Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus
Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus
Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus
Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus
This opera is one of the least frequently performed, but at the same time, incredibly powerful and evocative works by the great composer. The production created in Minsk is the result of a fusion of contemporary directing techniques and a deep immersion in Tchaikovsky’s music.
Georgiy Isaakyan, People’s Artist of Russia, artistic director of the Natalia Sats Moscow Children’s Musical Theatre and director of The Maid of Orleans on the Belarusian stage, notes: “The production is conceived as spatially multifaceted: it seems to exist in three dimensions. Firstly, there is Domrémy, which is known throughout the world as the birthplace of Joan of Arc. And this modern town devotes itself entirely to the legendary and, one might say, mythologized heroine, organizing a wide variety of performances, festivals and celebrations in her honour, which are held in a theatrical form. The second space is the theatrical reality itself. But the third one, a historical one, will appear, too. The reality of the 15th century, which is played out in the imagination of a modern young girl, imagining herself to be Joan of Arc and trying on her fate...”
A team of true masters collaborated on the production: artistic director of the theatre, People’s Artist of Bashkortostan Artem Makarov as the musical director; People’s Artist of Russia Georgiy Isaakyan as the director; Alexei Tregubov as the production designer; principal chorus master of the theatre, People’s Artist of Belarus Nina Lomanovich as the chorus master; Irina Vtornikova as the lighting designer; Arina Shlykova as the computer graphics and video designer; Anastasia Golesheva as the choreographer.
On 11 and 12 December, the cast will include Daria Gorozhanko / Oksana Volkova as Joan of Arc; Stanislav Trifonov / Dmitry Kapilov as Thibaud, Joan’s father; Dmitry Shabetya / Taras Prysiazhniuk as King Charles VII; Anastasia Moskvina / Marta Danusevich as Agnès Sorel; Vladimir Gromov/ Andrey Klipo as Dunois, a French knight; Andrey Valentii / Uladzislau Zazulka as the Archbishop; Kirill Panfilov / Andrei Logvinov as Lionel, a Burgundian knight; Iosif Nikitenko (debut) / Alexander Gelakh as Raymond, Joan’s betrothed; Svyatoslav Sakharov as Bertrand; Ruslan Maspanov / Alexander Krasnodubsky as the Soldier and Lauret; Anastasiya Lurykava as the Angel; extra artist Diana Hrishchanovich, the chorus, supernumeraries, ballet, children’s studio, and orchestra of the theatre.
Artem Makarov will conduct the inaugural evening of the Forum, whilst on 12 December, the performance will be conducted by the young maestro Vitali Hryshchanka.
This very production of Tchaikovsky’s The Maid of Orleans was a participant in the 10th edition of the Festival of Musical Theatres “To See Music,” being presented on the New Stage of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia in October 2025.
