What would the music of the great composers of the past be if they wrote it today? Is it possible to perform the famous opera classics in rock, blues or disco arrangement, and, at the same time, not cause the anger of fans of the classical opera genre? We will know this very soon. On September 6^th, the first performance of the Bolshoi Theatre soloists will be held in Limassol, in a frame of the unique project “Rock & Opera”.

The musical project “Rock & Opera” is the result of an experiment of creative, talented and bright artists who decided to combine classical opera hits and modern rock arrangements.

The result has sold out in dozens of cities all over Russia because, as the host of the programme, Victor Pipa, says, in one evening, any guest who visits our concert takes a tour of the world’s best opera productions.

Initially, the programme consisted of 12 arias, but, with each concert, new ones were added and now there are 22. The classical voices of opera soloists, accompanied with a powerful drum set, bass guitar and other modern instruments, with visuals and lighting effects in the spirit of a real rock session, create an incredible impression of connecting different times and different eras. Opera voices sound convincing and bright and famous arias get new, unexpected colours. Instead of violins and cello, we have drums and guitars. Rock musicians participating in the project work in the rock groups Tanzi Minus, Tokyo and Agata Kristi.

The project involves leading soloists of the Bolshoi Theatre, who work on the world’s best opera stages:

Roman Muravitsky – dramatic tenor, Honoured Artist of Russia, soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia, soloist of the Vienna Opera (Austria), laureate of international competitions.

Oksana Gorchakovskaya – soprano, member of the jury at the American Artist Program (New York), soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia, soloist of the Metropolitan Opera (USA), laureate of international competitions.

Alexey Pashiev – baritone, soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia.

Evgenia Segenyuk – mezzo-soprano, laureate of international competitions, soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia.

The creator and artistic director of the “Rock & Opera” project and director of the Bolshoi Theatre, Oleg Naidynyshev: “Initially, the project appeared as an experiment and a reflection on the theme of opera classics, but when the programme began to grow and take its current shape, we realised that this project has the right to live and carries itself with an educational meaning.

We bring to the modern audience, with a modern language, the opera classics and with new means of expression. We discover, for our listeners, this wonderful world, making them listen to good music in theatres and operas.”

Oksana Gorchakovskaya: “For me, the “Rock & Opera” project is a great opportunity to experiment in mixing genres and attracting new audiences to the side of classical fans.”

Rock musician Yevgeny Kryuchkov: “We are a rock team. We tried to make arias in the guitar style. As a result, they got a rock component.”

Victor Pipa: “In my opinion, the best is born at the junction of opposites: yin-yang, male-female, rock-opera.”

Victor Pipa: “The genre in which we perform is a symbiosis; an eclecticism of classics and modernity”. The programme is based on the fact that opera singers are in the foreground, and, at the same time, there are rock musicians ‘frying rock’.”

Victor Pipa: “Today, there are no such projects in the world. There are projects in which classical music is performed in a rock arrangement, but opera arias in rock processing do not exist. We, as creative people, tried not to go into the real rock, but to move away from the classical performance, so the programme formed out with a certain dignity. Perhaps you will be surprised seeing, at our performance, that half of the audience could be dressed in rock jackets and the second half are really fans of classical opera.”

 

THE EVENING PROGRAMME WILL INCLUDE:

1. George Sviridov. Suite “Time is ahead!’’
2. Peter Tchaikovsky. Herman’s aria “What our life is a game!’’ from the opera “The Queen of Spades’’.
3. Camille Saint­Saens. Dalila’s 3rd aria from the opera “Samson and Delilah”.
4. Giacomo Puccini. 2nd aria of Cavaradossi from the opera “Tosca ”.
5. Peter Tchaikovsky. King Rene’s aria from the opera “Iolanta’’.
6. T. Willy. Song “Jamaica’’.
7. Georges Bizet. Tsiganskaya song from the opera “Carmen’’.
8. Andrea Bixio. Song “Mama’’.
9. Giacomo Pucini. Aria Turandot from the opera “Turandot’’.
10. Peter Tchaikovsky. Hermann’s arioso “Forgive, heavenly creature’’ from the opera “Queen of Spades’’.
11. Peter Tchaikovsky. Aria of Prince Yeletsky from the opera “Queen of Spades’’.
12. Ruggero Leoncavallo. Arioso Canio from the opera “The Clowns’’.
13. Gioachino Rossini. Cavatina Rosina from the opera “The Barber of Seville’’.
14. Georges Bizet. Musical Intermission to the Third Act of the Opera “Carmen’’.
15. Charles Gounod. Mephistopheles couplets from the opera “Faust’’
16. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Aria of the Queen of the Night from the opera “The Ma­gic Flute’’
17. Kanyo and Califano. Song “Soldier in Love’’
18. Eduardo di Capua. Javanni Kapurro. Song “O Sole Mio’’
19. Georges Bizet. Examillo’s couplets from the Opera “Carmen’’
20. Giacomo Puccini. Aria Calaf from the opera “Turandot’’
21. Peppino Turco and Duzeppe Denz. “Song of the Soldier in Love’’
22. Agusto Lara. Song “Granada’’

 

We are waiting for you on the 6^th of September in the Pattihio Theatre (Limassol)!