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Premieres and projects 2010
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THE LOVE FOR THREE ORANGES
A four-act opera with a prologue by Sergey Prokofiev
Libretto by Sergey Prokofiev, based on Carlo Gozzi’s comedy of the same name
World premire on December 30, 1921 at Auditorium Theatre
Premiere at the Estonian National Opera on January 28, 2010
Music Director: Arvo Volmer
Conductors: Mihhail Gerts, Riso Joost
Stage Director: Dmitri Bertman
Set Designer: Igor Nezhnyi
Costume Designer: Tatyana Tulubeva
The Opera The Love for Three Oranges is an Italian style commedia dell’arte or improvised masque comedy through the perception of the 20th century Russian composer. Prokofiev wrote the libretto himself on the basis of the Russian adaptation of Carlo Gozzi’s eponymous comedy (1761) by Vsevolod Meierhold, Konstantin Vogak and Vladimir Solovyov. The play mocks the writings of Gozzi’s contemporary Carlo Goldoni whose sombre and superficial naturalistic melodramas were, in Gozzi’s opinion, the reason for the decline of the Italian theatre.
Gozzi’s surreal and fantasy-laden play inspired Prokofiev to create a masterpiece that mixes magic, comedy and satire. The Love for Three Oranges is a multi-layered play – it can be viewed as a play in a play, witty critique of the opera traditions of the 20th century or as a dispute on acute political problems by means of commedia dell’arte. The multitude of interpretation possibilities of both the opera and the play has made it a real treat for stage directors and artists. After the premiere in the US, the opera was a huge success in Russia.
The Love for Three Oranges is brought to the stage by Dmitri Bertman, a stage director with an unlimited imagination, whose vision of Wallenberg earned several awards.
COPPÉLIA
A ballet by Léo Delibes
Based on the story by Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann „The Sand-Man“
World premiere on May 2, 1870 in Opéra Paris
Premiere at the Estonian National Opera on March 4, 2010
Choreographer-Stage Director: Ronald Hynd
Music Director and Conductor: Mihhail Gerts
Conductor: Erki Pehk
Designer: Roberta Guidi di Bagno
Assistant Choreographer: Lyn Vella Gatte
After the premiere at Opéra Paris in 1870, Coppélia has been a huge success with audiences, and it has been in the repertoire of theatres for almost a century and a half.
The choreography by Ronald Hynd has enticed the audiences at the English National Ballet for several seasons. The choreography is based on the version originally composed by Marius Petipa and exudes classical beauty accompanied by wonderful melodies by Delibes.
Doctor Coppélius, a maker of toys, creates a life-size doll Coppélia and his only wish is to bring this doll to life. When this eventually happens, Coppélius finds out that two young lovers Swanilda and Franz have fooled him. The story goes through mistakes and adventures, ending with a merry wedding party of Swanilda and Franz.
“There’s no prince and no princess in it. It’s peasants, it’s a boy and a girl in a village, and there are no overly romantic tones to it. It’s just a simple romance – no swan, no sleeping beauty. It’s life. And I think that’s why it’s really always been successful, because people can identify with the very simple, charming story.”
- Ronald Hynd
GEORG OTS 90
21 and 22 March 2010, at the Estonian National Opera
Stage Director: Arne Mikk
Conductor: Eri Klas
On March 21 and 22, the Estonian National Opera celebrates the eightieth anniversary of Georg Ots – the most famous and admired Estonian singer. His expressive and lyrical baritone voice has left a deep impression in the hearts of the audience. Ots’ frequent performances of classical music and pop concerts on the radio and TV made him a true star. During the 30 years of his career at the Estonian National Opera, he created a whole gallery of roles polished in details and touched with his stage charm. His Jago (Verdi, Othello), Demon (Rubinstein’s The Demon), Rigoletto (Verdi’s Rigoletto), Don Giovanni (Mozart’s Don Giovanni), Papageno (Mozart’s The Magic Flute), Porgy (Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess), Cervantes/don Quijote (Leigh’s Man From La Mancha) and many other roles are unforgettable. Ots was of the few singers who had an opportunity to sing to international audiences, including audiences in the US, during the post-war period. Georg Ots was regularly invited to the most important Soviet opera theatres, he also performed at the Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow for several times.
