Power struggle and music: Chowanschtschina inspires in Salzburg!

Power struggle and music: Chowanschtschina inspires in Salzburg!

Großes Festspielhaus, 5020 Salzburg, Österreich - The Easter Festival Salzburg presented an impressive performance of Modest Mussorgski's fragmentary opera "Chowanschtschina" in the large festival house on April 13, 2025. Director Simon McBurney staged this complex story about the Moscow Strelizen uprising from 1682 in an innovative way. Mussorgski, who could not complete the opera during his lifetime, receives new life through the reconstruction of Gerard McBurney, supplemented by electronic sounds of the composer Tuomas Norvio, who cleverly fill gaps in music.

The staging was characterized by a stage design by Rebecca Ringst, which was designed with sliding walls. Despite the supposed political implications that such an action could bring, the performance shows no direct allusion to the current political situation in Russia. The most exciting representation came from Nadezhda Karyazina in the role of the Marfa, which convinced both acting and musically. Vitalij Kowaljow as Prince Iwan Chowanskij impressed with his impressive bass and his stage presence.

a political drama in the opera

The plot itself is rich in political intrigues. Iwan Chowanski, a power player in the Moscow of the 17th century, strives to make Russia "big" again by entering reliable alliances with conservative groups such as the "old believers". The staging shows dramatic turns in which Iwan is on stage alone, surrounded by his slaves, and faces a number of challenges. In the course of history, he is invited to a council from Schaklowityi, where his murder is imminent, which underlines the threats that emerge from political alliances.

It is exciting that visual associations, such as the headdress of a man on stage, cause memories of the Qanon Schamans and thus expand the dramaturgical context of the performance. The very different fates of the characters also give the work depth; So Golizyn is sent into exile, while the old believers are called to protest through self -burning.

impressive musical performances

The musical management took over ESA-Pekka Salonen, who offered a symphony and precise music with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. The audience rewarded the performances with long -lasting applause, although no Buhs or Bravos could be heard for the director's team, which indicates the mixed feelings regarding the staging.

The next opportunity to experience "Chowanschtschina" is on April 20, 2025, and the anticipation for this idea is great in view of the previous performance.

More information about this extraordinary work can be found in the detailed reports of vienna.at Derstandard and on the official side of the Easter Festival Salzburg .