg to Vladivostok.
Scene from "Tsarina" by D. Tukhmanov in Dmitry Bertman's production
Dmitry Bertman was given a privilege to be a stage director of a grandiose event — the Opera Ball of Elena Obraztsova, devoted to her 75th Anniversary. In the historical concert on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia the chorus of Helikon-Opera appeared together with such world stars as Anna Netrebko, Maria Gulegina, Jose Cura, Dmitry Khvorostovsky, Yusif Eyvazov, and Olga Peretyatko (2014).
Makvala Kasrashwili, Elena Obraztsova, Anna Netrebko, Dmitry Bertman, Yusif Eivazov and others
Elena Obraztsova Opera Ball, 2014
Dmitry Khvorostovsky and Asmik Grigoryan in "Demon" by A. Rubinstein, joint production of Helikon-Opera
and Moscow State Philharmonic
In summer 2015 Helikon-Opera finished its work in the Novy Arbat avenue by the premiere of “La Belle Helene” by J. Offenbach and started to prepare for coming back home to the Bolshaja Nikitskaja street.
On the 2nd of November, 2015 Moscow musical theater "Helikon-Opera" under Dmitry Bertman officially opened the 26th season in its native manor house in the Bolshaja Nikitskaja street.
The Grand Opening Ceremony was attended by Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Tolstoy, the Chairman of the State Duma Sergei Naryshkin, Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Vladimir Medinsky, Mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyanin, Head of the Department of Culture of Moscow Alexander Kibovsky, Deputy Mayor in the Moscow Government on Urban policy and Construction Marat Khusnullin. Among the honored guests there were People's Artists of the USSR Joseph Kobzon, Zurab Sotkilava, Vera Vasilyeva, People's Artists of Russia Yury Vedeneev Svetlana Varguzova, Igor Kostolevsky, Lev Leshchenko, Gennady Khazanov, Nilolay Tsiskaridze, artistic directors of Moscow theaters, famous actors and singers, sponsors, TV presenters and many others.
From the 2nd to the 8th of November the solemn gala concerts were held in Stravinsky Hall in honor of the Grand Opening of historical stage. The friends of the theatre, world opera stars Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Olga Borodina, Alexander Antonenko, Olga Guryakova, Vasily Ladyuk, Boris Statsenko, Veronika Dzhioeva, Hasmik Grigoryan, Elena Zelenskaja and Inva Mula, performer of the famous aria of Diva Plavalaguna in the cult film "The Fifth Element", congratulated Helikon with its long-awaited opening.
The premiere of "Sadko" by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov became the first performance, made on the new stage of the Stravinsky Hall on the 4th of November, 2015.
In the season 2015/2016 another three opera premieres "Eugene Onegin" by Tchaikovsky (re-creation of the legendary performances K., Stanislavsky 1922), "Pygmalion" by L. Cherubini and "Dr. Haas' by A. Sergunin upon libretto by Lyudmila Ulitskaya were performed at Helikon-opera.
Its 26th birthday "Helikon-Opera" celebrated on Mars. The theater invited the audience to a series of gala-concerts "Martian opera", a colorful phantasmagoria about opera life in space.
On March 8, 2016 on the initiative of Dmitry Bertman, a special music project, dedicated to the 75th anniversary since birth of the legendary actor of theater and cinema of Andrei Mironov took place at Helikon Opera. "Bachelor’s party of Andrei Mironov" was broadcasted on Culture TV-Channel on May 2, 2016. This evening famous actors Sergey Bezrukov, Yuri Vasilyev, Alexander Oleshko, Yevgeny Dyatlov, Sergei Makhovikov, Yuri Chursin, Anton Eldarov, Alexei Goman, Ruslan Alekhno sang fo Helikon spectators. Musical gifts for International Women's Day were prepared by soloists of "Helikon-Opera" theater Vadim Zaplechny Alexei Isayev, Vadim Letunov, Alexander Miminoshvili, Andrey Palamarchuk, Alexander Klevich, Mikhail Egiazaryan, Dmitry Skorikov, Mikhail Davydov, Maxim Perebeinos, Peter Morozov, Andrey Palamarchuk, and invited soloist Dzambolat Dulaev.
