The Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre’s soloist, Mikhail Pirogov is going to perform the part of Manrico on the stage of the Sakha Republic Opera and Ballet Theatre (Yakutia) where the premiere of Il Trovatore opera by Verdi takes place.

Mikhail Pirogov has many a time played the part of Manrico at the Krasnoyarsk Opera House, but he is not yet familiar with the new production in the Sakha Theatre:

“The premiere of the opera Il Trovatore will be held on October 25, and my rehearsals are to begin on October 21. So, I only have four days to understand the director's idea and blend seamlessly into the artists’ team. This will be my debut on the stage of the Theatre of the Republic of Sakha,” the artist explained.

The production director of the show is well-known not only in the republic but also in Russia: Sergei Potapov is a director of the Sakha Drama Theatre, the winner of the National Theatre Award Golden Mask; any of his production becomes an important event in theatrical life and does not leave the audience indifferent.

Sergei Potapov plans to immerse the classic opera Il Trovatore in a post-apocalyptic world when the desperate mankind is trying to get on with its life in mines underground since everything is destroyed on the surface of the Earth and there is no air there to breathe. Therefore, the scenery of the play will look like constructions of underground workings - mines, trunks, elevators. The classical opera finale is tragic but despite the death of the heroes, the director intends to add the positive dimension to the performance, because in the end life is stronger than death. This director’s credo is also confirmed by the magnificent music of the Italian genius Giuseppe Verdi.

The premiere will be held as a part of the anniversary events in honour of Aytalina Adamova-Afanasyeva, the leading soloist of the opera, Honoured Artist of Russia, People's Artist of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). The performance is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.