<Translated from Russian automatically, will be edited later>
Vladimir Urin, General Director of the Bolshoi Theater, announced this at the presentation of a recording of the opera released by Melodiya.
"I absolutely don't rule out the possibility that 'The Children of Rosenthal' could return to the Bolshoi Theater. Someone involved in creating the production, in this case the director, should be interested in this material. From the perspective of both the libretto and the music, this work is worthy of a return in a new stage version," Urin stated, though he was unable to specify a timeframe for when the production might return.
Vladimir Sorokin, the librettist of 'The Children of Rosenthal', also noted that the opera "must be reborn on stage in a different production, because enough time has passed, and our world has changed, including the theater and opera worlds. I sometimes fantasize about this production and even see something. I want it to be powerful, vibrant, and refined," the writer added. Composer Leonid Desyatnikov agreed.
Urin also stated that there won't be a long wait for a new opera for the Bolshoi Theatre: negotiations are already underway with contemporary composers. "We won't wait 30 years, as we did with 'Children of Rosenthal.' We're currently negotiating, discussing the theme and libretto of a new modern opera," he noted.
The Return of 'Children of Rosenthal' on Disc
A recording of the opera, commissioned by the Bolshoi Theatre and produced by Melodiya, has been available on disc since October 25.
Libretitor Vladimir Sorokin, by his own admission, waited 11 years for the return of 'Children of Rosenthal'. Composer Leonid Desyatnikov praised the studio work on the recording.
Of the artists who performed in the Bolshoi Theatre's 2005 production, two participated in the recording: Pyotr Migunov, who performed the role of Rosenthal, and Maxim Paster, who performed the role of Tchaikovsky. The recording of the new version of the opera features leading Bolshoi Theatre soloists Vasily Ladyuk, Elena Manistina, Vsevolod Grivnov, and Alexander Teliga. As in the original production, Alexander Vedernikov conducted the studio version.
The release has been available on iTunes and Apple Music since October 21.
The Opera's Difficult Fate
From the history of "Children of Rosenthal," it is known that this opera was commissioned by the Bolshoi Theatre from St. Petersburg composer Leonid Desyatnikov and renowned writer Vladimir Sorokin, who served as librettist. In 2002, for the first time in many years, the Bolshoi Theatre commissioned contemporary composers to write a new musical work.
The main characters in the new opera were "doubles" of world classics: Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Verdi, and Mozart, allegedly "cloned" by the German scientist Rosenthal, who fled to the USSR. "I'm creating a new myth. The result is a work that begins in the spirit of Wagner, flows through the sensuality of Tchaikovsky, through the folkloric spirit of Mussorgsky, and ends with the humanity of Verdi and the poignancy of Mozart. This is a deeply human story, one that will bring tears to many. I myself shed tears when I heard this wonderful music," Vladimir Sorokin wrote about his future libretto.
The production's musical director was Alexander Vedernikov, who was the principal conductor and musical director of the Bolshoi Theater at the time. He described the premiere of "The Children of Rosenthal" as "a fundamental and historic event. For the first time in thirty years, a work created specifically for the Bolshoi Theater will appear on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater. An art form that is not enriched by new compositions is doomed to die. I don't want such a fate for the opera genre," the maestro explained.
Renowned Lithuanian director Eimuntas Nekrošius was invited to stage "Children of Rosenthal." However, even before the premiere, a scandal erupted around the production. Some State Duma deputies seriously considered moving the opera from the Bolshoi Theater to another venue.
Alexander Sokolov, then the Russian Minister of Culture, expressed similar views, deeming "Children of Rosenthal" "not up to the standards of the Bolshoi Theater."
Despite the pressure, the theater and its management managed to defend "Children of Rosenthal." The opera's world premiere took place on March 23, 2005.
The production remained in the Bolshoi Theater's repertoire for several years and toured to Riga, St. Petersburg, and Finland. Its final performance took place on December 7, 2008.
Source.
