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Congratulations!

According to the decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus ‘On awarding State Prizes of the Republic of Belarus in 2016’ in the area of literature, art and architecture, State Prizes were awarded to the artists of the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater of Belarus Oksana Volkova, Anastasia Moskvina, Stanislav Trifonov, Sergey Frankovsky, Nina Lomanovich and Alexander Kostiuchenko for considerable creative accomplishments in the development of musical art, promotion of spiritual values and significant personal contribution to the production of The Grey Legend to the music by Dmitry Smolsky, based on the novel by Vladimir Korotkevich.

The opera premiered on 9 September 2012 opening the 80th Anniversary season of the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus.

This recognized masterpiece of the national opera that was staged for the first time in our theatre in 1978 became a prominent event in the cultural life of our country, and ever since has been the inspiration for new interpretations and versions, where each of the directors seeks to develop his own themes and ideas.

The libretto belongs to one of the classics of Belarusian literature, laureate of the State Prize of Belarus Vladimir Korotkevich, who adapted his work for the Belarusian Bolshoi stage. The music was composed by the People's Artist of Belarus, laureate of the State Prize of Belarus Dmitry Smolsky. The musical director of the production is the Honoured Artist of Ukraine Viktor Ploskina, the director is the winner of the Francysk Skaryna Medal Mikhail Pandzhavidze, the designer is the winner of the Francysk Skaryna medal Alexander Kostiuchenko, the chorus master is the People's Artist of Belarus Nina Lomanovich.

The following artists of the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus  were nominated for the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus for their special contribution to the production of the opera The Grey Legend: the recipient of the Francysk Skaryna Medal Alexander Kostiuchenko (production designer), the People's Artist of Belarus Nina Lomanovich (chorus master), the Honoured Artist of the Republic of Belarus Oksana Volkova (for performing the part of Lubka), the People's Artist of Belarus Anastasia Moskvina (for performing the part of Irina), the Honored Artist of the Republic of Belarus Stanislav Trifonov (for performing the part of Kizgaila), and the People's Artist of Belarus Sergey Frankovsky (for performing the part of Raman).

The opera The Grey Legend is a spectacular production, a bright musical and theatrical work featuring the theme of the history of our country that is worth becoming a part of the Golden Fund of modern theatrical art.

The creative community and critics praised the new production highly. In January 2013, the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus was awarded a special prize of the President of the Republic of Belarus for the figures of culture and art for significant achievements in the development of Belarusian theatrical and musical art for production of the opera The Grey Legend by Dmitry Smolsky.

A famous Russian musical critic Alexander Matusevich said, ‘It is a real success for the theatre, the production is a rare sample of integral and harmonious theatrical and musical piece of operatic art: it's obvious that this production was invested a lot of talent, mastery and soul... It is the only true way: to stage Belarusian national opera in such a way so that the best of its samples would win the hearts of Belarusian music lovers once and for all, paving itself a way to the broad international scene.’

Other critics about the production:

‘The Grey Legend is an artistically solid performance. It is perceived at one breath. It is not quite metaphorical, but rather naturalistic and even brutal, and it is largely created according to the laws of film making: with close-ups and distant shots, dissolves and the depth of the space used. A very important feature of this production is the complementary relationship between the visual sequence and the music, musical score, and the sound choice.’ (Elena Tretyakova, Russia).

‘The production had it all: perfect musical side, wonderful natural voice talents, good acting, and beautiful plastique. The performers are of very high standard, and Belarus can be proud of them. As well as it can pride in the fact that they are engaged in a national production.’ (Lubov Morozova, Ukraine).

‘The conflict between Kizgaila and Raman begins as a domestic one, but under certain circumstances turns into a social conflict: strong characters in a collision of interests instigate intense situations and confrontations. The premiere of The Grey Legend became a bright and ambitious event in our cultural life. It caused a surge of new interest in the works of Karatkevich, making us re-read them. We haven’t had for a while an opera that would so expressively replicate the events of the ornate and tragic history of Belarus, causing us to sympathize with the characters, to grieve over their fates, be proud of and admire them...’ (Tatiana Mushinskaya, Belarus).

We express our sincere congratulations on receiving this high award wishing all good health, joy in life and career, and endless inspiration for the realization of new creative ideas for the benefit of the national art!