There are not many editorials that I write and have a memory to start with. The opera industry changes fast as new world crises hit it again and again. Today, we cannot even say if Peter Gelb is the villain or a savior. One of my last memories from Russia, before I left it about ten years ago after Russia {…}
Photo: Juilian Hargreaves Since the end of February 2022, in statements made by several artist or theaters, we have kept reading something along the lines of: “Art must be separated from politics.” It is an encouraging and probably fair point, but can it be, especially, when we talk about opera? Today, when we enjoy a performance worth hundreds of thousands {…}
(Photo by Valeri Guérguiev) Carnegie Hall has canceled all performances by the Mariinsky Orchestra with Valery Gergiev scheduled for this May. The Russian orchestra was set to perform on May 3 and 4. In a statement, Carnegie Hall stated that the cancelation was due to recent world events and ongoing challenges presented by COVID-19. The world events in question are {…}
The Mariinsky Theatre has announced a new production of “Benvenuto Cellini” as part of its 2021-22 season. The production, which will be the first new one of the season, will be directed by Alexei Frandetti and features a production team that includes set designer Vyacheslav Okunev, costume designer Viktoria Sevryukova, lighting designer Gleb Filshtinsky and choreographer Irina Koshuba. The production {…}
(Credit: ©Alexander Neff) The Mariinsky Theatre has announced the operas it will present throughout September and October 2021. The company will showcase “The Maid of Orleans” with a cast starring Ekaterina Semenchuk, Maria Bayankin, Sergei Skorohodov, Mikhail Petrenko, Vladislav Kupriyanov, Alexei Markov, and Evgeny Nikitin under the baton of Valery Gergiev. Performance Dates: Sept. 8 & Oct. 9, 2021 “Le Nozze {…}
(Credit: Natasha Razina) The Mariinsky Theatre has announced several new productions to its “Stars of the White Nights” International Music Festival. First up, the company will present Verdi’s “Macbeth” in a production starring soprano Anna Netrebko. The rest of the cast will be announced at a later date. Valery Gergiev will conduct the production, which is slated for June 19, {…}
(Credit: Guergana Damianova) Anna Netrebko has canceled her upcoming performance of “Eugene Onegin” at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. The soprano, who tested negative for COVID-19, stated, “Dear Petersburgers! In connection with the latest events related to COVID-19 and the cancellation of the Bolshoi performance (thank God, all my tests are negative), but I am retiring for a week {…}
(Credit: Евгения Шабанова) COVID-19 allegedly continues to strike the ailing Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. According to the Rosbalt website, the infection seriously damaged the health of several artists of the opera choir. A source from Mariinsky told Rosbalt that during the tour in Vladivostok, one of the performers had to be taken to the hospital for treatment. The Fifth {…}
(Credit: Mariinsky Theatre official website) COVID-19 has struck the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Per the sources on the website Rosbalt.ru, over 50 members of the ballet and the orchestra fell sick as a result of the COVID-19 infection. Per the same sources, the number has more than doubled related to the previous day. The website reports that each day {…}
(Credits: Picture-Alliance/DPA/U. Mauder/Mariinsky Theatre Official website) COVID-19 has struck the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres. According to the sources close to the Mariinsky Theatre that spoke to the RBC reporters, a large number of artists at the Mariinsky Theatre fell sick with COVID-19. According to the same sources, all the rehearsals of the ballet “Giselle” have been postponed, and artists who {…}
(Credit: Cory Weaver / Los Angeles Opera) The Mariinsky Theatre has doubled down on its support of Plácido Domingo while announcing that the famed artist will appear at the White Night Festival on July 2, 2021. He will take on the role of Rodrigo, Marquis de Posa in Verdi’s “Don Carlo.” It has been a tough few weeks for Domingo {…}