Premiere of this production: 15 April 2011, Moscow theatre "New Opera", Moscow, Russia
The production of Borodin’s Prince Igor staged at the Novaya Opera is based on Glazunov and Rimsky-Korsakov’s version adapted by Yuri Alexandrov. Trying to bring home the message of The Tale of Igor's Campaign, which is somewhat concealed by Borodin’s beautiful music, the stage director highlights different key points.
Yuri Alexandrov, stage director:
“While working on the opera, I pondered about what happens in Russia, about its historical role, what it’s like now and what it’ll be like in the future. The production at the Novaya Opera is a true story; this is what I see around. The opera is not about darkness, but about light. The light that exists in every human being and it has to be revealed. Alexander Borodin’s patriotic opera ‘Prince Igor’ makes a comeback to the Moscow stage after a 10-year break. Boris Pokrovsky’s legendary production of the opera was last performed at the Bolshoi in January 2002. Since then the Moscow public have enjoyed only rare concert performances of ‘Prince Igor’. My concept is focused on a person’s valour. For me, Yaroslavna is the embodiment of valour: she can endure all the people’s pain and she can even govern the country if necessary. She symbolizes loyalty to Russia. Prince Igor neglects his duties and God’s laws, whereas Yaroslavna has the virtue. Igor is a sufferer, and through suffering he redeems his sins. This is one of the messages of my production. We have lost the ability to repent and to admit to our mistakes. I think that faith is one of the few things that can stop us from falling into a spiritual abyss. This opera is about light that every person has. We have to reveal this light. That’s why the finale of our production is crowned with the most pacific and beautiful music – the peasants’ chorus”.
Evgeny Samoilov, music director of the production, Honoured Artist of Russia:
“Novaya Opera performed this piece for the first time in January 2009 during the Epiphany Week Festival. The idea appeared in 2008, the year of the 175th anniversary of Borodin’s birth. Recent years have seen a renaissance of Russian cultural values. And that is why we felt it was important to turn to Russian music. It is also a pleasure for the audience to listen to and for the singers to perform this opera. The music is so rich, convincing and emotional that it is a value in itself”.
Vyacheslav Okunev, designer of the production:
“The focus of the Act 1 sets is the brick constructions. The red colour of bricks reminds me of gore. Those brick constructions symbolize ruins of cathedrals in central Russia that used to be white-washed, but are now neglected. Red brick is also the Kremlin; it is a number of houses on the outskirts of Russian cities. This colour makes me uneasy; it makes me think about Russian attitude to culture. That is how I feel the opera and I believe that the audience will feel and see it the same way”.
Synopsis
Introduction "The Song about the Hero"
Act One
Scene 1 Appearing of Spartacus
Spartacus is fighting against numerous enemies at the field alone. Wounded, he is taken prisoner by the Romans.
Scene 2 Kraass’s triumph
Ex-dictator Luscious Cornelius Sulla watches the Roman army parade in the Coliseum. A slave Greek dancer Avreia plays Victoria Goddess and mime Metrobius plays Mars at the ceremony. Mark Lucinius Kraass’s concubine, Evtibide, an Amazon is among the winners. Kraass, a successful commander, drives in Spartacus to public. He is in ropes. Avrelia rushes to Spartacus; she recognizes her beloved in him.
Gladiators’ fights continue the victory day. Andabaths, Retiary and Mirmillion, Fracas and Samnitis are there.
Kraass makes unarmed Spartacus fight against several rivals. Spartacus wins, but asks to keep defeated gladiators alive. He is in ropes again. Evtibida dancing the dance of “The Roman Wolf” takes the ropes away and leads Kraass away from the Coliseum. The saved gladiators Kriks, Gannik and Kass rush to Spartacus.
Scene 3 The plot
Slaves, citizens, mimes and beggars gather in the tavern “Venus Libitin”. They are treated by its hostess Lutasia One-eyed and her two servants. Spartacus with friends enters. He calls everybody to the rebellion. All the visitors support him with enthusiasm.
Scene 4 Spartacus’s and Aurelia’s date
Spartacus secretly meets Avrelia in a Roman street. Patricians, invited to ex-dictator’s Sulla festive pass by them. Kraass, accompanied by Metrobius, is brought in on stretcher. Avrelia has to join Evtipida’s suite. Spartacus doesn’t want to attract attention of this capricious woman.
Scene 5 Ex-dictator’s festive
The most famous patricians and women gathered in Roman patio.
Ex-dictator Sulla has prepared a performance for them. Mimes and Metrobius dance, Kraass, Metrobius and Evtibide try to involve Avrelia in their erotic games. But the rest manages to escape. Avrelia, Methrobius and mimes dance an ethruss dance. The spartacians rush into the patio during the gaditian snakes dance.
They burn the hall by torches. Spartacus lets Evtibida and other women go. She takes Kraass and Methrobius from terms and hides them among gaditian dames and slaves. Rebels proclaim Spartacus their leader.
Act Two "The Victory Song"
Scene 6 Spartacus army training and the battle
Spartacus’s camp. Gladiators train the slaves the Roman array. Warriors learn to fight with different armament; slaves become a really well-trained army. It’s a battle with Romans. The spartacians win. Evtibide makes Spartacus a declaration of love. But he stays indifferent to her. Evtibide makes an attempt to kill him and swears to take revenge.
Scene 7 Kraass’s defeat
Kraass is in a fury. He kills his retreating warriors and tries to force discipline. Evtibide carries him away to a forbidden Egypt occult cathedral in Rome.
Scene 8 Sacrifice
In the Egypt cathedral Evtibide dances a ritual dance. So that to implore the victory to the Roman army from Isida, she kills a vestal virgin and cleans Kraass’s sword with it.
Scene 9 A revolt in Spartacus’s camp
The slaves are intoxicated with the victory. They beg and torture the captives, rape their wives and daughters. Spartacus interferes in it with fury and after it some of his people part from the army. They are leaded by his best friend Kriks. Their aim is Rome. But Spartacus is against that plan. He is determined to get free slaves to their places. But his companions force him to stay at their head.
Spartacus and Avrelia live through that night with the feeling of a soon death battle. "The Song of Love".
Scene 10 The last fight. "The Song of Immortality"
Spartacus and his army die in a bloody battle. Evtibide tries hard to hide her grief. Women-slaves mourn the loss of their beloved. Avrelia bids farewell to Spartacus.
Scene 11 Kraass’s triumph
Kraass’s chariot and Evtibide is carried by new slaves. The crowd welcomes the winners.