The Master and Margarita

The production of the opera The Master and Margarita was a continuation of Samara Theatre's work on the preservation and promotion of the legacy of Sergei Slonimsky, whose creative path was deeply intertwined with Samara, formerly known as Kuibyshev. It was here that the premieres of several of his operas took place, including Virinea, Mary Stuart, Hamlet, and Visions of Ivan the Terrible, which was staged by Robert Sturua with Mstislav Rostropovich serving as conductor.

The composer commenced work on The Master and Margarita in 1966, immediately after reading the first publication of Bulgakov’s novel in the magazine Moscow. After the concert performance of the first act in 1972, the opera was banned. Only in May 1989, under the baton of Mikhail Yurovsky, The Master and Margarita was presented to the audience in Moscow, but it was a concert version that did not fully exploit the capabilities of an opera house. The stage premiere of the piece took place in Hamburg in 2000; however, the production was performed in German, which did not fully adhere to the original text.

Only in 2023, the full-scale stage premiere of the opera was presented in Russia, on the Samara stage. Slonimsky’s original work, which remains groundbreaking even today, far surpassed its epoch. Being chamber according to the composer's idea, it impresses with its depth and scope. The opera awaited production for over half a century.

The Master and Margarita is a masterful musical and dramatic work that presents a significant challenge in terms of staging. Through the collaborative efforts of the creative team, a unique production was created, characterized by a distinctive style that bears resemblance to cinematic work. The creators successfully tackled the daunting task of harmonizing the essence of the production with Mikhail Bulgakov's literary masterpiece and Sergei Slonimsky's musical score, ensuring a seamless interplay between the musical and visual elements, spanning across time and space, from Moscow in the 1920s and 1930s to ancient Yershalaim, and delving into the intricate layers of meaning. On the stage, a profound tragedy of human emotions unfolds, transcending the boundaries of operatic conventions. A culmination of years of dedicated work, this production undoubtedly represents the pinnacle of the company.

The innovative approach of the production team to the musical and theatrical interpretation of this opera has resulted in the creation of a production that is unparalleled in its complexity, scale, and brilliance, marking a new chapter in the evolution of musical theatre.

The Samara production of The Master and Margarita, based on the eponymous novel by Mikhail Bulgakov, became a remarkable and momentous event in Russian cultural life – the full-length version of the opera had never been staged across Russia before. The audience and the expert community warmly and enthusiastically welcomed the production. At present, the Dmitri Shostakovich Samara State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre is the only venue where audiences can watch this production. The production of Master and Margarita has become a landmark not only for the theatre but also for global cultural heritage.

In November 2023, Samara Theatre presented The Master and Margarita at the Mariinsky Theatre (Mariinsky II). The performance took place as part of the 9th International Cultural Forum in Saint Petersburg. In the autumn of 2024, the opera was performed with great success on the Historic Stage of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia as part of the Festival of Musical Theatres “To See Music”.

In June 2025, the production was awarded a special Maestro Prize during the 31st edition of the Russian National Golden Mask Theatre Award.

Musical director and conductor: Evgeny Khokhlov
Director: Yuri Alexandrov
Designer: Sergey Novikov
Lighting designer: Irina Vtornikova
Choreographer: Nadezhda Kalinina