Birmingham Opera Company is to stage a new production of Mussorgsky’s KHOVANSKYGATE: A National Enquiry as part of the UK-Russia Year of Culture 2014.
A “powerful political drama about rebellion and revolution”, KHOVANSKYGATE: A National Enquiry will be performed in The Freedom Tent, Cannon Hill Park, Moseley, Birmingham.
The story takes place in a Russia divided by powerful conservative forces and a growing influence of the west. Mussorgsky paints a “devastating portrait of a nation on the brink of collapse; torn apart by state corruption, religious fanaticism, social inequality and ethnic cleansing”.
Director Graham Vick was one of the first international directors to be invited behind the Iron Curtain. Valery Gergiev asked him to direct Prokofiev’s War and Peace at the Kirov in 1991.
KHOVANSKYGATE: A National Enquiry will be performed by Vick’s own company, a cast of international soloists, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra children’s chorus and more than 200 volunteers.
Max Hoehn has translated the opera which will be designed by Samal Blak. Stuart Stratford will conduct.
Paul Nilon sings The Scribbler and Eric Greene will be Prince Ivan Khovansky. Keel Watson is Dosifey, Stephanie Corley is Emma and Claudia Huckle is Marfa.
KHOVANSKYGATE: A National Enquiry will be performed on 22, 24, 28 and 30 April and 2 May.