Name: Hamlets
Start: 2022-01-13T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2022-04-01T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Latvian National Opera

Organization

Conductor

Mārtiņš Ozoliņš

Stage director

Kristina Wuss

Farhads Stade

Set designer

Andris Eglītis

Costume designer

Kristīne Pasternaka

Choreographer

Agris Danilevičs

Lighting designer

Martins Feldmanis

Singer

Bass

Jānis Apeinis

Claudius

Rihards Mačanovskis

Soprano

Dana Bramane

Gertrude

Ilona Bagele

Tenor

Andris Ludvigs

Hamlets

Raimonds Bramanis

Baritone

Rinalds Kandalincevs

Horace

Kalvis Kalniņš

Armands Siliņš

Polonium

Krišjānis Norvelis

Andris Kipļuks

Lucian

Guntars Ruņģis

Mezzo-soprano

Inga Šļubovska

Baptist

Laura Grecka

Gonzago

Juris Ādamsons

Prologue

Rihards Millers

1st Gravedigger

2nd Gravedigger

Bernardo

Marcellus

Ophelia

Evija Martinsone

Mihails Čuļpajevs

Laerts

Latvian National Opera

Others

Choeur Latvian National Opera Choir, Riga Dome Boys' Choir

Orchestra

Latvian National Opera Orchestra

Hamlets -  (Hamlet)

Riga

Latvia

Hamlets Kalniņš

Public

Hamlet

Approved

Accordionist

Instrumentalist

Archlutenist

Baroque Flutist

Baroque Oboist

Baroque Trumpetist

Bassist

Bassoonist

Cellist

Clarinetist

Contrabassist

Cornettist

Flutist

Guitarist

Harper

Harpsichordist

Hornist

Lutenist

Mandoline Player

Musette de cour Player

Oboist

Organist

Percussionist

Pianist

Recorder Player

Saxophonist

Tenor Violinist

Theorbist

Timpani

Trombonist

Trumpeter

Tuba Player

Vibraphonist

Viola Pomposa Player

Viola da gamba

Viola d’amore Player

Violinist

Violino Piccolo Player

Violist

Actor

Broadcasting

Choir

Chorus Director

Chorus master

Composer

Dancer

Dramaturge

Executive producer

Extra

Hairstylist

Illustrator

Librettist

Makeup artist

Orchestra Operations

Other

Photographer

Poet

Repetiteur

Sound designer

Stage Manager

Teacher

Translator

Video designer

Vocal coach

Wig & Makeup Designer

Writer

Writing and performance

Countertenor

Contralto

Bass-baritone

Alto

Child vocalist

Continuo

Silent

Spoken

On January 13, 2022, one of the brightest works in Latvian opera music, the musical tragedy “Hamlet” by Jānis Kalniņš (1904-2000), a story about strength and tenderness, created in ten scenes with interludes, premiered at the Latvian National Opera. The new production consists of the musical director and conductor of the show Mārtiņš Ozoliņš, director Kristina Wuss, set designer Andris Eglītis, costume designer Kristīne Pasternaka, choreographer Agris Daņiļevičs and lighting artist Mārtiņš Feldmanis. The patron of the production is the Latvian National Opera Guild (USA)

In January 2022, one of the most brilliant Latvian musical compositions will return to the stage of the National Opera: Jānis Kalniņš’s musical tragedy Hamlet, a story about strength and fragility, structured as ten scenes with interludes. The new production is the work of its musical director and conductor Mārtiņš Ozoliņš, stage director Kristina Wuss, scenographer Andris Eglītis, and costume designer Kristīne Pasternaka. The patron of the production is the Latvian National Opera Guild in the United States.

“Hamlet was completed in late 1935, with the composer working both in Latvia and Austria. It coincided with the time when the Latvian team claimed victory in the First European Basketball Championship, the Freedom Monument was erected with money donated by the Latvian people, and Latvian crafts were exhibited at the Trocadero in Paris. Soon, VEF began producing its VEF Super Lux MD/37 radio, featuring a picture of the map of Europe. Life was not out of joint quite to the extent as it was in medieval Denmark. Suddenly, a time tunnel emerges, joining moments from different centuries: 16th c. (play) – 1935 (opera) – 21st c.(paintings). The focus of these ten scenes, with interludes of different lengths, is conscience as it balances on the centrifuge of the revolving circle in the LNOB stage floor. While Shakespeare personifies this theme in at least 20 different characters, Kalniņš makes do with fewer. I feel like using white for the story, a situation of melting ice,” says Kristina Wuss, director of the opera.  

