The Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre will present the premiere performances of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Rigoletto on February 6, 7, and 8. Before each performance, the theatre foyer will host creative talks bringing together members of the production team, performers, and critics with the audience.

An advance preview of Rigoletto is scheduled for February 6—a special performance for holders of the Pushkin Card. The meeting between young audience members and representatives of the creative team and cast will begin at 6:00 p.m., followed by the show.

Just before the first official performance on February 7, the theatre will host a pre-premiere talk titled Half an Hour Before the Premiere. The guest speaker will be Larisa Barykina (Yekaterinburg), a musicologist, expert, and critic, as well as the author of books on musical theatre and articles for leading national publications. She has titled her talk Rigoletto: An Operatic Masterpiece for All Time.

On February 8, the audience will meet Eldar Nagiyev, principal conductor of the Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre and the production’s conductor. He will speak about the work on the production, his collaboration with director Sergei Novikov, the orchestra and soloists, his conducting concept, and his personal relationship with Verdi’s music.

The half-hour talks on February 7 and 8 will begin at 5:30 p.m.