On April, 25 at Helikon-Opera with the participation of the First theatrical award "Crystal Turandot" a new international multicultural project Liga Maestri took place. The ceremony was dedicated to opera diva Maria Guleghina. Concert "Viva Maria!" united soloists and drama actors - winners and nominees of the First theatrical award "Crystal Turandot" on the stage of Helikon-Opera. This evening famous actors Alla Demidova, Sergei Shakurov, Daniel Spivakovsky, Igor Mirkurbanov greeted Maria Guleghina. Soloists of Helikon-opera Konstantin Brzhinsky, Igor Morozov, Maxim Perebeinos Dmitry Skorikov, Dmitry Khromov, Dmitry Yankovsky, choir and symphony orchestra of "Helikon-Opera" under Valery Kiryanov took part in the project. The presenter of the ceremony was Evgeny Knyazev.
On April, 27 at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall of Moscow State Philharmonic with participation of Helikon-Opera a concert performance of Bellini’s "Norma" took place. World opera star Maria Guleghina, soloists of Helikon-Opera Ksenia Viaznikova, Mikhail Guzhov, Irina Reynard, Ilya Govzich, Dmitry Khromov, artists of the choir and orchestra of "Helikon-opera" took part in the performance. Conductor Konstantin Khvatynets.
The 26th season was completed with Leoncavallo’s "Pagliacci" in Dmitry Belyanushkin production.
In the next 27th season Helikon-Opera theatre is planning three premieres. The first one is Puccini’s “Turandot”, which is going to take place on January 28, 2017 in the context of an international project "Eurasian Opera". The stage director of the performance is Dmitry Bertman, set and costumes will be created by the Chinese designer Camellia Koo, light designer is a famous American Thomas Hase, who worked on many Broadway musicals and performances in the largest theatres of USA and Canada. Music Director of the performance is famous Russian conductor Vladimir Fedoseyev. The project will be held with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Russian Federation and the Department of Culture of Moscow.
On June 1st was the premiere of "Chaadsky"opera in Alexander Manotskov production. The stage director is Kirill Serebrennikov.
On June 26 Helikon-opera performed the fifth premiere of the season - "Il Trovatore" by G. Verdi in Dmitry Bertman's production.
On October 14 (2017) together with the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra took place the concert, dedicated to the anniversary of Vladimir Fedoseev.
On November 18 and 19 (2017) to the 90th anniversary of Eldar Ryazanov the theatre has prepared the movie-concert “Unforgotten melody”.
Autumn 2017 had finished with the concert "Montreal - Moscow", when Helikon was meeting young guests from Canada. On November 30 the international team of soloists from Canada and Russia have performed on the stage of the Stravinsky Hall.
On December 9 (2017) the theatre has presented the new version of the opera “The Queen of Spades” by P. I. Tchaikovsky staged by Dmitry Bertman, musical director of the production – the People’s Artist of the USSR Vladimir Fedoseyev.
In spring 2017 together with the department of culture of Moscow, Helikon-opera theatre has hosted the 3rd International competition for young opera directors “Nano-opera”. In the end of June-beginning of July has welcomed guests from all over the world – they were the participants of the international Hans Gabor Belvedere singing competition.
In February 2018 new projects #Prodigy.Kids (Pokrovsky Hall) and #Jazzcafe (Prokofiev cafe) have started.
The spring 2018 was marked with the concert “Roads of love” in memoriam of Zara Dolukhanova, performed by Maria Maskhulia.
On March 5 the “Turandot” performance became recognized as the best performance of the Moscow season 16/17 and became the owner of the main prize by The Union of Theatre Workers of the Russian Federation “Gvozd’ sesona”.
On March 23 (2018) the premiere of the monoopera by F. Poulenc «La voix humaine», staring Tamara Gverdtsiteli in the main role.
On April 24 (2018) took place the concert of Arkady Eizler “Soul Chords”.
On May 17 (2018) on the stage of the Shakhovskaya Hall took place the world premiere of the opera “The marriage of Figarenko” by M. Tariverdiev (stage director Galina Timakova, musical director Valery Kiryanov).
