24th JUNE, 2017 OPERA OF RODION SHCHEDRIN "NOT ONLY LOVE"
26th June, 2017. OPERA OF SERGEI PROKOFIEV “ENGAGEMENT IN THE MONASTERY”
It is our great pleasure to announce a guest visit of the Opera of St. Petersburg in Madlenianum. After very successful opera performances "La Traviata" (premiered in 2006) and "Pagliacci" (premiered in 2011) in Madlenianum, directed by Yuri Alexandrov and set and costume design by Vyacheslav Okunev, we will have the opportunity to see their artistic creation in the operas of R. Shchedrin "Not Only Love" and S. Prokofiev “Engagement In The Monastery”.
The two operas, performed by the Opera of St. Petersburg, will have their premieres on the Serbian stages, right here in Madlenianum. Yuri Alexandrov is well known to our audience as the author who sets the opera in a contemporary and attractive way and this time our audience will have the chance to enjoy in the superb music of the famous Russian composers, in the performance of the St. Petersburg’s theatre.
The opera “Not Only Love” is created by motives of the short stories of Sergei Antonov with the libretto of added limericks. The Opera is dedicated to the composer’s wife, the famous Russian ballet dancer, Maya Plisetskaya. We hope that this opera performance will be attended by Rodion Shchedrin himself, which would be an honor for our house and event for our country.
“Not Only Love” is a playful, bright performance, close to musical in its genre. As seen by the director, Yuri Alexandrov, the main focus is certainly on love. “Love is”, says the director, “eternal and always relevant, regardless ta décor it is happening in.”
The performance attracts audience with its free vocals, “openness” of acting and numerous dancing parts. It is full with lyrics and irony, “juicy” humor is typical for this genre and high drama.
Rodion Shchedrin, who has attended the premiere at the Chamber Opera of St. Petersburg, recalled the failed performance in 1961: “Do you know why the performance was unsuccessful then? Because then they were afraid of sex. And here – and today sex is not feared. And that is functioning. Personally, I can see on the stage a great love for these times and those people.”
The plot of the comic opera of Sergei Prokofiev “Engagement in the Monastery” is based on the audience well known drama, “Duenna” of Richard Sheridan. The play is created as a sort of a joke, something like a students’ party where acting and reality are organically connected. The story begins as an acting class and afterwards it becomes a cheerful festive theatre play in which reality gradually begins to dominate.
“Taken by rapture, not only the students and lecturers, but also the representatives of, as we call them, technical staff, more precisely a lady with Balzacian features- Duenna who dreams of exchanging used cloths and a brush for a comfortable post in any rich man’s company. She is to play the starring role in our spectacle.
The first face of this institution- the rector of the Institute, Mr. Jerome, is also affected by confusion and excitement, since the sponsor is looming on the horizon and even though Mr. Mendoza is a man of a dubious reputation and means nothing for a theatre play, he is a fishmonger and something else… After all, why not unite creativity and business in a joint venture?! And for the unity, socializing and work, maybe even for friendship, you have Jerome’s daughter, beautiful Louise, and as well as a rowdy son Ferdinand- the students of the educational institution entrusted to him.
In a surprising way and through some strange coincidence, life situations match the summery and complications of the future spectacle.
“Let a much honoured spectator deal with all that”, says director, Yuri Alexandrov.
In presale from 24th March, 2017 at the box office in Madlenianum, 32, Glavna Street and the Zepter Museum, 42, Knez Mihailo Street. The tickets for this guest visit cost 1.300 RSD and 1.100 RSD.
