18 July 2018 (Wed), 19:00 Brilliant Classical Stanislavsky Ballet and Opera theatre (established 1887, founded by Stanislavsky) - Opera Luigi Cherubini "Medea" (Opera in 3 acts)
Running time: 3 hours 20 minutes (till 22:20)
The performance has 2 intermissions
Schedule for Luigi Cherubini "Medea" (Opera in 3 acts) 2022
Designer: Vladimir Arefiev Costume Designer: Vladimir Arefiev Director: Alexander Titel Music Director: Felix Korobov Chorus Master: Stanislav Lykov Composer: Luigi Cherubini Light Designer: Evgeny Vinogradov Conductor: Timur Zangiev
Orchestra: Stanislavsky theatre symphony orchestra Opera company: Stanislavsky opera
Opera in 3 acts
Performed in Italian with synchronised Russian supertitles
Premiere of this production: 14 May 2015, Stanislavsky Ballet and Opera theatre, Moscow, Russia
The opera Medea is one of the masterpieces of the French opera of the turn of the 18th century. It was composed by Luigi Cherubini, one of the founders of Paris Conservatory, whom Beethoven had called the best among his contemporary opera composers and who was a witness and chronicler of the French Revolution. The work he created is comparable in scale with the Greek myth he took for its base. Cherubini’s Medea, which belongs in the ranks of the greatest operatic tragedies, requires from the performers considerable vocal skills and impressive acting talent.
Cherubini’s Medea experienced a second birth in the mid-20th century thanks to Maria Callas. Her performance of the part of Medea has become a legend of opera stage, and since then special qualifications have been required of performers of the title role. One of the reasons that the K. S. Stanislavsky and V. I. Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre addressed the Cherubini opera was presence in the сompany of two female singers who possess powerful and expressive voices as well as brilliant acting individualities. The part of Medea in the new production are performed by the world-renowned soprano Hibla Gerzmava and one of the brightest stars of the Moscow opera scene Natalia Muradymova.
Synopsis
Act 1 Outside the palace of King Creon
Dirce is preparing for her wedding to Jason. However, with Medee's help, he had stolen the golden fleece and, in doing so, Medee had betrayed her family and established a relationship with him, the result of which was her two children. Although Jason had since abandoned Mйdйe, she reappears and demands that he return to her. Jason refuses and Medee curses him, swearing vengeance.
Act 2 Inside the palace
Despairing, Medee is encouraged to leave the city by her slave, Neris. However, Creon appears and orders that Medee leave. She asks for one more day with her children and, after the king agrees, she appears to be calmer and gives Neris two wedding presents to take to her rival.
Act 3 Between the palace and the temple
Neris brings the two children out to where Medee is waiting. Sounds of lamentation are heard from within the palace and it is discovered that one of Medee's wedding presents has poisoned Dirce. An angry crowd gathers and Neris, Medee, and the children take refuge in the temple. The two women reappear with Medee grasping a blood-stained knife with which she has killed her two children. The temple, to which Medee returns, goes up in flames.
Schedule for Luigi Cherubini "Medea" (Opera in 3 acts) 2022
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