The Tsar’s Bride on screen

The Mikhailovsky Theatre’s production of The Tsar’s Bride is to be shown in cinemas. The production, which was nominated for the national theatre awards in three categories, will be performed on the Bolshoi Theatre’s New Stage on 17 March. The performance will be broadcast live from Moscow to 35 Russian cities. A total of four productions are taking part in the new Golden Mask in Cinema project, with The Tsar’s Bride the featured opera.

“I am happy that this broadcast will not be part of some global or European event, but is instead a national initiative for Russia”, said Mikhail Tatarnikov at the press conference. “It is a great honour for me, and fascinating as well. I have taken part in quite a few TV broadcasts, but this is my first experience in the cinema.”

Director Andrey Moguchy does not exclude the possibility that the opera on screen will differ slightly from the usual stage version: “We may make a few alterations, concentrating on close-ups. But The Tsar’s Bride is perfect for making a screen version, because it has the best dramatic plot that I know.”

Journalists at the press conference wondered whether the production team were worried about being pioneers: “What if there are technical difficulties during the broadcast or the big screen distorts the perception of the opera?” “We have Rimsky-Korsakov, and he will come to our rescue!” countered Mikhail Tatarnikov.

The list of cinemas screening The Tsar’s Bride on 17 March can be seen here. The TV channel Kultura will also be broadcasting the opera live on the same day.

In those time zones where a live broadcast to cinemas is not feasible, a recording of the production will be shown on 4 April.