The 1st summer premiere of the 2018 has become the opera “Aleko” by S. Rachmaninoff, staged by Rostislav Protasov (June 7, 2018).
On June 26 (2018) took place the premiere of the opera “The Golden cockerel” by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov. Stage director Dmitry Bertman, musical director of the production Vladimir Fedoseyev. “The Golden cockerel”- is the coproduction with the Deutsche Oper am Rhein (Düsseldorf, Germany).
In September 2018 the unique event took place in the Helikon-opera. For the first time in Russia was held International Tenor Competition of the Elena Obraztsova Foundation «José Carreras Grand Prix».
The 1st premiere of the 29th season has become the opera “Die Zauberflote” by W. A. Mozart, staged by Ilya Ilyin, which took place on November 14 (2018).
On February 21 and 22 (2019) the Helikon-opera theatre was on a visit with a tour in the Theater an der Wien (Vienna, Austria), which was hosting the guests from Moscow for the first time. The helikonians have brought to the musical capital of Europe three masterpieces of Tchaikovsky: “Mazeppa”, “Undine” and “Iolanta”.
On March 27 (2019), in the International theatre day took place the premiere of the “Orlando, Orlando” performance based on the opera by G. F. Handel. Stage director - Georgy Isaakyan
On May 17 (2019) took place the premiere of the opera “Iolanta” by P. I. Tchaikovsky staged by Sergey Novikov.
From May 21 to 24 the 4th International competition for young opera directors “Nano-opera” took place in the Helikon-opera.
July 5 has become a special day to the Helikon and will figure in history of our theatre: the demonstration of the opera “Nabucco” by G. Verdi on the Stravinsky Hall became its Moscow premiere.
For the final of the 29th season, Helikon has gone on tour to Estonia, where on the “Saaremaa opera days” festival the theatre has presented seven shows, including the world premiere of “Mr. Georg Ots”. From July 23 to 28 in the framework of the festival the audience have seen “The Queen of Spades” by P. I. Tchaikovsky, “Nabucco” by g. Verdi, “Les Dialogues des Carmelites” by F. Poulenc, “Opera Fairy Tale Welcomes Guests”, “Seven Deadly Sins” by K. Weill and the gala-concert “Tsar-opera”.
“Mr. Georg Ots” - is the coproduction with the largest concert organization Eesti Kontsert, in which both Russian and Estonian actors participate. The stage director of the show is Dmitry Bertman. The Moscow premiere took place on September 25 and became the first one in the 30th jubilee season.
The first tour in the jubilee season has become the visit to Latvia. On September 19 and 20 in the framework of the “Moscow days in Baltic states” project the helikonians have presented the legendary show “Die Fledermaus” and the festive concert (together with Riga Chamber Orchestra). “Moscow days in Baltic states” are organized by Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow.
On October, 22 (2019) G. Verdi’s “La Traviata” came back to Helikon-opera! Breathtaking production of Dmitry Bertman, Alexander Sladkovsky, Igor Nezhny, Tatiana Tulubieva, Damir Ismagilov, Edwald Smirnov has aroused audience’s admiration and confidently and triumphantly «rushed into» the operatic life of Moscow.
On February, 2 (2020) (palindrome date) with the incredible "full house" took place the premiere of the "Hin und Zurück" - our coproduction with the Moscow independent theatre-studio “15”. The performance is based on the the operas P. Hindemith, G. Puccini, V. Bellini, H. Purcell. The stage-director Dmitry Bikbaev is calling the show “operatic moviecollage in the buff-noir style”. On the Shakhovskaya Hall stage have “reshooted” the supreme operas to not permit already known to all melomaniacs the “tragic end”. The team of the young and talanted specialists was working on staging the performance: composer Arseniy Chernichenko, Conductor - Filipp Selivanov, Libretto by Anton Anosov, Digital scenery designer - Mikhail Ershov, Lighting designer - Vladislav Aleksandrov, Choreographer - Kirill Ermolenko, second director - Victoria Agarkova, choirmaster - Ilya Patrikeev.
