On September 11, 14 and 15, 2018 the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre will see the premiere show of The Tsar’s Bride opera by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. It was composed on the basis of the same-name historical verse drama by Lev Mei, which narrates a historic episode of Ivan the Terrible’s third marriage.
The Mariinsky Orchestra and the chorus of the Primorsky Stage will take part in the play; the main parties are prepared by the leading soloists of the Mariinsky Opera. The musical director of the production is Pavel Smelkov, the chief conductor of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. He will also stand at the conductor’s console during all the premiere shows of the opera.
The Primorsky Stage will feature a completely original play staged by Vyacheslav Starodubtsev, Ph.D. in Art History, the Theatre Director of the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre (NOVAT), the Stage Director of the Moscow Helikon Opera Theatre, the Artistic Director of the Moscow DO Theatre. The author of scenography and costumes is Petr Okunev, already well known to the audience for his works in such performances as Carmen, The Tale of Tsar Saltan, Tosca, Bastien und Bastienne and Mavra. The premiere of last season, Mavra comic opera composed by Igor Stravinsky, was the first joint work of Vyacheslav Starodubtsev and Petr Okunev on the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. The lighting designer of the show is Sergey Skornetsky, the laureate of The Golden Mask, the prestigious National Theatre Award. Vadim Dulenko is the video artist.
“It will be a classical production based on the historical verse drama by Lev Mei and the musical drama by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. The main thing for us is to plunge into its depth and to decipher the melodic and dramatic planes that the composer encrypted in this grandiose Russian opera, to create a deep psychological and musical drama”, said Vyacheslav Starodubtsev, the Stage Director.
The Tsar’s Bride will be the third opera by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov staged on the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. The earlier repertoire of the theatre includes The Tale of Tsar Saltan (nearest shows will take place on August 26, 2018 and September 23, 2018) staged by Darya Panteleeva, and Christmas Eve which has been “transferred” from the historic stage of the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg (directed by Olga Malikova).
