The first premiere of the new season of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet (LNOB) will be a visually particularly luxurious production of the ballet “Swan Lake”, but during the season it is planned that both world-famous opera artists will take the stage at the White House. Elīna Garanča a Kristine Opolais, and tenors Alexander Antonenko, as well as one of the most outstanding basses in the world, Ginters Groisbeks, LNOB head Egils Siliņš told the media at a press conference on August 17.
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The premiere of Peter Tchaikovsky’s ballet “Swan Lake” will take place on September 2. On September 2 and 4, one of the world’s leading ballet dancers, the Prime Minister of the Royal Ballet of London Vadim Muntagirov, will visit Latvia for the first time in the role of Prince Siegfried. His stage partner Odeta-Odilia will be Julia Brauer. According to LNOB representatives, ballet choreographer-director Aivars Leimanis in the new performance will preserve the original choreography of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov.
Sophisticated and especially luxurious costumes for the new production are created by one of the most outstanding contemporary American costume artists, Robert Perdziola, who has successfully created the visual image of ballet and opera at the Metropolitan Opera, American Ballet Theater, Boston Ballet, Chicago National Opera, Chicago Lyrical Opera . Inspired by the dream palaces of King Ludwig the Second of Bavaria, Lindenhof and Neuschwanstein, a new, glorious scenography was created by the Spanish artist Juan Guillermo Nova. The premiere of the ballet “Swan Lake” will be conducted by Mārtiņš Ozoliņš.
On September 19, the anniversary performance of the outstanding baritone Samson Izjumov will take place – Giuseppe Verdi’s “Nabucco”, the title will be the anniversary, and the internationally acclaimed soloist Liene Kinča will make her debut in the role of Abigail.
With the continuation of the season, in September and October, the repertoire performances of several bright soloists of the Latvian National Opera in new roles are expected. On September 9, Mikhail Chulpayev will make his debut in the role of Alfred Germain in Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Traviata”, Laura Grecka will play the role of Flora for the first time, Violet Valery will be interpreted by Julia Vasilyev, who already succeeded in this role last season. On September 12, Rinald Kandalincev is expected to make his debut in the play “Traviata” as Georges Germons. On September 20 and 23, Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Madama Butterfly” will make three debuts – Dana Bramane in the role of Choco-san for the first time, Raimonds Bramanis in the role of Pinkerton, and Ilona Bagele in the role of Suzuki. On October 11, for the first time in Peter Tchaikovsky’s opera “Lady of Spades”, the role of Lisa will be interpreted by Tatiana Trenogin, and the role of Hermann will be interpreted by Andris Ludvigs.
On October 4, Giacomo Puccini’s masterpiece “Tosca” will return to the stage of the Latvian National Opera. In a production created by director Dmitry Bertman, the passion of the operas Toscas and the artist Kavaradosi is played out in the glorious interiors of Rome. The luxurious premises have also become the backdrop for the peripetias of Tuscany and the Chief of the Secret Police, as well as the solution that culminates in Tuscany’s subconscious in the last act. Mārtiņš Ozoliņš will perform at the conductor’s stand “Toskas”, the main roles will be a brilliant soloist – Liene Kinča, Rodrigo Porras Garulo and Samsons Izjumovs. The next “Toskas” performances will take place on October 6 and 15.
On November 27, Giuseppe Verdi’s masterpiece “Simon Bokanegra” under the musical direction of Normunds Vaičs will have his first study at the Latvian National Opera. The title character of this opera becomes the Geneva Dodge, defeating the aristocrat Fiesko in the vote, but they are both connected not only by the struggle for power, but also by a fateful woman. The opera “Simon Bokanegra” was written by Giuseppe Verdi as early as 1857, however, the second edition of the work, which premiered in 1881, received special recognition from the public and critics. In the 21st century, “Simon Bokanegra” is increasingly appearing on the stages of opera houses.
The performance at the Latvian National Opera consists of an outstanding creative team from Great Britain – director Stephen Lawless, set designer and costume designer Leslie Travers and choreographer Lynne Hockney. Their performances have been successful in the world’s most important operas and festivals. The light artist of the new production will be Oskars Pauliņš.
On November 30, for the first time in Latvia, a solo concert will be given by one of the most outstanding basses in the world, Günther Groissböck. The concert with piano accompaniment will take place in the Great Hall with the iron curtain lowered, providing unique acoustics for chamber music.
On December 16, the world-famous Latvian mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča, accompanied by the Latvian National Opera Orchestra, will give a solo concert in the Great Hall.
In the autumn season, new productions are also expected in the New Hall. Children will be delighted by a theatrical concert “Magic Door at the Opera”, which will allow you to get to know the wonderful world of our theater through the songs of Arvīds Žilinskas. In turn, the young choreographers of the Latvian National Ballet will create a show “Two Meters” for an adult audience, playing the new reality created by the pandemic in dance.
Many bright and outstanding events are also planned for the second half of the season. On the occasion, the audience will be delighted by the traditional New Year’s concerts at the Opera. In March, Inga Kalna will interpret the role of Blanche in the performance of Francis Pulenka’s opera “Dialogues of Carmelites”. A concert performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Louise Miller” is expected in April, it will be the first performance of this work in Latvia. In April, the premiere is scheduled for the ballet “Dracula”, which will be staged by the prominent Polish choreographer Krzysztof Pastor, and in May – for the premiere of Joaquino Rosini’s opera “Cinderella” at the Latvian National Opera artist André Barbe.
The season will end with the Riga Opera Festival, during which the production of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Aida” with the world-famous Latvian soprano Kristine Opolais in the title role will be renewed. In Peter Tchaikovsky’s opera “Lady of Spades”, the role of Hermann will be interpreted by the international opera star Alexander Antonenko.
In order for the visit to the show or concert to be successful, the management of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet invites the spectators to follow the current information on safety regulations during the visit to the LNOB on the website www.opera.lv.
Tickets for LNOB performances in September, October and November can be purchased at LNOB and “Biļešu paradīze” box offices, as well as on the Internet.
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