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Set to the music by Anatoly Lyadov, the one-act ballet, «Presentiment of Spring», has been brought together by an up-and-coming choreographer and dancer Yuri Smekalov.
/s/obj/staticpages/mariinsky/predchuvstvie.jpg /v/2010-02-13/546250_presentiment-of-spring.flvBritish director Jonathan Kent has almost become a regular at the Mariinsky. He brought together Richard Strauss’ opera “Electra” several years ago, saying Gergiev conducting Strauss was phenomenal: “It was a remarkably passionate reading of the piece.”
Kent describes the Mariinsky as an “extraordinary romantic theater with great heritage.”
So when Valery Gergiev suggested working together again, both thought it was only natural to continue with Strauss. But, as Kent explains, “Die Frau ohne Schatten” is done rarely because it makes huge musical demands, and not just on one or two people. “There are five hugely demanding parts and it’s a very complex and difficult score and libretto. So it was a challenge. But having been here before I knew it was a challenge that the Mariinsky could answer!”
/s/obj/staticpages/mariinsky/mar.jpg /v/2010-02-06/543709_kent1.flvRodion Shchedrin’s “The Little Humpbacked Horse” ballet in two acts is his early work which he has dedicated to his wife, the outstanding Russian ballerina Maya Plisetskaya.
Russian conductor Valery Gergiev had previously staged “The Little Humpbacked Horse” at the Mariinsky Theater and performed highlights from the ballet at several concerts, and he has decided to revive the ballet again.
According to composer Rodion Shchedrin, even today the Little Humpbacked Horse’s score “raises a compassionate emotional response and enthusiasm in his musically charged soul. How it inspires me!”
The new production has been brought together by trailblazing choreographer Aleksey Ratmansky.
/s/obj/staticpages/mariinsky/konek.jpg /v/2010-02-04/543259_shchedrin-at-the-mariinsky.flvRichard Strauss’s opera “Die Frau ohne Schatten” is regarded as his most ambitious and complex work which the composer himself called his “child of woe”.
Strauss worked on it with acclaimed Austrian poet Hugo von Hofmannsthal. The production is very demanding in terms of the complexity of the text as well as the vocal skills in requires.
“Die Frau ohne Schatten” at the Mariinsky Theater has been brought together by British opera director Jonathan Kent and conducted by Valery Gergiev.
/s/obj/staticpages/mariinsky/zbt1.jpg /v/2010-02-04/543256_die_frau-ohne-schatten.flv“The Fiery Angel” opera was written between 1918 and 1927 by Sergey Prokofiev based on the novel by Valery Bryusov. The premiere, however, came only in 1955 in Venice.
For a long time theaters would not stage this work due to various reasons. Among those were Prokofiev allegedly failing to meet deadlines, the work's peculiar nature (in that it is steeped in passion and the occult), and poor visual action.
The full title of Bryusov's novel gives a good idea of the substance of the opera:
“The Fiery Angel; or, a True Story in which is related of the Devil, not once but often appearing in the Image of a Spirit of Light to a Maiden and seducing her to Various and Many Sinful Deeds, of Ungodly Practices of Magic, Alchemy, Astrology, the Cabalistical Sciences and Necromancy, of the Trial of the Said Maiden under the Presidency of His Eminence the Archbishop of Trier, as well as of Encounters and Discourses with the Knight and thrice Doctor Agrippa of Nettesheim, and with Doctor Faustus, composed by an Eyewitness.”
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Berlioz’s epic opera “Les Troyens” is regarded as his most ambitious and powerful work. Staging the demanding and tragic performance is a real challenge! It took the Mariinsky Theater several years to bring the masterpiece together in Russia’s hub of classical music, St Petersburg.
The production at the Mariinsky Theater is a joint project between three major opera houses – the Mariinsky Theater, the Queen Sofia Palace of the Arts in Valencia and the Grand Theater of Warsaw.
“Les Troyens” by the dark French composer, Hector Berlioz, was inspired by a fascination with the fall of Troy since childhood, as well as by reading Virgil’s epic poem The Aeneid.
/s/obj/staticpages/mariinsky/troya.jpg /v/2010-01-29/541960_troyens.flvOne of Russia’s leading musicians, the Artistic and General Director of the renowned Mariinsky Theater, Valery Gergiev, couldn’t miss an opportunity to wish a very Happy New Year to music lovers in Russia and overseas.
“The Mariinsky Theater wishes a Happy New Year to all those of you who love and worship theater and music – in Russia and of course all over the world. Best wishes from all Russian artists and the legend of Russian ballet, Maya Plisetskaya!”
Maestro Gergiev welcomed the public after a concert on December 30, featuring Sir Willard White. The Jamaican-born world-famous bass baritone was visiting Russia for the first time, performing a part in “Faust's Condemnation” to Hector Berlioz’s music.
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