Omer Meir Wellber, Vienna Volksoper Symphony Orchestra, Vienna State Ballet, Olesya Golovneva, Mila Schmidt - Tchaikovsky: Iolanta; The Nutcracker - Import Blu-ray Disc

Credits:

Omer Meir Wellber, Vienna Volksoper Symphony Orchestra, Vienna State Ballet, Olesya Golovneva, Mila Schmidt

Description:

In 1891, in his final years, Tchaikovsky wrote the opera "Iolanta" and the ballet "The Nutcracker" together and ordered them to be performed as a double bill in one evening concert. However, for reasons of excessive length and profitability, it is now customary for the two to be performed separately. However, Dutch female director Lotte de Beer and Israeli conductor Omer Meir Werber have now created a new production that allows both productions to be performed in one evening. The two operas are not separate, however, but rather are combined into a single work that "meshes like two cogs in a wheel. Tchaikovsky clearly separated the opera from the real world and the ballet from the imaginary world, but in this production, they are blended together scene by scene to create a fantastical stage. The performance began with a small overture from "The Nutcracker," showing the encounter between Iolanta and the Nutcracker, and overlapped with the introduction to "Iolanta" that sounds like contemporary music from the second half of the performance. The blind princess Iolanta is sung and acted by the soprano Golovnyova, while the "Nutcracker" number is performed by Mira Schmidt, who is dressed in the same costume and looks similar, and performs a crisp dance. The entire piece is based on traditional ballet, but incorporates elements of modern dance, making it fresh and engaging. The original story of "Iolanta" is set in the 15th century Provence, but here King René is dressed in a suit, and the two young men involved with Iolanta are dressed in blazers and sweaters, creating a modern drama. The Nutcracker, on the other hand, is centered on animals, puppets, and other costumed characters. The "Waltz of the Flowers," "The Dance of the Dancing Doves," and "The Arabian Dance" are joyfully performed, and the "Grand Adagio" creates a fantastic climax with Tchaikovsky's moving music. Although this is not a complete version of "Iolanta," the main roles are played by Golovnyova, a soprano born in 1980, Stefan Cherny (King René), a bass with a strong German opera image, and Georgy Vasiliev (Vodemon), a tenor star of the Moscow Novaya Opera, who all gave excellent performances. Both gave fine performances.The performance at the Vienna Volksoper in 2022 is based on the Russian symbol Tchaikovsky's work, and the silly battle between a mouse and a puppet, and the grand finale, in which Iolanta, who lives in darkness, comes to light through her own power, are filled with hope for the current world situation and a message of hope. The grand finale is a hopeful message about the current world situation. King International Inc.