We are happy to announce second round of our streaming sessions, and we are confident that you, our honored guests, will share this joy with us. Nothing can replace real theatre with live stage act and real breathing of the audience, which you create upon visits. During our online broadcast, however, we received such a wonderful feedback based on your engagement, so exchange of emotions happened in full. We are not going to reference any effervescent quotes, we will simply share the statistics. Numbers are very impressive and demonstrate your loyalty to the Bolshoi, and how supportive you are of our initiative.
First six online broadcasts gathered nearly three million people – so-called unique users – from one hundred thirty four countries! We ‘have counted’ six and a half million of views. Absolute leaders, beside Russia, became The USA, Japan and Brazil. The Sleeping Beauty alone attracted ecstatic attention of one and a half million of admirers. Number of searches queries grew by five times. Overseas colleagues – ballet and opera lovers, our friends – are successfully competing with Russians.
Vladimir Urin, General Director of the Bolshoi Theatre:
– Since we are unable to resume as normal, and you, our beloved audience, need to stay in self-isolation, we made the decision to continue online streaming. Moreover, it is obvious: it brings big joy to people.
We have discussed arrangements with our partners, Pathé Live, Mezzo and Bel Air, and have selected five ballets, two operas and the Bolshoi Theatre opera and orchestra soloists concert for our further streaming.
I want to particularly mention that we will virtually celebrate two significant anniversaries. We will show ballet Spartacus on 18 April – the day when People’s Artist of USSR, Vladimir Vasiliev, who was the first one to perform the title role, will celebrate his 80th anniversary. We have been planning to spend gala together, but life made adjustments. Instead, the whole world together with us will be sending wishes to one of the greatest artists on the day.
Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera Sadko, the Bolshoi’s last premiere before mandatory closure, will be shown on the birthday of its director Dmitri Tcherniakov, who will mark his 50th birthday on 11 May.
I really hope as well that such famous classical ballets as Don Quixote and Le Corsaire, new version of The Bright Stream (choreography by Alexei Ratmansky),and A Hero Of Our Time which was commissioned by the Bolshoi (choreography of Yuri Possokhov, directed by Kirill Serebrennikov), brilliant opera of Shostakovich’s Katerina Izmailova staged by Rimas Tuminas, concert of opera and orchestra soloists – in a word, our broadcasts will give you pleasure, brighten up your lockdown, and will let you forget about everything and immerse yourself into the act, as it always happens in the theatre.
Julia Solovieva, Head of Google, Russia:
– Today anyone who keeps staying home, requires extra energy. Classic art is one of the best sources to bring positive emotions and internal balance. I think that those three hundred thousand people (and even more) who subscribed to The Bolshoi’s YouTube channel in the last few weeks and left more than sixty thousand comments, will agree with me. I am sincerely proud that today our modern technology helps to present the beauty that Russian operas and ballets carry inside and is able to show it to the viewers around the globe.
François Duplat, General Director, Bel Air Media:
– During these difficult times when the whole world is trying to confront coronavirus pandemic, we are readily agreed to support The Bolshoi Theatre initiative to switch to online option. It means to stream all wonderful productions, which we have been recording for many years. I have no doubt that this will help to ease the lockdown for many people, who will have a chance to get close to the art of the greatest theatre, as we tried to be up to the Bolshoi high standard with the high quality of our recordings. But the most important thing – I hope that very soon The Bolshoi will open doors again, and we will be able to record performances as usual and will make people happy despite of any external circumstances.
Thierry Fontaine, President, Pathé Live:
– Our company, producer and distributor of annual series of The Bolshoi’s online screenings, Bolshoi in the Cinema, welcomed the idea with enthusiasm. We feel that nowadays real-time show streaming is the best way to stay in touch with the audience. We hope we will provide a strong support for all devoted art and ballet lovers during this tough period and we are looking forward to seeing them again in the movie theatres once coronavirus situation is over.
Hervé Boissière, General Director, Mezzo TV Channel:
– Our channel has been The Bolshoi’s partner, one of the greatest music institutions, for many years in the row already. We consistently record and broadcast superb opera shows – primarily in real time, and today we have a privilege to share our recordings with audience around the world. We are happy to support team of The Bolshoi Theatre and its wonderful artists during these uncertain times. See you soon on Mezzo and Mezzo Live HD – and stay safe!
Broadcast Schedule**
15.04
Le Corsaire, ballet in three acts
Archival playbill is available in Russian only.
The main cast: Medora – Svetlana Lunkina, Conrad – Ruslan Skvortsov,
Gulnare – Nina Kaptsova, Birbanto – Andrei Merkuriev,
Isaac Lanquedem – Gennadi Yanin, Seyd, the Pacha – Alexei Loparevich.
18.04
Spartacus, ballet in three acts
Homage to Vladimir Vasiliev
21.04
Bach in the Church and at Home
Bolshoi Theatre Opera New Soloists and Apprentices
and Orchestra soloists concert
25.04
A Hero of Our Time, ballet in two acts
29.04
Katerina Izmailova, opera in four acts
03.05
The Bright Stream, ballet in two acts
Archival playbill is available in Russian only.
The main cast: Zina – Svetlana Lunkina, Pyotr – Mikhail Lobukhin,
Ballerina – Maria Alexandrova, Ballet Dancer – Ruslan Skvortsov.
07.05
Don Quixote, ballet in three acts
11.05
Sadko, opera in seven scenes
Homage to Dmitri Tcherniakov
* Each performance – we firmly follow our tradition – will still begin at 7 pm Moscow time. Streaming will be in ‘premiere’ mode which means you cannot be late! In order to receive a reminder about upcoming performance, you need to subscribe to the official YouTube channel of the Bolshoi. Access to the video of each performance will be granted within 24 hours after the end of the premiere.
**
Follow the link enclosed in each performance name to find out the cast who performed on the recording day.
Art. Lebedev Studio