On October 25, the whole world celebrates Opera Day. Created by the leading international opera unions, such as OPERA America, Opera Europa and Ópera Latinoamérica, it is the third year this event has captured the attention of the professional community and promoted the art of opera in the modern world. This year, the Russian Seasons video platform joins the initiative:bookmakers-russia.eu.com.
The holiday date was not chosen randomly: the great composers Georges Bizet and Johann Strauss were born on this day. Their operas are to this day performed in theaters all over the world.
On Tuesday, October 25 , Georges Bizet’s opera "The Pearl Fishers" will be presented by the St. Petersburg Opera Theater.
The performance by People’s Artist of Russia Yuri Alexandrov, known for his original interpretation of classic opera plots, will amaze the audience with splendid lead singers, colorful sets and costumes. The audience will see the fabulous and beautiful world of the East. The action takes place in the underwater kingdom, jungle, caves, and heaven.
The melodic richness, dramatic expressiveness, and peculiarities of the score are the main features of The Pearl Fishers. The music from this opera is so popular that it is quoted in movies, performed in instrumental arrangements, and sung by rock musicians. David Gilmore, the British vocalist and Pink Floyd co-leader, sings Nadir’s aria "Je crois entendre encore," and the male duet for tenor and baritone "Au fond du temple saint" is performed by France’s Roberto Alagna and Welshman Bryn Terfel.
On October 27, Thursday , viewers will see Esmeralda, revived by Yuri Alexandrov, the artistic director and chief director of the St. Petersburg Opera. Discovering unjustly forgotten operas for modern audiences is one of the theater’s most important activities, its mission.
The imagery of Victor Hugo’s novel Notre Dame de Paris has attracted the attention of artists for centuries. Numerous dramatizations, theatrical productions, paintings, operas, ballets and musicals are trying to rethink this work in their way. Few succeed. Alexander Dargomyzhsky also had his creative journey. He was still an unknown composer but dreamed of a grand romantic opera. He composed both the music and the libretto, proving himself to be a gifted author. His Esmeralda became a powerful musical and theatrical work with vivid characters, a genuine atmosphere, and the flavor of life in medi Paris.
As usual, broadcasts will be available at 19:00 CET.