On February, 12 (2020) took place the Russian premiere of the opera “Cinderella” by L. Weinstein. It is the magical story about that the good always defeats evil, that modern Cinderellas, Princes and Magicians live among us! The main thing is to be open to the world and to notice the fairytale everywhere and always. Over the "Cinderella" were conjuring the stage-director Ilya Ilyin, conductor Yalchin Adigezalov, set designer Igor Nezhny, costume designer Tatiana Tulubieva, video designers Alexander Andronov and Kirill Malovichko, choreographer Edvald Smirnov, lighting designer – Denis Enyukov. The artistic director of the good genius of the performance - Dmitry Bertman.
On September, 8 (2020) the two significant events took place in the Helikon’s walls: for the first time after the coronavirus pandemic the audience has come to the theatre and for first time “The Stone Guest” by A. Dargomyzhsky has been presented of the stage of the Stravinsky Hall. Over the staging of the performance have been working: stage director Dmitry Bertman, director Galina Timakova, musical director Mikhail Egiazaryan, production and costume designer Alla Shumeiko, lighting designer Denis Enyukov, video designer Alexander Andronov, makeup artist Elena Nalichaeva.
On Novembre, 27 (2020) for the first time in Moscow the unique opera “Arlecchino” by the Italian composer F. Busoni was presented. We have prepared the premiere in the hardest conditions! And in spite of 25% seats sold due to the covid19 restrictions, we have fully felt the audience’s love and support! The opera “Arlechino” as the mirror has reflected today’s world with its vices and provocations. And if famous Arlecchino is the hero of the commedia dell’ arte is the XVII’s character, the helikonian Arlecchino is the character of the 21st century with its talk-show, batten lights, camera flashes and live standups in the studio. Stage director - Ilya Ilyin, director, conductor - Filipp Selivanov, set designer - Igor Nezhny, costume designer - Tatiana Tulubieva. lighting designer - Denis Enyukov, choreographers - Danila Sitnikov, Evgeny Yushkov. The premiere of the “Arlecchino” by F. Busoni was dedicated to the 100-birthday anniversary of the outstanding theatrical director, actor, professor Matvey Osherovsky.
On December, 22 (2020) Helikon-opera has celebrated its 30th anniversary with the grandiose opera ball! The celebration we were waiting for more than half a year took place, with the observance of all the necessary restrictions due to the epidemic. Helikon has received lots of congratulations: from the minister of culture of Russia, dozens of embassies of the countries, where Helikon was on tour have sent their congratulations. That evening we have remembered those, who at one time had helped the young theatre with their support, attention, those, who had put one's heart in theatre’s establishment, those, who are no longer with us: Dmitry Hvorostovsky, Mstislav Rostropovich, Boris Pokrovsky, Irina Arkhipova, Galina Vishnevskaya, Elena Obraztsova, Eri Klas, Andrejs Zhagars – more than 40 names of famous people from art and culture field. In the theatre’s foyer everyone interested had a possibility to leave a “message to future” – the time capsule will be kept under the glass floor during 70 years. It will be triumphantly opened on the 100th anniversary of the theatre – on April, 10 in 2090! Together with the helikonians the 30th anniversary have celebrated the thetare’s friends – world stars: Hibla Gerzmava, Tamara Gverdtsiteli, two-time Grammy winner Ildar Abdrazakov, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Evgeniya Muravyova, Yuri Minenko. Cecilia Masabane Rangwanasha – the soloist of The Royal Opera House “Covent Garden”, has arrived from London to congratulate Helikon-opera. The acquaintance with Russia has started with Helikon! With a great pleasure Cecilia has accepted the helikonian atmosphere and felt in love with it.
On February, 10 (2021) the premiere of “Tosca” by G. Puccini took place in Helikon-opera. This opera is a real challenge to a director due to the hundred versions of this genious of this piece. His first “Tosca” Dmitry Bertman has staged in Riga (Latvia National Opera) in 2004 at his friend’s invitation – stage director Andrejs Žagars. The premiere in Helikon is dedicated to his memory. Authors of the production: director Dmitry Bertman, conductor Valery Kiryanov, set designer - Igor Nezhny, costume designer - Tatiana Tulubieva, light Designer — Damir Ismagilov and Denis Enyukov, choreographer Edvald Smirnov, assistants Ilya Ilyin and Mikhail Sabelev. The premiere was supported by our partner “Baskin-Robbins”, which has presented the new kind of ice cream – “Vitamin Ice Cream”.