One of his top achievements was the film Mister X based on Imre Kalmán’s opera The Circus Princess that was produced by Lenfilm studios. Ots performed on the stage of the Estonian National Opera from 1951–1975, the year he deceased. His debut as a stage director with the opera Don Giovanni was left half finished.
Famous baritones from Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Russia will perform in memoriam of the singer.
LES PÊCHEURS DE PERLES
An opera by Georges Bizet in three acts
Libretto by Eugène Cormoni and Michel Carré.
Concert performance in the Estonia Concert Hall on April 15, 2010.
Running time: 2 h 25 min
Conductor: Arvo Volmer
Soloists: Virginia Wagner, Ray M. Wade, Rauno Elp, Mart Laur
Les pêcheurs de perles is another real masterpiece of French opera by the 19th century author who composed the world-renowned Carmen; it premièred on September 30, 1863 at Theatre Lyrique in Paris. The oriental storyline of the opera inspired Bizet to compose the most exquisite melodies in opera music; most recognised of them is the friendship duet in the first act of the opera Au Fond Du Temple Saint performed by the main characters. In the 19th century, the French audience admired everything foreign – thrilling images of unexplored countries, exotic foreigners and mystical animals were recreated in music and art. The music of the opera is defined by an unbelievable flow of melodies and exotic orchestration. Les pêcheurs de perles continues the tradition of bringing operatic masterpieces to the audience as concert performances. Previously, Mozart’s La clemeza di Tito, Catalani’s La Wally, Bellini’s I puritani, Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra and Rossini’s Wilhelm Tell were performed with great success.
INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY BALLET GALA
April 29 and 30, 2010, at the Estonian National Opera
Stage Director: Toomas Edur
Conductors: Mihhail Gerts and Erki Pehk
DIE FLEDERMAUS
An operetta by Johann Strauss in three acts
Libretto by Karl Haffner and Richard Genée, based on the vaudeville Le Réveillon by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy.
Premiere at the Estonian National Opera on May 13, 2010.
Music Director and Conductor: Jüri Alperten
Conductors: Mihhail Gerts and Erki Pehk
Stage Director and Designer: Michiel Dijkema
Costume Designer: Claudia Damm
Lighting Desinger: Bas Berensen
Die Fledermaus, one of the most popular operettas by Johann Strauss is staged by Michiel Dijkema, a Dutch stage director who is known for unique one of its kind and intriguing stage productions. He delighted Estonians with La Cenerentola (2006), which is still in the repertoire of the Estonian National Opera.
Die Fledermaus premiered in 1874 in Vienna and is still popular worldwide by virtue of its memorable melodies, mesmerising dance routines and intriguing story.
“With sparkling irony Johann Strauss composes a comedy of manners of a self-indulgent society, which loses itself unrestrained in joie de vivre and malicious delight, and wishes nothing more than to be somebody else, at least for the night.”
- Michiel Dijkema, Stage Director
Gabriel Eisenstein has to go to prison for a few days, for insulting a public servant. The evening before his imprisonment he sobbingly bids his wife farewell and secretly sets off to a wild party held by prince Orlofsky. There he hopes to experience sensual pleasures of all kinds, of course incognito. Unfortunately his wife, who just had an unexpected encounter with her former lover, finds out. Her lover is accidentally arrested instead of Mr Eisenstein. Disguised as a Hungarian countess she makes her appearance at the party and seduces her husband. The maid, who had become the evening off to take care of her sick aunt, is also present. She has the opportunity of presenting herself as a brilliant actress that she has always dreamed of. Eisenstein is having the time of his life and does not suspect that everything is part of the revenge of “The Bat”…
MARKET DAY
September 12, 2010
Artistic director: Arne Mikk
The traditional Market Day will be held on Sunday, September 12 from 12.00–15.00, behind the Estonian National Opera at the historic Market Place. After introducing the new productions of the season, gorgeous costumes will be put up for an auction. The money raised will be donated for expanding the walk of fame of the famous people, who have worked at the Estonian National Opera, on Rävala Avenue. There will be plenty of music and fun for everybody!
DIE CSÁRDÁSFÜRSTIN
Operetta by Imre Kálmán
Libretto by Leo Stein and Béla Jenbach, translation by Mart Sander
World premiere on November 17, 1915 at Johann Strauß-Theater (Vienna)
Premiere at the Estonian National Opera on September 16, 2010
Music Director and Conductor: Jüri Alperten
Conductors: Mihhail Gerts, Erki Pehk
Stage Director and Designer: Mart Sander
Choreographer: Marina Kesler
Lighting Desinger: Anton Kulagin
Imre Kálmán is the third great composer of the Vienna operetta besides Johann Strauss and Franz Lehár. The operetta Ein Herbstmanöver that premiered at the Theater an der Wien in 1908 showed the talent of the young composer in this genre. Commissions for many theatre’s followed – seven more operettas fit between Ein Herbstmanöver and Die Csárdásfürstin that premiered in 1915. The brilliant, passionate and sentimental Die Csárdásfürstin is considered the peak of Kálmán’s creation and one of the most important pieces in the history of operetta. The composer tried to give dramatic profoundness to the plot line of the operetta and this is why Die Csárdásfürstin can be considered an operetta version of La traviata with a happy ending. The rhythms of waltz, czardas and foxtrot have been blended into the music of the piece. Die Csárdásfürstin already conquered the hearts of the audience in the dress rehearsal and the review published in Das Neue Wiener Journal after the successful premiere noted: “Kálmán has written very captivating music, the sound of his melodies offers an extraordinary lyrical pleasure!”
The stage director Mart Sander: “Die Csárdásfürstin is in a way of taking the easy way out, but then it cannot be argued: such melodies as “Machen wir’s den Schwalben nach” and “Ganz ohne Weiber geht die Chose nicht” are familiar even to those who have never been to theatre. It is a good material for a stage director: it can be staged as a real comedy or the tragic undertone of the story can be emphasised. Or it can tell a sincere story of the people who, being trapped in the cogwheels of social systems, yearn to be just people but cannot afford it. Since there are sharp parallels with the contemporary world in this nearly a hundred-year-old story, I decided to accentuate them not by modernising the subject matter but by “making it old” – I am trying to stage a show that sends a modern message despite its visual side being pronouncedly, almost ridiculously old-fashioned.“
INTERNATIONAL MUSIC DAY OPERA GALA
October 1, 2010 at the Estonia Concert Hall
October 2, 2010 at the Pärnu Concert Hall
The Estonian National Opera celebrates the International Music Day with a glamorous Opera Gala. The gala features soloist from the Estonian National Opera and from abroad.
LA BOHÈME
Opera by Giacomo Puccini in four acts
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa based on Henri Murger’s novel Scènes de la vie de bohème
World premiere February 1, 1896 Teatro Regio (Turin)
Premiere at the Estonian National Opera on October 29, 2010
Music Director and Conductor: Arvo Volmer
Conductors: Risto Joost, Mihhail Gerts
Stage Director: Ran Arthur Braun (Israel)
Set Designers: Ran Arthur Braun and Riccardo Gallino (Italy)
Costumes Designer: Elo Soode
Lighting Designer: Neeme Jõe
Young, cheerful, careless and passionate bohemians enjoy life and its intricate turns sparkled with love, hope, despair and wild Parisian life-rhythm to the fullest. Stage Director Ran Arthur Braun: “Bohemians are presented on stage with humour and tear as they exist together. There is no reason to ignore youth and its vivid charm as if we already knew how it is going to end!”
As one of the greatest 20th century melody masters, Puccini has created colourful and enticing musical portraits for his characters and has depicted a beautiful and romantic image of Paris, employing memorable melodies and bold orchestral colours. Claude Debussy has said: “No one has described the Paris of these days as aptly as Puccini in his La bohème.”
Rodolfo, the poet, and Marcello, the painter, are trying to work in their cold Latin Quarter garret. They are without money to relieve their hunger, without fuel for heating their flat and without money to pay their rent. Colline, the philosopher has tried and failed to pawn some books. The musician Schaunard has been more fortunate – he arrives with food, money firewood and cigarettes. Rodolfo wants to work and his friends depart for Café Momus to celebrate their good fortune. Rodolfo’s work is interrupted by a beautiful young woman living next door, who is searching for a means to light her candle. On her way to her room she realises that she has dropped her key in Rodolfo’s room. She returns but her candle is extinguished in the draft. Rodolfo falls in love with Mimi who is hopelessly ill but two months later he deserts her, unable to look helplessly on while Mimi’s illness worsens in his poor, cold hovel. Six months later Mimi is brought back to the poet’s lodgings, as it is her dying wish to be with her friends again...
I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI
Concert performance of Vincenzo Bellini’s opera on November 11, 2010 at the Estonia Concert Hall
Libretto: Felice Romani
World premiere on March 11, 1830 at Teatro La Fenice (Venice)
Conductor: Arvo Volmer
In the title roles: Annely Peebo and Irina Dubrovskaya
Vincenzo Bellini was a leading figure of the Italian opera besides Rossini and Donizetti in the early 19th century, being the youngest member of the so-called bel canto trio. His operas are characterised by supreme melodiousness, romantic pathos, solemnity and sentimentality. As an excellent master of melodies, Bellini has influenced several composers from Verdi to Liszt. In his letter to Camille Bellaigue Verdi praised Bellini’s music: “No one has been able to write as long and flowing lines of melody as Bellini.”
I Capuleti e i Montecchi is one of the most staged operas of the composer. The libretto of the opera is not based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, but on several Italian pieces of literature, mainly Luigi Scevola’s play Giulietta e Romeo (1818). The success of the premiere of I Capuleti e i Montecchi pleased Bellini – he had partly used the music of his previous opera Zaira that the critics deemed a failure. In the middle of the 20th century, thanks to the gifted bel canto singers Maria Callas, Beverly Sills and others, I Capuletti e i Montecchi was continuously in the repertoire of many opera theatres. It was last recorded in 2009 by the present-day opera stars Anna Netrebko (Juliet) and Elīna Garanča (Romeo).
The opera I Capuleti e i Montecchi carries on the tradition of the national opera to bring the masterpieces of the opera literature including gems from the realm of bel canto operas to the audience in the form of concert performances. Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito, Catalani’s La Wally, Bellini’s I puritani, Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra, Rossini’s Guillaume Tell and Donizetti’s Poliuto have been performed with great success in previous seasons.
THE NUTCRACKER
Ballet by Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Libretto by Marius Petipa based on the fairy-tale of E. T. A. Hoffmann and Alexandre Dumas (sen.)
World premiere on December 18, 1892 Mariinsky Theatre (St. Petersburg)
Premiere at the Estonian National Opera on December 3, 2010
Music Director and Conductor: Mihhail Gerts
Conductor: Jüri Alperten
Choreographer-Stage Director: Ben Stevenson (Texas Ballet Theatre, USA)
Designer: Tom Boyd (Houston Ballet, USA)
Ben Stevenson’s wondrous stage production starts the Christmas month at the Estonian National Opera! Even the most impossible dreams turn into a marvellous and tantalizing reality. Tchaikovsky’s beautiful music takes the viewer with Clara to the magical world of sweets, the Mouse King, toy soldiers, flying chefs, the giant Christmas tree, Christmas evening and dancing. Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker is one of the best known and most loved pieces of the composer, the music of which has inspired many choreographers to the tell the colourful Christmas fairytale of E. T. A. Hoffmann and Alexandre Dumas senior in the language of dance.
Ben Stevenson is to this day considered one of the most important shapers of the American ballet art. For almost thirty years, he has been the art director of the Houston Ballet and under his leadership the company has grown into an internationally acknowledged ballet theatre, and from the year 2003 he is the Artistic Director of the Texas Ballet. His stage productions have earned several renowned awards and praise from the critics, and have been staged at Opéra de Paris, Canadian National Ballet, La Scala, Bavarian State Opera, London City Ballet etc.
NEW YEAR’S EVE BALL
December 31, 2010
Artistic Directors: Arne Mikk and Thomas Edur
Estonian National Opera invites you to spend the night in the magic atmosphere of the theatre – listen to the best soloists, view a swashbuckling dance performance and dance to the music played by a big symphony orchestra! Meet the New Year with a smile!
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© Rahvusooper Estonia 2010
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