Scottish Opera is set to perform a double bill of short, striking Russian operas: the Scottish premiere of Sergei Rachmaninov’s The Miserly Knight and the Company premiere of Mavra, by Igor Stravinsky.
Adapted from stories by Russian poet, playwright, and novelist Alexander Pushkin, The Miserly Knight is a brooding story of a father and son destroyed by a hoarded treasure, whilst Mavra is a sharp-edged comedy about two lovers who go to inventive lengths to be together.
The performances will take place on Friday, March 18, at Perth Concert Hall.
The company’s music director, Stuart Stratford, conducts soloists including Alexey Dolgov (Silvano 2019), Alasdair Elliott (Pagliacci 2018), Alexey Gusev (Opera Highlights 2021), Anush Hovhannisyan (La traviata 2017), Alexander Krasnov, Sarah Pring (Jenůfa 2015) and 2021/22 Emerging Artist Lea Shaw (Opera Highlights 2021), in a concert staging by Laura Attridge. They are accompanied by more than 60 musicians from the Orchestra of Scottish Opera.
Scottish Opera ,usic director, Stuart Stratford said: ‘Rachmaninov’s music is ideally suited to the brooding and dark nature of The Miserly Knight. The extended harmonic language he uses is always trying to break free from its tonal roots in the same way that The Baron’s obsession with money is twisting his mind away from reason, and into a deranged state. We are thrilled that Alexander Krasnov will sing the role of The Baron, and to welcome back Alexey Dolgov and Alexey Gusev as the Prince and Duke respectively.
‘Mavra was regarded by Stravinsky himself as being one of his most important works. It stands on the border of his “Russian” period and neoclassical writing, and has a terse economy of gesture and rhythmic propulsion which is added on top of his “wrong note” harmony. This neoclassical style is crucial to the Pushkin short story and is highly effective at achieving the wit and pace of the text.’
James Waters, creative director for classical music at Perth Concert Hall, said: ‘We couldn’t be more delighted to welcome Scottish Opera back for their second performance this season. Stuart Stratford’s performances of rare repertoire have been real eye-openers. Their choice this time of these two Russian Operas will intrigue and entertain in equal measure and we can’t wait.’
These performances are supported by Scottish Opera Endowment Trust and Friends of Scottish Opera. Tickets, priced £6-£36, are on sale now at www.scottishopera.org.uk/shows/the-miserly-knight-mavra/
Scottish Opera is Scotland’s national opera company and the largest performing arts organisation in Scotland.
The company’s Opera on Screen productions are available to watch HERE.
The collection includes Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Opera Highlights, Janáček’s The Diary of One Who Disappeared, Menotti’s The Telephone and Samuel Bordoli and Jenni Fagan’s The Narcissistic Fish.
All productions are created and performed in line with Scottish Government guidelines.
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