On a chilly October evening beneath the arches of the Ekaterinburg Opera House, Italian opera reigned supreme. For the first time the beautiful, strong voices whose masters enjoy worldwide acclaim were heard far from the stages of the capital, in the very heart of Eurasia -in Ekaterinburg.
Actually, the trial gala concert «Stars of Italian Opera» took place last year — in Chelyabinsk, the hometown of the project's engenderer, organizer, and producer, baritone Boris Statsenko, who currently resides in Düsseldorf, yet sings on stages throughout the world. His success has been such that convincing his colleagues a year later to set out on a second «Russian tour» was as simple as could be… although Boris admits that traveling into the unfamiliar Ural cities of obscure Russia was, for many of the Italians, somewhat frightening. The reception the organizers were met with, however (in Ekaterinburg the efforts were undertaken by the Artmaster concert firm and the Teatralny café), and especially the opera fans broke the ice and delighted the impressionable Italians.
Boris STATSENKO, baritone, organizer and producer of the project «Stars of Italian Opera», completed the Moscow conservatory and performs lead tenor parts in many theaters of the world:
«I frequently visit Italy, where I have many singer and musician friends. One of them is the base Luigi Roni, my great friend, with whom I have performed together many time at music festivals. It was ten years ago when I asked him to help me to organize a similar festival in Russia. Not in the capital cities, but in the provinces: in Siberia, in Ural. I asked Luigi because, as you know, Italians would not come here if it were not for personal friendly connections. Everyone is afraid to travel to unknown cities when the tour organizer is also unknown. Since Luigi and I were able to organize one tour, it was easier to convince Italian opera singers to come here the second time. Last year was a huge success, and afterwards we decided to repeat the concert a year later. Chelyabinsk, however, unexpectedly united with Perm in their desire to have us, and Perm — with Artmaster in Ekaterinburg. Thus, in one trip we were able to be in three cities. Our plan now is to develop this partnership. In the future we want not only to give concerts, but also to organize master classes here, as well as a creative exchange, so that Russian singers could travel to Italy to study and perform there.»
«Are you, as project organizer and producer, satisfied with how it is being implemented? Has it turned out as you expected, better, or worse?»
«In Perm we were received by an opera theater, so we were able to invest somewhat more in the organizational aspects. In Ekaterinburg this was taken care of by a private concert organization, but they also handled it with full justice. In general, I don't know whether or not your expectations were met, but mine have been completely justified.»
«So all the fears of your artist friends dissipated?»
«More than that — they were simply astounded that so far from the capital — in general all they know about Russia are that it contains Moscow and Saint Petersburg — there exists such a deep tradition of appreciation for opera. They thought culture existed only in Moscow and Petersburg, and the rest was so countrified that it didn’t bear thinking of. They simply had never heard of cities like Perm, Ekaterinburg, and Chelyabinsk, and had no idea that there were theaters and symphony orchestras here. It’s rather like how here, in Russia, you know only Domingo, Pavarotti, and Carreras, yet no-one knows the other singers of worldwide acclaim!»
«With your help we now hope to learn as much about them as possible.»
«Of course! For me this is not just a concert matter, but an educational one. And there is one very important aspect: rare is the Russian singer who can independently travel to Italy to listen and learn there. But we can bring Italians here, and provide an opportunity to hear how they sing live. And most importantly, we have plans to invite the most promising singers to Italy, so that they can study for an entire month with Italian specialists, work with pianists, and then sing several concerts or a performance in Italy. I think this is very important; only in this way can we present our singers — not only from Moscow and Petersburg, but from all Russia — to compete in Europe.»
Luigi Roni, base, soloist of La Scala, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Bastille Opera in Paris:
«Luigi, this isn't your first time in Russia — you're not afraid to come here any more?»
«Not any more, no. I had been in Moscow, and directed at the Bolshoi Theater, as well as in Leningrad. Then, starting last year, we began traveling to the back country, to Ural. The trip is a long one, but I’m very glad to be here nonetheless. Besides, the distances are more easily surmounted now — one can go by plane. This now brings all of us in the world not only physically but psychologically much closer to each other.»
«How did you find our stage and the acoustics of our theater?»
«The acoustics are wonderful. In general theaters built 80 years ago or more are always wonderful. All theaters have their legends -they say of La Scala that it is haunted by the spirit of Maria Callas. We found the wonderful soul of your theater — in your public, the people that came to the concert to make music together with us. And we want very much to do everything so that the people who come to the concert realize that music can unite all nations and all people. In this we truly believe! And I think that others sense this, as well. Only thus can we keep from losing culture.»
«Did you have a chance to see our city?»
«Not this time, unfortunately: we rehearsed all day, gave the concert at night, and in the morning we are moving on. But I know that your city has an extensive history, so next time I will definitely see everything. And of course I will have to visit the Europe-Asia border! Alas, I can no longer plan projects too far into the future, since, as you see, I have already gone completely gray. (Laughs.) But I hope that a year from now we will be here again.»
Maria Pia Gionata, soprano, recognized in Italy as the greatest performer of the music of G. Puccini:
«Maria, when we ask our guests whether or not they know what Ural is, they usually answer that they know Siberia, but have never heard of Ural. Had you ever heard about our region?»
«I was in Moscow and Saint Petersburg back when I was a student at the conservatory; we would travel there to concerts. That was 20 years ago, though, and this was the first time I had ever traveled so far into provincial Russia! I know what Ural was, however. It's just a long way away, especially for Italians. This is a great adventure! And we are all very sorry that we saw your theater, your artists, and your public, but that there was absolutely no time to see your city! I have already promised myself, however, that when I go on vacation I will return. I have a friend in Belarus whom I wish to visit. Then I will come here, since I wish to see everything there is to see.»
«Which of our singers did you become acquainted with?»
«With a very pleasant soprano who sang Iolanta. I found great pleasure in our conversation; it was very interesting to sing with a Russian singer! She is so friendly — at the end of our conversation she even gave me a chocolate!»
«What language did you speak together?»
«Mostly the language of gestures! I did say to her the one word I know in Russian: «babushka». Here I received the most wonderful compliment of any that I have ever heard: ‘You brought so much music and so many smiles to us that it is warmer here now!’ Thank you for that!»