Lecture recital: The Golden Age of the Imperial Theatres

Lecture recital: The Golden Age of the Imperial Theatres: Opera atthe Mariinsky, 1890-1917

During the course of this morning’s lecture recital with Maria Levandovskaya (piano) and Sophie Pullen (soprano), Dr. Bartlett will give an overview ofthe most significant opera productions at imperial St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre during its most glorious period, highlighting the composers, directors, singers and conductors who helped to build its international reputation. Her talk will be illustrated with rare period photographs, set designs and historic recordings. In addition, we will have the rare opportunity to hear Antonida`s beautiful arioso from Glinka`s opera Life for the Tsar (1836) which was performed at the opening season of the Mariinsky Theatre in 1860. We will also be treated to arias from the operas Enchantress and Queen of Spades by Tchaikovsky and Snowmaiden by Rymsky-Korsakov. These three operas were premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre; Tchaikovsky himself
conducted at the premieres of Enchantress (1887) and Queen of Spades (1890).

The arias will be sung in Russian.

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