May 16, 2014 @ 7:30,Theater at El Museo del Barrio
Russian Composer Tchaikovsky Celebrated with an Evening of Ballet & Opera
New Opera NYC and Museo del Barrio NYC present VIVA! TCHAIKOVSKY, an evening of Tchaikovsky’s music featuring the biographical ballet DEAR NADEZHDA and the composer’s last opera, IOLANTA.
VIVA! TCHAIKOVSKY will be presented for one night only, May 16 at 7:30pm at
Theater at El Museo del Barrio
(1230 5th Avenue between 104th & 105th Streets
New York, NY — accessible from the #6 at 103rd or
the #2 & 3 trains at 110th).
Tickets range from $25 to $65,
available at www.nonyc.org or 800-838-3006.
This 2-act evening of music by Tchaikovsky will feature New Opera’s production of composer’s last opera “IOLANTA” and a biographical ballet “Dear Nadezhda”.
Ballet “Dear Nadezhda” (choreographed by V.Petrov) tells the story of Tchaikovsky and his benefactress, Nadezhda von Meck. Nadezhda von Meck was a widowed Russian railroad baroness who devoted much of her wealth and energy to supporting the arts. Upon hearing Tchaikovsky’s music for the first time, she was enthralled, having discovered a mirror for her own emotions in his work. Thus began a platonic love affair that evolved through over 600 letters.
Always staying within the classical vocabulary, “Dear Nadezhda” brings excitement and innovation to this established style of dance.
Opera “IOLANTA” was completed by Tchaikovsky in 1892 and originally appeared on a twin bill with his famous “Nutcracker”.The libretto was written by the composer’s brother Modest Tchaikovsky, and is based on the Danish play Kong Renés Datter (King René’s Daughter) by Henrik Hertz, a romanticised account of the life of Yolande de Bar. Though in Russia this opera enjoys a fully deserved fame, in the West “Iolanta” fell into a relative obscurity.
“IOLANTA” tells a story of a blind princess who was raised without knowing about her blindness. Eventually, through a spiritual journey Iolanta discovers the gift of sight.
Russian bass of Metropolitan Opera and Bolshoi Theater Mikhail Svetlov as King Rene will be joined by Russian soprano Julia Lima as Iolanta and Vladimir Lokshin as Ibn Khakia.
The production by Igor Konyukhov through an original interpretation and visually striking set and costume design will bring a fresh point of view to this story. The orchestra will perform under the baton of Maestro Anthony LaGruth.