“While working on” Carmen “had to overcome a lot of cliches” – News

Photo: Lime / Vladimir Suvorov

At the Bolshoi Theatre is preparing to release a new version of the opera” Carmen “by Georges Bizet directed by Alexei Borodin. The premiere performances of the five unit starts July 15th. For the chief conductor of the Bolshoi Theater Tugan Sokhiev “Carmen” will be a sort of debut he made his debut as Music Director of the opera on the stage of history. In a break between the last rehearsals maestro answered the questions of “Izvestia».

– «Carmen» survived in the Big Eight productions that had varying degrees of success. How did the idea to put the ninth version of “Carmen” and What are the main feature of it?

– In general, the Bolshoi Theatre productions amazing story of “Carmen”. Suffice it to say that at this stage the role of Carmen performed by Elena Obraztsova, Irina Arkhipova, Maria Maksakova.

A feature of the new formulation is that we decided to return to Bizet. We wanted to take the source, to dig into it and find musical and dramatic decisions that would proceed from the operatic score. I myself have repeatedly conducted this opera, and always faced with a lot of punches. And the question here is not so much about directing much of the musical side of the show. You even can not imagine how many clichés to be overcome when working on this opera! We had to re-educate the party to get rid of rhythm, intonation and semantic inaccuracies. Bizet wrote the famous “Habanera” in a certain rhythm, and it should be strictly observed.

This opera should be in the repertoire of the Bolshoi Theater. As the “Queen of Spades” by Tchaikovsky and “Boris Godunov” by Mussorgsky, it should go on the stage of history. This is clearly not even being discussed.

– Do you think so or general director of the theater Vladimir Urin?

– We are together a priori. After Bizet’s music is popular, the number of people who want to listen to it – is huge. Five premieres a long time ago No tickets at the box office.

– Do you think the case in opera, not in the fact that it puts the Bolshoi Theater?

– Of course, the matter of “Carmen”! The music of this opera is known to all. And not the fact that we would have such an effect before the premiere, for example, is far less well-known opera “The Makropulos Affair” Janacek.

– What has prevented transfer a New on the scene performance director David Paunti, who also worked on the maestro Yuri Temirkanov?

– The first technical difficulty – we would have to reinvent the show. It turned out that it is easier to put a new one. Yes, and from a musical point of view, the performance would have a lot to deal Alas, Yuri Temirkanov, which produced the premiere in 2008, had long been conducted “Carmen” at the Bolshoi.

– Why do you have for setting the editor of French composer Ernest Guiraud recitatives with, not the author’s version with spoken dialogue?

– The reason is simple: not all singers may speak well on stage. In comparison with the other actors they supply voices. To read the historical stage of the Bolshoi, all you need to say the words out loud, and it is a lot of pressure on the ligaments, after which it is difficult to sing. In addition, performers must be fluent in French. What is the point to say 10 minutes, if it sounds ugly? In such a formal follow wording does not make sense.

– Among the soloists, taking part in the premiere, many immigrants from southern cities. They were looking for flavor?

– No. We just chose to vote best able to announce this French opera. For me personally, the geography – minor matters. I do think that it is very few people care in the world theater.

We have decided on the composition of the participants of the performance in the last season. Alexei Borodin, and I did it together. I remember that long doubted. Someone went the distance, someone included in the list of last minute. Many I still continue to be involved in the workflow.

– Are you happy with the way the orchestra plays a score of Bizet?

– Artists of the orchestra – well done. They have joined with a great interest in the work. At the time, Yuri Hatuevich did everything at the highest level, but some of the musicians have been replaced, some have forgotten what was done seven years ago. So we had all long and hard to build, especially to work on strokes. Of these, some music and composed, especially the French. If you do not comply with it shades, nuances, which the composer wrote, it does not have.

– wonderful director does not become a hindrance to the great composer?

– No way. We worked together, building on what is written in the notes. When reasoning, what should be the play, then turned to score and did not try to “impose” their vision of the composer and interpretation. On the contrary, we tried to understand what he wanted to Bizet.

– You did it?

– not judge us, and the public. While I can say that all parties vpety. Work on the “Carmen” began five months ago, that is a long time. Alexei Borodin March line up the scene, did sketches, working on images. We’re registered in the libretto and assistant conductor, Musical worked on my score. Even in those days, when I was not at the rehearsals, I knew every minute, how and what was going on. And this is a very important part of the work. Everyone knows exactly what I want to at some point in the music: what pace, slowing down and pause.

– in the theater pleasant walk rumors that the show turned out interesting and lively.

– We would very much like this. It is important that all the characters are not perceived as opera singers on the stage, but as human beings, so that the audience empathized heroes. To Carmen it was natural in its unpredictability, and Michaela – the simple, innocent girl, madly in love with Don José. To love between Carmen and Don Jose, between Micaela and Jose turned out different.

Art and spectacle invented very interesting. I will not be mistaken if I say that with all the performances scenography Stanislaus Benediktova fascinating. In addition, this production is very important light. We in the theater, thank God, has beautiful lighting designer – Damir Ismagilov, which can make the costumes and sets played.

– You share for themselves putting on “traditional” and “modern»?

– No. For me there is only a sense of the theater. In my opinion, a “modern” theater include the theater, which makes today’s audience to feel, to experience and to think.

– The operation of such a scale as in the Bolshoi Theatre , you did not have before. Do you feel a special responsibility?

– I think on the scale, no theater in the world can not be compared with the Great. And the more theater, the more problems. Now we all need to work hard. Primarily I mean myself and creative teams Theatre opera company, ballet, orchestra, choir. In the Great can not stop. Without constant daily work we can not achieve that theater is constantly evolving and always remained the standard of musical performance art. After all this waiting from the Grand.