On October, 21 (2021) a historical event took place at Helikon-opera - the premiere of the opera “Alfa & Omega” by G. Shohat (libretto by Dori Manor and Anna Hermann). And for the first time in Moscow opera is performed in Hebrew. The premiere took place with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Department of Culture of the city of Moscow. International team was working on the production: head of the production Dmitry Bertman, conductor – Valery Kiryanov, set Designer – Pavel Dragunov (Kazakhstan), costume designer – Sofia Tasmagambetova (Kazakhstan), lighting Designer – Denis Enyukov, choreographer – Edvald Smirnov, video Designer – Alexander Andronov, choirmaster – Evgeny Ilyin.
The opening of the exclusive exhibition “Marc Chagall. Projection through the time” is confined to the premiere. This was made possible due to the Leonid Shaiman, Embassy of Israel, Vadim Kossinsky, Sergey Ustinov and the Israeli cultural center "Nativ". This is really priceless exposition, which presents previously not set to show exhibits from the private collections - Marc Chagall’s letters and two pieces of art “Lamb” by M.Chagall and the “Portrait of an old Jew” by Yehuda Pen (Chagall’s teacher).
With the great success in Bari (Italy) has passed a series of performances “The Golden cockerel" from 11 to 17 novembre (2021). The production was presented at the Teatro Petruzzelli - the fourth Italian theatre by size. The opera “The Golden cockerel”, based on the A.S. Pushkin fairy tale, – is the last one and the most mysterious of the fifteen operas by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov. The performance in Bari - is the co-production between Helikon-opera theatre and Teatro Petruzzelli. Stage Director - Dmitry Bertman, conductor Evgeny Brazhnik, set and Costumes Designer Ene-Liis Semper (Estonia), lighting Designer Thomas Hase (USA),chorus Master Evgeny Ilyin, choreographer: Edwald Smirnov.
On February, 9 (2022) the premiere of “L'île de Tulipatan” by J. Offenbach took place in Helikon-opera, which has become the real oasis of joy and fun! The first impressions of our spectators are “extravagant, eccentric, bright!”. And this is not by surprise, because the show was born to the people's joy, to help them to gorget about the reality at least for an hour, laugh and enjoy the great music. All this is due to the excellent work, enthusiasm and imagination of its creators: stage-director Ilya Ilyin, conductor Filipp Selivanov, set designer Rostislav Protasov, costume designer Nika Velegzhaninova, lighting designer: Vladislav Alexandrov, choreographer Edvald Smirnov, choirmaster Artem Davydov, scriptwriters and the russian libretto authors Marina Skalkina and Shura Nikitin. The theatre turned into a spa area: the guests were invited by the cute girls from the Thai massage studio, everyone could experience the action of a Yamaguchi massage chair and immerse themselves in a relaxing atmosphere.
In March (2022) we opened the exhibition "Erté. Russian genious of Art Deco", which was dedicated to the 130th anniversary of famouse artist, designer, sculptor. On display - different works, characterizing various areas and periods of Erté: unique sketches for the opera "Rigoletto" (for the Chicago Opera House),Christmas covers for Harper’s Bazar (1922, 1934), painted porcelain plates from the "Numbers" series, decanter for cognac Courvoisier "The Angels' Share ( from the limited edition, design and label were completely developed by Erte), sculptures, silkscreen printings and the other objects, created bt the master.
On March, 15 (2022) by the order of The Minster of Culture of the Russian Federation O. B. Lyubimova Dmitry Bertman was awarded by the Gratitude for personal contribution and highly professional approach to running the track "Culture of the competition "Leaders of Russia" 2021-2022!