The premiere of Kalniņš’s Hamlet, with Jānis Zariņš as stage director, took place at the Latvian National Opera, with the composer conducting. For the purposes of the libretto, the author of the opera had abbreviated the philosophical dialogues and long monologues, without sacrificing the core of the tragedy. The newspaper Rīts gushed after the premiere: “It’s been a while since our stately opera house has experienced such a brilliant premiere; it’s been a while since a Latvian composer has been greeted with such ovations; it’s been a while since the audience has been so enthusiastic and responsive as yesterday when the young Latvian composer Jānis Kalniņš conducted his opera Hamlet for the first time.” Another, musically changed edition of the opera, again with Jānis Zariņš as director, was produced in 1943. In both productions, the outstanding Latvian tenor Mariss Vētra sang the title role and the charismatic baritone Ādolfs Kaktiņš was Claudius.

English

Uz Latvijas Nacionālās operas skatuves ir atgriezies viens no spožākajiem darbiem latviešu mūzikā – Jāņa Kalniņa muzikālā traģēdija Hamlets, stāsts par spēku un maigumu, kas veidots desmit ainās ar starpspēlēm. Jaunuzvedumu veido izrādes muzikālais vadītājs un diriģents Mārtiņš Ozoliņš, režisore Kristīna Vuss (Kristina Wuss), scenogrāfs Andris Eglītis un kostīmu māksliniece Kristīne Pasternaka. Iestudējuma patrons ir Latvijas Nacionālās operas ģilde ASV.

“Opera Hamlets tika pabeigta 1935. gadā, rakstīta gan Latvijā, gan Austrijā. Tas bija laiks, kad Latvijas komanda guva uzvaru 1. Eiropas čempionātā basketbolā, par tautas saziedotiem līdzekļiem tapa Brīvības piemineklis un Parīzes Trokadero muzeja Eiropas galeriju atklāja ar Baltijas valstu tautas mākslu. VEF drīz sāka ražot savu radio VEF Super Lux MD/37 ar skalu Eiropas kartes veidolā. Laiks ne gluži tādā mērogā izgāzies no eņģēm, kā tika stāstīts par karaļvalsti Dāniju viduslaikos. Pēkšņi rodas laika tunelis, kas savieno dažādo gadsimtu mirkļus: 16.gs. (drāma) – 1935. gads (opera) – 21.gs.(gleznas). 10 ainās ar ļoti dažāda garuma starpspēlēm uzmanības centrā ir sirdsapziņas tēma, kas balansē uz LNOB Lielās skatuves ripas. Šekspīrs šo tēmu personificē vismaz 20 dažādos tēlos, komponists Kalniņš iztiek ar mazāk personāžiem. Gribas to visu pastāstīt baltā krāsā, ledus atkušņa situācijā,” stāsta operas režisore Kristīna Vuss.

Jāņa Kalniņa operas Hamlets pirmiestudējums Jāņa Zariņa režijā Latvijas Nacionālajā operā notika 1936. gadā ar pašu komponistu pie diriģenta pults. Libretā operas autors saīsinājis lugā lasāmās filozofiskās sarunas un garos monologus, pēc iespējas saudzējot to, kas tik raksturīgs šai traģēdijai. Pēc pirmizrādes avīze Rīts rakstīja: “Sen mūsu staltais operas nams nav piedzīvojis tik spožu pirmizrādi, sen latviešu komponists nav sumināts tādiem aplausiem un ovācijām, sen operas pirmizrāde nav pulcinājusi tik jūsmīgus un atsaucīgus klausītājus, kā vakar, kad operā pirmo reizi paša komponēto Hamletu diriģēja jaunais latviešu komponists Jānis Kalniņš.” Atkārtoti, nu jau muzikāli pārveidotā redakcijā, iestudējums Jāņa Zariņa režijā tika īstenots 1943. gadā. Abos uzvedumos titullomu dziedāja ievērojamais latviešu tenors Mariss Vētra, bet Klaudija lomu – harizmātiskais

latviešu

Hamlet by Kalniņš, J., Sun 16 Jan 2022, From (2022/2022), Directed by Kristina Wuss,, Conductor Mārtiņš Ozoliņš, Farhads Stade, Latvian National Opera, Riga, Latvia

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble

Programme, About & Synopsis

Videos

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues