MINSK, 23 January (BelTA) - Opera soloists and choir of the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus are heading to France to participate in Igor Stravinsky's Les Noces production, BelTA has learned from Elena Balabanovich, the leading editor at the marketing communications department of the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus.
Leading soloists of the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus performed at the largest theater venues in France in September 2018. The masterpieces of Russian music such the operas Aleko by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Iolanta by Pyotr Tchaikovsky opened new seasons in the theaters of Rennes, Angers and Nantes.
“It is a real pleasure that cooperation between the theaters of France and the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus continues. Twelve choristers and soloists of the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus have been invited to Angers, Rennes and Nantes again to take part in seven unique performances of Igor Stravinsky's Les Noces this spring. The audience will be able to see two choreographic versions of the same musical masterpiece as if in mirror image of two choreographers Angelin Preljocaj and Aurélien Richard. Angelin Preljocaj is rehearsing her own version of Les Noces with the participation of students of the National Center of Contemporary Dance in Angers and the choreographer and pianist Aurelin Richard simultaneously is creating his own version of Stravinsky's piece”, said Elena Balabanovich.
“Igor Stravinsky's Les Noces is a popular work," said the main choirmaster of the theater, People's Artist of Belarus Nina Lomanovich. “The performance is extremely interesting and difficult in the same time. The material for the opera choir is unusual but it raises the professional level of each participant. When artists saw the notes of Svadebki for the first time they were confused a bit. They had never had to deal with something like this. But we began to work step by step and everything fell into its place. I have said that several times and now I again repeat that the choir of the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus will cope with any material,” Nina Lomanovich said.
According to the chief choirmaster, Les Noces by Igor Stravinsky has never been put on at the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus. “But I wouldn't want such material escape us. I am sure that this work will generate keen interest if it appears in our repertoire”, she added.
On 16 March Belarusian artists will go to France to start rehearsals. Belarus' soloists and choristers will join the choir of the Angers-Nantes Opera and musicians of the Rennes and Tours Higher Art Education Centers. The young French conductor Remi Durupt will conduct it. Performing will be Irina Kuchinskaya (soprano), Natalia Akinina (mezzo-soprano), Viktor Mendelev (tenor), Andrei Seliutsin (bass) and other twelve members of the choir of the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus. The dates of the shows: Le Quai theatre in Angers on 24 and 25 March, Opera de Rennes on 27 and 28 March, and Nantes Le Grand T on 9, 10 and 11 April.