From 22 to 28 May (2022) Moscow musical theatre Helikon-opera together with the Moscow Government and Department of Culture of Moscow has hosted the V International competition for young opera directors “Nano-Opera”. It has united participants from Russia, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. General and artistic directors of Russian and foreign opera houses have joined the proffesional jury: Dmitry Bertman — the Chairman of the Jury General and artistic director at the Moscow Musical theatre “Helikon-Opera” (Moscow, Russia), Recep Ayyilmaz — Stage director at the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet theatre (Istanbul, Turkey), Yuri Alexandrov — Artistic Director at the “Chamber musical theatre “St. Petersburg Opera” (St. Petersburg, Russia), Toleubek Alpiyev — First Deputy Director at the State Opera and Ballet Theatre “Astana Opera” (Astana, Kazakhstan), Sergey Bobrov — Artistic director at the Krasnoyarsk opera and ballet theatre (Krasnoyarsk, Russia), Javid Imamverdiyev — Principal director at the Azerbaijan State Theatre of Musical Comedy (Baku, Azerbaijan), Georgy Isaakyan — Artistic Director at the Moscow State Opera and Ballet Theatre for Young Audience named after Natalia Sats (Moscow, Russia), Sandra Milankov — Opera department director at the Serbian National Theatre (Novi Sad, Serbia), Pavel Sorokin — Principal stage director at the Rostov State Musical Theatre (Rostov-on-Don, Russia), Vyacheslav Starodubtsev — Principal stage director at the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre NOVAT (Novosibirsk, Russia), Alexander Titel — Artistic director of opera at the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Music Theatre (Moscow, Russia), Ramiz Usmanov — Director at The State Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Alisher Navoi (Tashkent, Uzbekistan). According to the results of the competition the winners are: 1st prize – Maria Fomicheva (Russia, Moscow), 2nd prize – Erenbak Toikenov (Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan), 3rd prize – Irina Gaudasinskaya (Russia, St. Petersburg).
From June 9 to July 8 the "The Sleep of Reason" exhibition took place at the Helikon-opera theatre. On display - 16 pairs of prints by F. Goya and S. Dalí from the "Los caprichos" set, one silkscreen printing "El sueño de la razón produce monstruos". "Los caprichos" set by F. Goya unites 80 engraving. After 200 years S. Dalí had inspired by these masterpieces and created his own parallel set - painted them with recognizable images, introduced color into the image and provided each sheet with its own name and commentary.
On June, 28 (2022) Helikon-opera theatre ended its 32nd season with the grandiose premiere of "Aida" by G. Verdi staged by Dmitry Bertman! For the second time this wonderful opera appeared in Helikon's repertoire due to the fantastic team headed by Dmitry Bertman. Of course, this performance was produced with love and enthusiasm by all the helikonians. So we have a phenomenal result, applause of the first grateful spectators, triumph and joy. For the first time in Russia (and maybe in the world in the intoduction was performed that "Sinfonia" (ouverture), which was composed by G. Verdi to the premiere in 1871, but had no time add to the score. It was performed by the Helikon-opera orchestra under maestro Valery Kirianov. Production team: stage-director Dmitry Bertman, musical director and conductor Valery Kiryanov, set designers Tauno Kangro (Estonia) and Rostislav Protasov, costume designer Nika Velegzhaninova, lighting designer Denis Solntsev, choreographer Edvald Smirnov, choirmaster: Evgeny Ilyin!
Especially for the premiere the theatre has prepared the exhibition "Treasure of the Nile", wich was conceived as a story about the era, when the opera was born, as a reflection on human, time and the heritage of the Egyptian land. On display - authentic ancient Egyptian monuments, high-precision copies of Egyptian masterpieces, amazing editions of the late 19th century about the art of Egypt, postcards with images of Egypt and "Aida" heroes, old claviers of the great opera etc. This exhibition - is the dialogue between times and cultures, because there were also presented the works of our contemporaries - Russian theatrical artist Ivan Skladchikov and and the Egyptian Galla Abdel Fattah - she is a graduate of the Moscow State Academic Art Institute named after V.I. Surikov and lives in Russia. Her art, inspired by Egypt, has absorbed the best traditions of the Russian art school The title work of the exhibition was written by Galla especially for our premiere. The curator of the exhibition is the famous Egyptologist Viktor Solkin.
