On December 12, 2021, the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre will present the renewed version of the most joyful opera by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, The Tale of Tsar Saltan.
In Vladivostok, The Tale of Tsar Saltan has been onstage since 2014. The scenery and costumes have been created by Pyotr Okunev, Chief Designer of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. The Stage Director of the renewed version is Ekaterina Malaya (Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg), and its Video Designer is Vadim Dulenko.
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov is referred to as the greatest storyteller in the history of Russian music. Based on Pushkin’s theme, the opera was composed to coincide with the centenary of the genius Russian poet. The composer strove to follow the original Pushkin’s text as closely as possible, and to compose music to match Pushkin’s fairy tale, to create something Russian, flowery, carnivalesque. The apt descriptions of the characters set up lush and picturesque popular images.
“Unfortunately, the performance, with its superb decorations and costumes, has lost its stage appeal over the years of operation. Now, during the reconstruction, new elements necessary for Pushkin’s The Tale of Tsar Saltan will be introduced into its new production. We won’t reveal the whole intrigue, but we invite the viewer, especially the young one, to this opera”, said Irina Soboleva, Artistic Director of the Opera Company of the Primorsky Stage.
“We’ve tried to saturate the performance, already familiar and loved by the public, with new interesting details... But, following the plan of Alexander Pushkin, the main thing will remain unchanged: the malicious intent will be revealed, and a lot of happiness awaits the heroes in the end, just like in any fairy tale!” imparts Ekaterina Malaya, Stage Director of the production.
The main parts are being rehearsed by the soloists of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre, as well as the soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre (St Petersburg) Nadezhda Serdyuk. Pavel Smelkov will take the conductor’s stand.
