SCENIC EXPERIENCES by Vladimir MININ
In 1999 Vladimir Fedosseev offered us to participate in staging of Russian operas in the frame of the summer opera festival in Bregenz (Austria). Festival performances took place on the stage located exactly on waters of Boden lake and also at the Zurich Opera house.
The first opera in which we participated was Demon by Rubinshtein, in Fedosseev's remarkable edition. This experience was a success, and since then we annually participate in similar projects, and we sing not only Russian operas, but also western ones.
We participated in performance of Hovanshchina by Musorgsky, Gold Peacock by Rimsky-Korsakov, Fox The Cheat by Janachek, Ball-masquerade and Troubadour by Verdi, Boheme by Puccini, and even of musical Westside Story by Bernstein.
I saw the choristers absolutely from the other side: they moved on the stage without any actor's education, obeying only to director instructions and they did it with great talent. The last opera in which we participated last year was Masquerade by Danish composer Charles Nilsen. During the whole act the chorus was on the stage in constant movement, acting as opera characters - singing and dancing, sometimes even gallop! It was not only professional enthusiasm, but sometimes actor's improvisation. I was delighted!
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