On September, 22 (2022) the premiere of “La Bohème” by G. Puccini took place in Helikon-opera. We were preparing to it with the special thrill. As a result of the competition, which we have announced in spring, the best young opera directors and designers were chosen to stage “La Bohème” by the jury, headed by Dmitry Bertman. So the stage directors are Korneeva Elizaveta, Dmitry Otyakovsky, Mikhail Sabelev, Leysan Safargulova - the laureates of the International competition for young opera directors “Nano-opera” of different years. Irina Sid has become the set designer, Fedor Arkhipov and the winner of the Artmasters championship Elizaveta Kholmushina have become the costume designers and the winner of the Artmasters championship Maxim Greller has become the lighting designer. Together with them young conductor Philip Selivanov, choreographer Ksenia Lisanskaya and choirmaster Evgeny Ilyin have created the real bohemian world! The friendly Helikon-opera staff helped them and the art directors of the project Dmitry Bertman and Rostislav Protassov became the mentors. The premeire took place with the support of the Ministry of culture of Russia and «Art-Helious». We are immensely grateful towards Metropol Hotel, Alexandr Klyachin and Monte-Carlo radio.
The anniversary events in honor of the 80th jubilee of Mikhail Lavrovsky have ended on October, 29 and 30 (2022) with the premiere of ballets “Two women” (music by S. Banevich) and “Amok” (music by A. Simonenko). The project was implemented by Helikon-opera, creative association “Lavrovsky' Labs”, “Art-Helious”, “Khorosho-production” with the support of the Ministry of culture of Russia. The ballets were staged due to the fantastic team: choreographers Marianna Ryzhkina and Victoria Litvinova, conductor Felix Korobov, stage-director and producer Leonid Lavrovsky, video-designers Sergey Kavtaradze and Alexander Andronov, set and costume designers Igor Nezhny and Tatiana Tulubieva, lighting designer Denis Enyukov and producers Vladimir Gorokhov, Eduard Musakhanyants and Natalia Ivanova! Continuing the famous “Russian season’s” traditions, Mikhail Lavrovsky has united both established and just started their own creative path actors. In his “seasons” the master experiments on genres and forms, his one-act ballets – are the synthesis between classics and modern styles, drama theatre and video-art.
On January 14 (2023), a huge tragedy occurred in the Helikon family... One of the theatre's founders, a humanist, a person who adored "Helikon," adored each artist, each staff member, a fanatical viewer and co-creator of each performance, who was listening the applauses from afar, modest, intelligent, honest, bright, generous, always readily available, incredibly reliable, sensitive, hating conflicts and always resolving them, the first deputy of Dmitry Bertman by staff schedule and essence - Vladimir Gorokhov passed away. Born in Yasny (Bright) in 1976, he carried the light of this word within him, and his sunny and clear eyes were always directed towards each and every one of us... Eternal and brightest memory to Vladimir, and we will live, sing, and take care of each other, being confident that up there, in the sky, we have our great defender and helper.
On February 22 (2023) “The Medium” by Gian Carlo Menotti went on Helikon-opera stage. 80 years later, this opera is still becoming a discovery for the audience, directors, actors and audiophiles. But, maybe for the first time “The Medium” talks about real people’s emotions, which are hidden roundtable. Artistic director of the production Dmitry Bertman and stage-director Ilya Ilyin together with conductor Valery Kiryanov, set designer Rostislav Protasov, costume designer Nika Velegzhaninova and lighting designer Denis Enyukov have tried to go away from the mystical in the performance, to focus on the relationships and to convey the idea, that “Everything, which happens in the world, is created by people themselves”! The premiere was dedicated to the memory of Vladimir Gorokhov, who had passed away on January 14 (2023).
On June 28 (2023), a grand premiere of the stunningly beautiful opera "Cavalleria rusticana" by Pietro Mascagni took place in Helikon-opera! We are thankful for everyone, who were involved in the creation of the performance - stage director Dmitry Bertman, conductor Evgeny Brazhnik, set designer Igor Nezhny, costume designer Tatyana Tulubieva, lighting designer Damir Ismagilov, choreographer Edvald Smirnov, and choir conductor Evgeny Ilyin, all the soloists, choir artists, and orchestra members! The premiere took place with the support of the Department of Culture (Moscow) and Yury and Maria Shamara social initiative development foundation.