The new "Pagliacci" performance in NOVAT will be produced by the director of Mariinsky theatre Irkin Gabitov. The Russian Honored Man of Art, he had staged dozens of plays across Russia, and beside that, he assisted a famous Russian director Andrew Konchalovsky with his opera projects. As a student of Roman Tikhomirov, who was a chief director of NOVAT in the 50s, he staged several performances with our company. In this new performance, Irkin Gabitov is planning to show the audience in full scale the characters' feelings of Leoncavallo's genius play, which was first time shown 125 years ago in "La Scala", with the direction by Arturo Toscanini.
"The "Pagliacci" opera in known for its precise depiction of human basic feelings - love and jealousy. I'm sure this matter will never fade away - tells the director - times and morals may change, but the relation between a man and a woman will always stay the same. Some things may roughen up a bit, but there are feelings you can't omit, and they will never change".
Irkin Gabitov explains the never ending fame of the "Pagliacci" opera with a special emotional way it affects the audience, the universal language of music it uses, and the honesty of a story, that stays behind the libretto. According to his words, it's always a challenge for a director to show all the density of the characters' emotions. "In opera, all feelings are sharpen up to the top, shown with open technique, naturalistic way - notes Irkin Gabitov - These feeling are irreplaceable on the stage, just like the music. It's all about human voice, real emotions, supported by the acting talent."
Irkin Gabitov, the director of Mariinsky theatre, studied under Roman Tikhomirov, who was the chief director of NOVAT 1952 - 1956, and then worked in St.-Petersburg State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet (GATOB) named after S. M. Kirov. Irkin Gabitov also took part in Andrew Konchalovsky's opera projects "Boris Godunov", "War and People" and "Un Ballo in Maschera".
Irkin has been working with NOVAT for decades. "This theatre is like home to me - noted the director - since 1990 I've staged here "Boris Godunov", "Khovanshchina", "Tosca", "Eugene Onegin". Moreover, I put a lot of efforts to return Bagratuni's "Prince Igor", and together with the conductor Alexey Lyudmilin we staged Verdi's "Requiem".
Irkin Gabitov hopes to let the emotion go in this new Performance: "The music, as a type of art, reflects human feelings and brings certain message - notes the director - I have listened to it dozens of times, and each time in the most emotional moments I tremble and my eyes get wet".
The premiere shows of "Paliacci" will be held on the main stage of NOVAT on 13 and 14 April at 19.00. Tickets are available at the theatre box office and on the website.
