On 25 and 26 November Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Christmas Eve will premiere at the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. The plot is based on Nikolai Gogol’s novel of the same title from a collection of short stories Evenings On a Farm Near Dikanka. Remaining true to the literary origin, Rimsky-Korsakov conveyed the atmosphere of daily life and rituals of a Ukrainian village. In his Christmas Eve love lyrics intertwined with comic situations. scenes of mass celebrations and fancy pictures. The transfer of the performance from the historic stage of the Mariinsky Theatre to its Primorsky Stage is directed by conductor Pavel Petrenko and stage director Olga Malikova.
"This is an opera for all the family. Adults will get pleasure from Rimsky-Korsakov’s brilliant music. Children will also find in it something delightful. The scenes in Christmas Eve are very interesting and humorously written”, said Pavel Petrenko.
Olga Malikova’s production staged in St Petersburg in 2008 was characterised by critics as picturesque, dynamic and original.
“The whole performance is built, first of all, on the art of acting. Vivid characters, versatility and an abundance of mise-en-scènes are the backbone of the production. An important role is played by lighting provided by Gleb Filshtinsky — one of the best theatre lighting designers in Russia”, said the Stage Director.
Set design by Kseniya Pantina, historically styled costumes by Varvara Yevchuk and video projections by Victoria Zlotnikova create the acting area, which immediately immerse the audience into the atmosphere of a Christmas Dikanka. Now, this Rimsky-Korsakov’s kind and wintery opera, which has become one of the most popular performances among St Petersburg theatre-goers, can also be enjoyed by the audience of the Primorsky Stage.
