Due to Covid-19, not all creative ambitions will be possible, but the Latvian National Opera and Ballet is ready for the new season. While in the USA and in many parts of Europe the operation of opera houses is paralyzed and attempts can only take place online from each artist’s apartment, Latvia has been lucky. For our artists, rehearsals have taken place on the real stage so far, so the new season will be decent.
There is an active rehearsal process for Tchaikovsky’s ballet “Swan Lake”. With its premiere on September 2, the National Opera and Ballet will start the new season. The costumes, which are still kept secret, will be very luxurious, the scenography – gorgeous. In total, the new season’s repertoire for ballet includes three new productions.
One of them with an intriguing name – “Dracula”, which is recognized as the best show of the year in Australia. In the New Hall, the young choreographers have created the original work “Two Meters”. On the new reality of the pandemic.
“The idea is whether you can imagine what a ballet would be two meters away when you can’t touch your partner when everything stops. The light goes out. Life has stopped and turned upside down, ”says Aivars Leimanis, the artistic director of the Latvian National Ballet.
In turn, the opera – two new productions. In autumn – Verdi’s masterpiece “Simon Bokanegra”, in May Rossini’s opera “Cinderella”. Six years later, Puccini’s masterpiece “Tosca” will return to the opera stage in October.
In order to respect the epidemiologically safe distance, only half or 479 spectator seats will be available in the Great Hall. 50% less revenue from ticket sales. It has lowered the intended repertoire ambitions of the National Opera and Ballet.
“Unfortunately, we have to reduce new productions, reduce the number of guest artists. We hope that these 50% will not last long, because in any case we do not earn at this 50%, ”points out Egils Siliņš, Chairman of the Board of the National Opera and Ballet.
Due to the limitations of Covid-19, opera and ballet looked with great caution at the attraction of international artists in the new season. All the soloists, who were intended as guest soloists for the new production “Simon Bokanegra”, which will be premiered on November 27, were announced to all these artists. We rely only on our artists, ”says Siliņš.
In order to safely organize the flows of spectators, they do not intersect, there will be limited movement of spectators around the opera house. “Side doors will be opened that have not been used for decades in previous years. The ground floor spectators will walk through the main doors through the columns. Viewers of the balcony through the sides, ”emphasizes the head of the institution.
Meanwhile, the September and October performances of the current repertoire – “Traviata”, “Madama Butterfly” and “Lady of Spades” – are expected to debut in the new roles of several bright soloists of the Latvian National Opera. On December 16, the world-famous Latvian mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča will give a solo concert. The anniversary of the traditional New Year’s concerts. Next year, the production of Verdi’s opera “Aida” will be renewed.
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