On 20 October at 14.00 as part of the XIX festival International Conservatory Week and the Year of Music of Great Britain and Russia the Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theatre will host the Russian premiere of the fantasy-opera Where the Wild Things Are by British composer Oliver Knussen after motifs of the eponymous fairy-tale by Maurice Sendak.
This semi-staged version of the production will be presented by soloists and the symphony orchestra of the Shadwell Opera (London, Great Britain). The vocal roles will be sung by Rhian Lois (Max), Claire Barnett-Jones (Mama), Kate Howden (Tzippy / Female Wild Thing), Robin Bailey (Moishe / Wild Thing with Beard), Benedict Nelson (Bruno / Wild Thing with Horns), Nicholas Morris (Emile / Rooster Wild Thing), Thomas Bennett (Bernard / Bull Wild Thing) and Robin Bailey (Goat Wild Thing). The conductor will be Finnegan Downie Dear, a renowned proponent of contemporary music, while the stage director will be Jack Furness (Great Britain).
Published in 1963, the book Where the Wild Things Are by American author and artist Maurice Sendak instantly became a classic of American children’s literature and, one year later, was named best illustrated book in the world. In the latter half of the 1970s on a commission from the Opéra National in Brussels, Maurice Sendak and Oliver Knussen together created an opera libretto, the former also designing the production costumes and sets. Thus emerged this fantasy-opera in nine scenes for six soloists and orchestra. A performance of the first version of the work took place in 1980 in Belgium, the premiere of the final version being presented in 1984 in London, the opera subsequently being performed in Saint Paul and New York (USA). In Russia, Where the Wild Things Are is being performed for the first time.
The concert programme also includes a performance of Maurice Ravel’s five children’s pieces for symphony orchestra Ma Mère l’Oye. The role of Narrator will be performed by Maria Kasparova.
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