Vladimir Urin, General Director of the Bolshoi Theater, announced this at the presentation of a recording of the opera released by Melodiya.
"I absolutely don't rule out the possibility that 'The Children of Rosenthal' could return to the Bolshoi Theater. Someone involved in creating the production, in this case the director, should be interested in this material. From the perspective of both the libretto and the music, this work is worthy of a return in a new stage version," Urin stated, though he was unable to specify a timeframe for when the production might return.
Vladimir Sorokin, the librettist of 'The Children of Rosenthal', also noted that the opera "must be reborn on stage in a different production, because enough time has passed, and our world has changed, including the theater and opera worlds. I sometimes fantasize about this production and even see something. I want it to be powerful, vibrant, and refined," the writer added. Composer Leonid Desyatnikov agreed.
Urin also stated that there won't be a long wait for a new opera for the Bolshoi Theatre: negotiations are already underway with contemporary composers. "We won't wait 30 years, as we did with 'Children of Rosenthal.' We're currently negotiating, discussing the theme and libretto of a new modern opera," he noted.
The Return of 'Children of Rosenthal' on Disc
A recording of the opera, commissioned by the Bolshoi Theatre and produced by Melodiya, has been available on disc since October 25.
Libretitor Vladimir Sorokin, by his own admission, waited 11 years for the return of 'Children of Rosenthal'. Composer Leonid Desyatnikov praised the studio work on the recording.
Of the artists who performed in the Bolshoi Theatre's 2005 production, two participated in the recording: Pyotr Migunov, who performed the role of Rosenthal, and Maxim Paster, who performed the role of Tchaikovsky. The recording of the new version of the opera features leading Bolshoi Theatre soloists Vasily Ladyuk, Elena Manistina, Vsevolod Grivnov, and Alexander Teliga. As in the original production, Alexander Vedernikov conducted the studio version.
The release has been available on iTunes and Apple Music since October 21.
The Opera's Difficult Fate
From the history of "Children of Rosenthal," it is known that this opera was commissioned by the Bolshoi Theatre from St. Petersburg composer Leonid Desyatnikov and renowned writer Vladimir Sorokin, who served as librettist. In 2002, for the first time in many years, the Bolshoi Theatre commissioned contemporary composers to write a new musical work.
The main characters in the new opera were "doubles" of world classics: Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Verdi, and Mozart, allegedly "cloned" by the German scientist Rosenthal, who fled to the USSR. "I'm creating a new myth. The result is a work that begins in the spirit of Wagner, flows through the sensuality of Tchaikovsky, through the folkloric spirit of Mussorgsky, and ends with the humanity of Verdi and the poignancy of Mozart. This is a deeply human story, one that will bring tears to many. I myself shed tears when I heard this wonderful music," Vladimir Sorokin wrote about his future libretto.
The production's musical director was Alexander Vedernikov, who was the principal conductor and musical director of the Bolshoi Theater at the time. He described the premiere of "The Children of Rosenthal" as "a fundamental and historic event. For the first time in thirty years, a work created specifically for the Bolshoi Theater will appear on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater. An art form that is not enriched by new compositions is doomed to die. I don't want such a fate for the opera genre," the maestro explained.
Renowned Lithuanian director Eimuntas Nekrošius was invited to stage "Children of Rosenthal." However, even before the premiere, a scandal erupted around the production. Some State Duma deputies seriously considered moving the opera from the Bolshoi Theater to another venue.
Alexander Sokolov, then the Russian Minister of Culture, expressed similar views, deeming "Children of Rosenthal" "not up to the standards of the Bolshoi Theater."
Despite the pressure, the theater and its management managed to defend "Children of Rosenthal." The opera's world premiere took place on March 23, 2005.
The production remained in the Bolshoi Theater's repertoire for several years and toured to Riga, St. Petersburg, and Finland. Its final performance took place on December 7, 2008.
Source.
The opera "Rosenthal's Children" may return to the Bolshoi Theatre
TASS, October 25, 2016
