The repertoire of the Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre includes two performances of Pyotr Tchaikovsky's opera The Queen of Spades. This mini-cycle is dedicated to the Soviet and Russian opera singer, People's Artist of the Soviet Union, world opera star Vladislav Piavko.

Vladislav Ivanovich passed away in October 2020 aged 79. Having been a soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre between 1966 and 1989, he performed dozens of leading tenor arias. The most important among them was the part of Herman in Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades.

Vladislav Piavko is connected with the Krasnoyarsk Region not only by the fact that he was born in Krasnoyarsk and his parents are native Siberians. People's Artist of the USSR actively collaborated with the Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre. In February 2015, the 6th International Festival Stars Parade at the Opera took place; it was dedicated to the opera diva Irina Arkhipova (this was the year of the 90th anniversary of this music theatre legend). The Irina Arkhipova Foundation helps young gifted singers. The Stars Parade at the Opera is held with the support of the Foundation. Vladislav Piavko was Irina Arkhipova's husband, a stage partner and companion. In 2015, he arrived in Krasnoyarsk for the opening of the event and performed at the Krasnoyarsk Opera House.

His partner then was the theatre’s principal singer Daria Ryabinko, whose talent Vladislav highly praised. In the Queen of Spades performances on January 29 and 30, 2020, Daria will perform the part of Polina.

In May 2015, the Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre hosted the 3rd Slovtsov International Young Opera Singers and Directors Competition. Its international jury was co-chaired by Vladislav Piavko, president of the Irina Arkhipova Foundation, of the International Union of Music Specialists, a professor at the Moscow Conservatory.

The Grand Prix at that competition was won by the soloist of the Buryat Opera and Ballet Theatre Mikhail Pirogov. Now a soloist of the Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre, Honoured Artist of the Republic of Buryatia Mikhail Pirogov will perform the part of Herman on January 30, 2020.

It’s worth reminding that the performances of Pyotr Tchaikovsky's opera The Queen of Spades will close the repertoire activities of the first month of 2020: January 29 at 7:00 p.m., January 30 at 6:00 p.m.