Puccini’s “La Boheme” will open the festival featuring the world opera star Veronica Jioeva on Thursday, 8th of June, Novosibirsk. The national artist of the South Ossetia and the North Ossetia Republic – Alania will play Mimi in the performance, revived by the director Alexey Stepanyuk.
“It is a beautiful coincidence, that my festival starts with this very opera, “La Boheme”. And moreover, Puccini is my favorite composer – tells Veronica Jioeva. I performed Mimi for the first time at the opera studio of the conservatory, and later I have played this part many times. My career as a singer began with Mimi; it has become my first big shot in an opera production. It was my debut both in the Bolshoi and the Novosibirsk theatre”.
Recently renovated ”La Boheme” performance premiered at the Novosibirsk stage in 1977, and then turned to be a very important part of many artists’ careers. At that performance the Mimi part was played by Tatiana Vorojtsova, not yet entitled the National Artist of Russia. In 2005 the Mimi part was performed by Hibla Gerzmava in a concert version of that opera, directed by the conductor Teodor Currentzis. At that moment Hibla Germzava had already won the Grand-Prix of the Tchaikosvky International Competition. Beside that, the lead female part at the Novosibirsk stage was performed by Olga Guryakova, the soloist of the Musical theatre named after Stanislavsky and Nemirovich – Danchenko.
The prima donnas of the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre Irina Churilova and Veronika Jioeva has prepared two parts of the opera, Mimi and Musetta, specially for the upcoming event. In addition to that, the Musetta part was performed in Novosibirsk by Sophia Fomina, who is currently a soloist of the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden and Olga Trifonova, the soloist of the Mariinsky theatre.
“It was interesting for me, to try Musetta’s part. I have sung it several times – noted Veronika Jioeva – but Mimi, which fits me perfectly and which I love, is still my favorite part of “La Boheme”.
The renovated “La Boheme” performance will take place 8th June. Tickets are available on the website and at the theatre box office.