On October 2, in the Big Hall of the Embassy of Latgale GORS a place took the classic of the rock opera genre, one of the most popular rock operas of the last 30 years – “Juno and Avos” – performed by Alexey Rybnikov Theatre (Moscow). The theatre of Alexey Rybnikov has a unique staging rights for the production of the rock opera “Juno and Avos”.
The premiere of the rock opera took a place in 1981. The authors are the famous Russian composer Alexey Rybnikov and poet Andrei Voznesensky. In 1983, “Juno and Avos” by A. Rybnikov, supported by the French fashion designer Pierre Cardin, in the production of the director Mark Zaharov, was cheered up by the audience of France. This was followed by the triumphal performances in the whole world: USA, Germany, Holland, and other countries. Later, the opera was produced in the theatres of Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Germany, and South Korea.
In the summer of 2009, a new production of the rock opera “Juno and Avos” by Alexey Rybnikov had made a great success in the international theatre festival in France organized by Pierre Cardin. The production of Alexey Rybnikov is an innovative, contemporary and an outstanding happening in the world of the musical theatre. The main goal of the production is to renew the original artistic intention of the authors of the rock opera. The new version of the rock opera unites the traditions of Russian spiritual, folk and “town” music with the esthetic, ideological and artistic priorities of the composer.
The background of the well-known musically dramatic production is the story about destiny of the Russian count Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov (Николай Петрович Резанов). In 1806, he started his long journey to the shores of California on the ships “Juno” and “Avos”. After a difficult trip across the Pacific Ocean, Rezanov meets and falls in love with a 16 year old Conchita Arguello – a daughter of a San Francisco Spain commandant. Count and Konchita secretly engage. In order to obtain the allowance of the imperator for the marriage with a catholic, Rezvanov travels back to Russia. Conchita stays waiting. During his return, count becomes seriously ill and dies.
Conchita does not believe the dead of her beloved man. She receives the news about the death of Rezanov only in 1842. The end of her lifetime she spends at the monastery.
The symbolic reunion of Conchita and Rezanov happens two centuries later. In the autumn of 2000, the sheriff of California brings the ground of the roses of the Konchita`s grave to Krasnojarsk, in order to lay them down at the white cross that has the lettering – “I will never forget you” on one side, but “I will never see you” on the other – the most famous words of the rock opera`s ballade.
Music: Alexey Rybnikov
Lyrics: Andrei Voznesensky
Direction: Alexander Rihlov
Choreography: Zhanna Shmakova
Cast:
Count Nikolai Rezanov: V. Anokhin, N. Drozdovsky
Conchita Arguello: J. Solovyeva, N. Krestianskih
Federico, Conchita`s fiancé: I. Agafonov
Jose Arguello, governor of California: V. Anohin, N. Drozdovsky
Count Rumjancev: D. Bogdanov, N. Drozdovsky, N. Lutov
Priest Juvenaly: L. Sivec
Marine officers: N. Pozdnakov, P. Zibrov, J. Nikolayev
Choir. Spanish ladies: J. Blagova, M. Savina, D. Sergreyeva, J. Kulchicka, S. Skurihina, U. Lukina, N. Koshkina, T. Pavlova, S. Vanushina
Sailors: J. Dyakov, D. Bogdanov, K. Pankratov, N. Lutov, V. Bakayev, M. Markov
