In April, several shows of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera The Tsar’s Bride at the Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre will present debut roles for a whole bunch of soloists. 

The leading female role of the opera - beautiful Marfa who unfortunately caught attention of several powerful people at once - will be performed by sopranos Violetta Grishko (on April 5) and Zoya Rzheplyanskaya (on April 6) for the first time. Rauf Timergazin (on April 5) and Pavel Antsiferov (on April 6) will debut as oprichnik Grigory Gryazny. The role of Malyuta Skuratov, the legendary cruel henchman of tsar Ivan the Terrible, will be performed for the first time by bass singers Anatoly Badaev (on April 5) and Sergei Samusev (on April 6). Mezzo-soprano singers Victoria Kangina (on April 5) and Karina Radzion (on April 6) will sing the role of Marfa's friend Dunyasha. On April 6, tenor singer Andrei Kolobov will come to the stage in his new role of Marfa’s unfortunate lover Ivan Lykov; Alexey Pereprygin will appear on stage as the treacherous doctor Bomelius for the first time.

But the most interesting entry will be made by Anna Kiseliova. Anna sang the part of Lyubasha at the premiere show of The Tsar's Bride on December 23, 1999. She had performed this role for several more years as a mezzo-soprano until she changed her repertoire to soprano. Now, almost 25 years later, Anna will debut in The Tsar’s Bride again: she will perform the role of Domna Ivanovna Saburova.

Such “mass” debuts, when the solo cast of a production is almost completely renewed, is quite a rare situation. And for spectators, this certainly is an additional reason to attend the shows of the dramatic opera The Tsar’s Bride, which is full of beautiful melodies. 

Let us add that on April 5 and 6, maestro Dmitri Yurovsky, Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre, will take the conductor’s stand.