On March 23, the Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre will present Jules Massenet’s Manon within the Krasnoyarsk regional festival Theatrical Spring 2025. The opera will be conducted by Felix Korobov, the music director of the production and Principal Conductor of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre, People’s Artist of Russia.

The maestro has been nominated for the festival’s Crystal Mask award at the festival Theatrical Spring 2024 as Best Conductor for his work on Manon. He first staged the opera in Moscow in 2016 and brought the production to Krasnoyarsk in April 2024. His connection to Manon runs deep—early in his career, he worked  Massenet’s one-act opera Le Portrait de Manon (the composer’s second work based on the story of Manon Lescaut) alongside his father, drama director Pavel Korobov.

“Fond memories of my youth led me to take on Manon in Moscow.  I had a long-standing friendship with director Andrejs Žagars, and this opera was our first collaboration.  From the outset, we knew we were on the same creative wavelength. The result, in my view, was a visually stunning, vibrant production—one that retained its beauty even in the face of the opera’s tragic ending. Andrejs had a unique ability to turn a performance into a celebration.  I’m delighted that Manon will now continue its journey in Siberia. This production was beloved by both artists and audiences in Moscow, and it remains a cherished tribute to Andrejs, whom Krasnoyarsk audiences remember from his staging of Aida,” said Felix Korobov.

The winners of Theatrical Spring 2025 will be announced on March 27, International Theatre Day.