Name: The Tale of Tsar Saltan
Start: 2019-09-22T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2020-02-02T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre

Artist

Admin

Conductor

Waleriy Trubin-Leonoff

Stage director

Ekaterina Malaya

Set designer

Pyotr Okunev

Video designer

Vadim Dulenko

Chorus master

Larisa Shveikovskaya

Bass

Yevgeny Plekhanov

Tsar Saltan

Sergei Pleshivtsev

Soprano

Elizaveta Senatorova

Militrisa

Tenor

Yevgeny Mizin

Prince Gvidon

Roman Krukovich

Maria Suzdaltseva

Swan-Princess

Alina Mikhailik

Aigul Khismatullina

Mezzo-soprano

Laura Bustamante

The weaver

Tatiana Makarchuk

Svetlana Rozhok

Cook

Elena Tretyakova

Contralto

Irina Kolodyazhnaya

Matchmaker-Crone

Evgeny Akhmedov

Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre

Orchestra

Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra of the Primorsky Stage

Others

Mariinsky Chorus of the Primorsky Stage

Russian

The Tale of Tsar Saltan

Vladivostok

Russia

The Tale of Tsar Saltan Rimsky-Korsakov

Public

English

Approved

Instrumentalist

Pianist

Violinist

Cellist

Violist

Flutist

Clarinetist

Guitarist

Organist

Percussionist

Oboist

hornist

Bassoonist

Trumpeter

Contrabassist

Harper

Trombonist

Saxophonist

Harpsichordist

Accordionist

Bassist

Tuba Player

Recorder Player

Lutenist

Tenor Violinist

Timpani

Mandoline Player

Baroque Flutist

Baroque Oboist

Baroque Trumpetist

Violino Piccolo Player

Viola da gamba

Musette de cour Player

Viola Pomposa Player

Archlutenist

Vibraphonist

Cornettist

Viola d’amore Player

Theorbist

Composer

Librettist

Costume designer

Choreographer

Lighting designer

Dancer

Actor

Dramaturge

Translator

Sound designer

Repetiteur

Makeup artist

Executive producer

Hairstylist

Other

Stage Manager

Choir

Poet

Vocal coach

Teacher

Photographer

Broadcasting

Writer

Writing and performance

Chorus Director

Wig & Makeup Designer

Orchestra Operations

Illustrator

Extra

Singer

Bass-baritone

Countertenor

Baritone

Spoken

Child vocalist

Silent

Alto

Continuo

Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov is called the greatest storyteller in the history of Russian music and The Tale of Tsar Saltan – his most joyful opera. Based on Pushkin’s theme, it was composed to coincide with the centenary of the genius of Russian poetry, so the composer tried to follow the original Pushkin’s text as closely as possible. And, indeed, the poetic lines of the immortal fairy tale literally tickle one’s imagination, prompting the musical solution: the magical squirrel sings: “In the grove or in the garden…” and the Swan Princess “speaks the Russian language.”

Rimsky-Korsakov wanted to compose music which would match Pushkin’s fairy tale – something Russian, lubok- and fair-like. The composer was so successful in incarnating this vision that after the opera premiere he became known as “the musical Pushkin”. Rimsky-Korsakov preserved both long, bylina-like name of the poem and Saltan’s peculiar features, such as naivety, good-natured humour, fast “dancing” rhythm, folklore storytelling techniques and national ethnic flavour.

The compositional method itself, which the author perceived as “grid drawing,” is a detailed artistic illustration akin to the art of ethnic embroidery or craftsmen’s palekh miniatures. Here, indeed, Rimsky-Korsakov could give rein to his love for filigree precision and careful drawing of “tasty bits,” his talent for colourful and inventive instrumentation. Apt description of the characters creates folklore-like rich and vivid images. The symphonic fragments, which brought Rimsky-Korsakov a resounding success before the opera had even premiered, are magnificent: the orchestra intermezzo Three Wonders, depicting wonders found in the City of Ledenets (a squirrel cracking golden nuts, thirty-three sea-knights (bogatyrs) headed by Chernomor and the beautiful Swan Princess), as well as the famous Bumblebee Flight which has become one of the main “hits” of music classics.

The producers who staged “The Tale About Tsar Saltan” on the Primorsky Stage – director Daria Panteleeva and designer Piotr Okunev – have created the performance with a thorough knowledge and respect for Russian fairy-tale traditions. On the stage, we can see accurately reconstructed signs of Russian life: delicate lace of wooden architecture and bright national class- and character-specific costumes seem to have stepped out of classical illustrations of folk tales.

Николая Римского-Корсакова называют величайшим сказочником в истории русской музыки, а «Сказку о царе Салтане» — самой жизнерадостной из его опер. Написанная на сюжет Пушкина, она создавалась к 100-летнему юбилею со дня рождения гениального русского поэта, и композитор стремился как можно точнее следовать тексту пушкинского оригинала. Действительно, поэтические строки бессмертной сказки буквально дразнят воображение, подсказывая музыкальное решение: чудесная белка поёт «Во саду ли, в огороде», а Царевна-Лебедь «молвит русским языком». Римский-Корсаков хотел сочинить музыку под стать пушкинской сказке — нечто русское, лубочное, ярмарочное. Композитору удалось настолько блестяще осуществить этот замысел, что после премьеры оперы его величали не иначе как «музыкальным Пушкиным». Римский-Корсаков сохранил не только длинное, под стать былинам, название поэмы, но и такие своеобразные черты «Салтана», как наивность, добродушный юмор, быстрый «плясовой» ритм, приёмы народного повествования и национальный колорит.

Сам метод сочинения — подробная художественная иллюстрация, которую композитор представлял «рисунком по клеточкам» — сродни искусству народной вышивки или мастеров палехской росписи. Здесь поистине было где разгуляться любви Римского-Корсакова к ювелирной отделке и тщательному выписыванию «вкусных» деталей, его таланту красочной и изобретательной инструментовки. Меткие характеристики персонажей создают по-народному сочные и живописные образы. Совершенно великолепны симфонические фрагменты, принёсшие Римскому-Корсакову оглушительный успех ещё до премьеры оперы: оркестровый антракт «Три чуда», рисующий волшебства града Леденца (белку, грызущую золотые орешки, тридцать три морских витязя во главе с Черномором и прекрасную Царевну-Лебедь), и знаменитый «Полёт шмеля», ставший одним из главных «хитов» музыкальной классики.

Надежда Кулыгина

русский

The Tale of Tsar Saltan by Rimsky-Korsakov, From (2019/2020), Directed by Ekaterina Malaya,, Conductor Waleriy Trubin-Leonoff, Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre, Vladivostok, Russia

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble

Programme, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues