An Evening of Russian Opera featuring BORIS GODUNOV and IOLANTA
One weekend only
April 15-16, Cowell Theater at Fort Mason Center
New Opera NYC, the New York-based opera company dedicated to presenting classical, first rate opera productions, announces today its inaugural San Francisco performance, An Evening of Russian Opera, April 15 and 16, Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center.
“We are thrilled to perform for the first time on the West Coast,” said New Opera NYC Founder Igor Konyukhov. “Our company has always wanted to tour in San Francisco and perform for the city’s opera lovers. We look forward to engaging with a new audience in a world-class city.”
The evening opens with a new production of M.Mussorgsky’s masterpiece opera BORIS GODUNOV. This one-act version captures pivotal moments of the tragic rise and fall of Russian Tsar Boris Godunov.
Mussorgsky’s masterly BORIS GODUNOV is partly based on the text by Russia’s national poet Pushkin. Singing the part of Tsar Godunov is legendary Russian bass Mikhail Svetlov, one of the most prominent interpreters of this role. In the tradition of famous bass Feodor Chaliapin, Mr.Svetlov will take on the role of Tsar Boris as well as the role of drunkard monk Varlaam in the same performance.
After intermission, the evening concludes with New Opera NYC’s staging of IOLANTA, Tchaikovsky’s final opera, a one-act originally composed to play on the same bill with The Nutcracker. It tells the story of a blind princess whose disability has been kept from her by the King. She learns of her condition along with the love that gives her the strength to overcome it.
The production is directed by New Opera NYC’s Igor Konyukhov starring Grammy Award nominee Mikhail Svetlov (Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Bolshoi Opera) as the King with soprano Julia Lima in the title role. The New York Times says Ms. Lima “has the right noble temperament for her slow arias.” Ms. Lima was also awarded the 1st prize of the NY District Metropolitan National Council in 2011.
The dress for IOLANTA is designed by Sausalito-based, Russian fashion designer Vasily Vein. Mr. Vein has designed gowns for Russian socialites (Sonya Molodetskaya, Brenda Zarate, Rumiko McCarthy) attending San Francisco Opera Galas.
BORIS GODUNOV and IOLANTA will be conducted by Lidiya Yankovskaya, featuring a full orchestra with set design by Julian Hoyos and costumes by Olga Maslova, who has worked with Bill T. Jones among other choreographers. Ms. Maslova’s recent projects include costume design for The Shape of All Things by Neil LaBute (Teatro Nacional, Bogota). And lighting design by Greg Mitchell. The cast of IOLANTA stars Mikhail Svetlov, David Salsbery Fry, Viktor Antipenko, Julia Lima, Patrick McNally, Dmitry Gishpling-Chernov, and Gennady Vysotsky.
WHAT: An Evening of Russian Opera featuring two masterpiece operas: BORIS GODUNOV and IOLANTA
WHEN: Friday April 15 and Saturday, April 16, 7:30 pm
WHERE: Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center, Marina Blvd and Buchanan Street, San Francisco
TICKETS: $20-$150
Visit http://www.nonyc.org/tickets.html#Iolanta
