| Alexandrinsky and Maly celebrate the 250th anniversary of the state theater in Russia The theater season, which traditionally begins at the turn of summer and autumn, will open with two celebrations this year. The two oldest theaters in Russia, Alexandrinsky and Maly, will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the decree on the establishment of the first professional theater, signed by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna in 1756, as their birthday. It was decided to consider that it was this decree that marked the beginning of Russian state policy in the field of theatrical art. President Putin, at a meeting with the leaders of two ancient theater groups, expressed the wish that this fact be “used as an occasion to draw attention to the importance of Russian theater in the country.”
The fates of the two theaters developed differently, and there is some confusion with the dates (as happens in all institutions that have gone through a long history under different names). The artistic director of the Maly Theater, People's Artist of the USSR Yuri Solomin, sets out the official version of the history of two theatrical organizations: “The first imperial theater was the St. Petersburg Alexandrinka Theater, and then our Maly Theater, which arose at Moscow University, entered the system of imperial theaters.” “In 2006 we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the troupe. At first, Maly’s troupe was located in the university building, which is why the name arose - “the second Moscow University.” Then the entire cast worked at the Bolshoi Theater. And in 1824 there was a division into drama and opera.” Such an explanation turned out to be necessary, since relatively recently the Maly Theater celebrated its 175th anniversary, but this, as it turned out, was the anniversary of the building, but the Moscow drama troupe is much older.
Whatever the actual dates may be, the decision was made to celebrate the 250th anniversary at the beginning of the coming season. Alexandrinka will begin. Apparently, since the restoration of its building has already been completed. On August 11, experts from the North-Western Directorate for Construction, Reconstruction and Restoration signed the acceptance certificate. The interiors were restored not from 250 years ago, but from much later times - the restorers chose 1894, since it was from this time that the largest number of surviving drawings, drawings and original things date back. As for the stage equipment, it has been greatly modernized. Experts say that from now on the Alexandrinka stage is the most equipped in Russia. The dressing rooms have also been improved, and they promise a shower with music and a Jacuzzi for the actors.
In this modernized space, the spiritual renovation of the theater, begun by its new artistic director Valery Fokin, will also effectively continue. A solemn ceremony to celebrate the anniversary is scheduled for August 30. The performance was directed by Valery Fokin himself and theater avant-garde artist Andrei Moguchiy. The music for the performance is composed and selected by composer Leonid Desyatnikov, so that talk about modernization and renewal will receive real confirmation. It is expected that the ceremony will present to the audience the entire history of the theater, from Fyodor Volkov to the present day.
And the new season of Alexandrinka will open on September 15 with the premiere of “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles, directed by the famous Greek director Theodoros Terzopoulos. This performance will begin the First Alexandrinsky Festival, to which theater performances from around the world are invited, including Maly with the production of “Woe from Wit” by Sergei Zhenovach. Valery Fokin himself is preparing a performance based on Leo Tolstoy’s play “The Living Corpse”; this will be the second premiere of the season.
As for the Maly Theater, its celebrations will begin later. On September 4, 5 and 6, the Maly Theater will host concerts with the participation of most of the troupe. The topic is the same - the history of the theater, this time in Moscow. The characters will be Ostrovsky and Gogol, Shchepkin and Mochalov, actors and critics who played a big role in the development of the Maly Theater. If St. Petersburg organizes an international festival, then Moscow gathers a conference of the oldest national theaters in Russia, near and far abroad.
Maly's upcoming premiere is "The Inspector General" directed by Yuri Solomin. This is not about renewal and modernization, but about preserving traditions and moderate conservatism. It is no coincidence that at the Maly Theater they still wipe off makeup with linen napkins, and wear cotton shirts under costumes to absorb sweat. And the position of prompter still remains.
For the anniversary, the façade of the Maly Theater was repaired, the interior was tidied up, and new modern stage equipment was installed. However, repair work, says Yuri Solomin, will last until 2008.
An anniversary exhibition dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the Russian State Theater will open at the Bakhrushin Museum on September 5. Gleb MYSHKIN |
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