Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus
Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus
Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus
Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus
The 15th Minsk International Christmas Opera Forum opened with Pyotr Tchaikovsky's The Maid of Orleans, which had premiered this year. On 11 December, the performance featured Daria Gorozhanko; People's Artists of Belarus Anastasia Moskvina, Stanislav Trifonov, Vladimir Gromov; Honoured Artist of the Republic of Belarus Andrei Valentii; recipient of the Francysk Skaryna Medal Dmitry Shabetya; Iosif Nikitenko, Kirill Panfilov, Svyatoslav Sakharov, Ruslan Maspanov, and Anastasiya Lurykava. Artem Makarov conducted.
On 12 December, The Maid of Orleans took on a distinct character thanks to the outstanding soloists that graced the stage that evening. Each artist brought their own unique interpretation and depth to their roles, infusing the production with a sense of individuality. This is what makes each performance so special. The 12 December musical celebration was brought to life by the Honoured Artist of the Republic of Belarus, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus Oksana Volkova, Dmitry Kapilov, Taras Prysiazhniuk, Marta Danusevich, Andrey Klipo, Uladzislau Zazulka, Andrei Logvinov, Alexander Gelakh, Svyatoslav Sakharov, Alexander Krasnodubsky, Anastasiya Lurykava; the orchestra, chorus, extras (special thanks to Diana Khrishchanovich for her portrayal of Joan in the drama scenes), the young talents of the Children's Studio, and young conductor Vitali Hryshchanka.
On 16 December, after the performance of Sergei Slonimsky's The Master and Margarita, Catherine Doulova, General Director of the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus, expressed her gratitude to the guest company, Shostakovich Opera and Ballet Theatre, for the celebration presented by its talented artists.
“Today we have enjoyed a true celebration at the Bolshoi Theatre. My first words are of gratitude to the architects of the Samara Theatre's return to our stage, General Director Natalia Makarova and Artistic Director Evgeny Khokhlov. This is a bond that has stood the test of time, and most importantly, it is founded on a deep mutual understanding. What we witnessed today was truly amazing. We are unaccustomed to music of such power, an aesthetic of such refinement, and a depth of such intensity. My heartfelt thanks to you all for this pinnacle of artistic achievement, for the wonderful production, the scenography of breathtaking beauty, the magnificent dramatic performances, the stunning voices, and prodigious talent you have shared. I do hope you will visit Minsk again. I have a sense you felt truly at home here. Our stage is one that welcomes the most daring artistic experiments.”
On 19 December, the audience were presented with a novel interpretation of Eugene Onegin. A new performer in a role, however familiar, invariably offers a fresh perspective, an original reading, and a distinct emotional resonance. That evening, the audience held the soloists of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre, Dmitry Zuev in the title role and Natalia Petrozhitskaya as Tatiana, in prolonged, rapturous applause. Acclaim was also fervently given to the superb principal singers, ballet artists, chorus, and orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus, all under the masterful baton of Maestro Yuri Karavayev. The performance marked the fourth evening of the Minsk International Christmas Opera Forum.
As part of the Minsk International Christmas Opera Forum, George Frideric Handel's opera Acis and Galatea received its premiere at the Chamber Hall of the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus on 20 December. This baroque masterpiece was performed on our stage for the first time, offering a rare and exquisite musical encounter. Particular gratitude is extended to the exceptional production team: Vitali Hryshchanka, director Natalia Baranovskaya, designer Lyubov Sidelnikova, chorus master Sergey Agranovich, and choreographer Anastasiya Holeshava.
The gala concert of the winners of the 27th edition of the Mikhail Glinka International Vocal Competition, dedicated to the centenary of the great Russian opera singer Irina Arkhipova’s birth, who had served as the head of the jury for more than four decades, marked the culmination of the festival. Artem Makarov, the People's Artist of Bashkortostan, took the conductor's podium.
The debut performance on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus by the acclaimed Russian singer, Honoured Artist of Russia and People's Artist of Tatarstan, Albina Shagimuratova, was a historic highlight of the evening.
The concert was further graced by the eminent opera soloists of the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus, namely Honoured Artist of the Republic of Belarus Oksana Volkova, who had triumphed with her first prize at the Glinka Competition in 2007, and Daria Gorozhanko, who had been a participant in the 27th edition of the Glinka Competition.
The programme also featured Valentina Pravdina, Ekaterina Begunovich, Ivan Borodulin, Ekaterina Lukash, Konstantin Fedotov, as well as guest singers from Nicaragua, Lizbeth Berrios and Mauricio Delgado.
On 21 December, prior to the culminating concert of the 15th Minsk International Christmas Opera Forum, a press briefing for Belarusian media was held featuring Catherina Doulova, General Director of the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus, and Albina Shagimuratova, one of the brightest stars in the operatic firmament. Minsk served as the eighteenth and final city on the grand tour of the Concert of Laureates of the Mikhail Glinka International Vocal Competition.
It should be noted that Albina Shagimuratova, a principal singer of the Mariinsky Theatre (St Petersburg), currently holds the esteemed positions of Artistic Director and Chair of the Jury of the Glinka International Vocal Competition. In her address to the journalists, a special tribute was reserved for the late Irina Arkhipova. “To nurture talent is a generosity of the soul,” Shagimuratova remarked with deep respect. “She could give wings with just a single phrase,” the singer revealed, emphasizing how crucial such support was for young artists. “To step onto the stage is always a joy. And to share that joy with an audience is a profound pleasure and delight,” she added. We do hope that this inaugural introduction of Albina Shagimuratova's extraordinary artistry to the Belarusian audience will not be the last.
