19.11.2017

An opera premiere for very young audiences – Murych the Cat at the Mariinsky Theatre

On 19 November (12.00 and 15.00) at theProkofiev Hall (Mariinsky-II) there will be a premiere of Sergei Banevich's opera Murych the Cat. The composer's new work has been written for the Mariinsky Academy of Young Opera Singers directed by Larisa Gergieva. The libretto was written by Inga Bochanova, the stage director is Alexei Stepanyuk and the assistant stage director and choreographer is Ilya Ustyantsev.

The lead roles will be performed by Shota Chibirov (Murych the Cat), Luisa Gubieva (Murka Barsikovna), Xenia Grigorieva (Musya), Regina Rustamova (Musilda) and Rustam Sagdiev and Andrei Belov (Vasily and Timofei). Piano: Vasily Popov.

Murych the Cat is Sergei Banevich's fifth opera for the Mariinsky Theatre. In the 2016-17 season the historic Mariinsky Theatre saw the revival of The Story of Kai and Gerda, while the chamber Prokofiev Hall hostedthe premiere of the opera The Brave Hare. One year earlier came performances of An Opera about Porridge, a Cat and Milk andScenes from the Life of Nikolenka Irtenev, which have proved very popular with younger audiences at the Mariinsky Theatre. The story about the resourceful and somewhat boastful cat Murych, who celebrates his birthday with his family and friends, is targeted at the youngest audiences and finds a keen response from both children and their parents.

"To write operas and operettas for children, based on contemporary intonations. And at the same time to use the experience of Sergei Prokofiev, but to combine its achievements with the music of modern life, taking the best it has to offer," is how Sergei Banevich describes the task he faces.

The opera may be seen again on 16 December (12.00 and 15.00) and 6 January (12:00 and 15:00) at the Prokofiev Hall (Mariinsky-II).

Any use or copying of site materials, design elements or layout is forbidden without the permission of the rightholder.
user_nameExit