Pokrovsky Theatre. Moscow State Academic Chamber Musical Theater named after B. A. Pokrovsky

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Moscow theaters provide the viewer with a huge selection of different types of art. Classical productions or modern avant-garde performances gather numerous sold-out houses in the capital. Many creative movements are based on the immortal schools of Stanislavsky, Gnesina and other equally significant personalities.

People who are in love with their profession, completely absorbed by Melpomene, erect temples of art. The Pokrovsky Theater, thanks to its creator, takes pride of place in the Moscow creative environment.

History of Creation

Boris Aleksandrovich Pokrovsky began work on a short opera Not Only Love in 1972. The work of the talented composer Shchedrin, which brought success, laid the foundation for the existence of the Pokrovsky chamber theater.

The enthusiasm of the main director knew no bounds. Subtly feeling the surrounding world through art, a student of E. Gnesina, Boris Aleksandrovich collaborated with all the "stars" of the era or was their discoverer. The energy of the master was enough for teaching inGITIS, to stage productions at the Bolshoi Theater and, finally, to create their own offspring, free, not subject to censorship pressure, where young actors can embody bold creative ideas.

But not all roads were open even for the eminent honored director for the birth of a new project. The theaters of Moscow accepted the young team with their productions, until, thanks to the efforts of T. Khrennikov and D. Shostakovich, in 1974 it officially settled in the basement of a residential building.

Thorny path to success

Having occupied the former premises of the Sokol cinema, the chief director faced a lot of everyday problems. In a former bomb shelter that did not comply with any state sanitary and fire standards, the new Pokrovsky Theater still lived with great difficulty. The unique musical taste of the master allowed the creative object to quickly win the love of the audience. Popularity helped in 1997 to change the stage, and today the citadel of opera art is located at st. Nikolskaya, 17.

Favorite performances

One of the visiting cards is D. Shostakovich's premiere work "The Nose". The bright original Gogol irony is revealed thanks to the works "Dead Souls", "Notes of a Madman", "The Overcoat" and "Marriage" included in the production. Dmitri Shostakovich himself categorically objected to the opera, his self-criticism knew no bounds. Thanks to the participation of Gennady Nikolaevich Rozhdestvensky, "The Nose" was seen not only by Moscow, but by the whole world. Even after the death of the cult composer, the Pokrovsky Theater preserves the work in its original form.

The production of "Don Juan, or Punished lecher", where the great conductor Lev Ossovsky also took part, still gathers a full house. Mozart's timeless music creates a range of moods from sparkling humor to hopeless tragedy. Having already changed several cast members for more than a quarter of a century, the work has retained the ideological intent of the founder.

"The Rake's Adventures" in Soviet times had a huge resonance. The production touched upon the questions of the soul and the existence of Lucifer, which was contrary to the theatrical tendency to create only real life pictures. Collaboration with Iosif Sumbatashvili and the invariable Gennady Rozhdestvensky brought great success and love to the audience. And today, visiting the performance, you can catch the invisible hand of the master, which still sets the right direction for the actors' play.

The Pokrovsky Musical Theater can rightly be proud of the production of V. A. Mozart. Behind the scenes of the creative workshop is revealed to the viewer in the brightest colors. The manners of capricious artists, entangled in endless intrigues in the struggle for the best place under the spotlights, are perfectly conveyed through cheerful dialogues and a light musical leitmotif.

Innovative approach

The Pokrovsky Theater differed sharply in the direction of its productions. The main director wanted the viewer who came to see his work to plunge into a fabulous extravaganza, which is so far from the realities of life's problems.

It was hard for the meter to implement his innovative ideas with experiencedartists, and thanks to his teaching activities, he recruited a team of his own GITIS students. All of Pokrovsky's students had excellent data, and the invaluable experience of working under the guidance of the great master helped to polish their talent and continue their further successful career. Each work was carried out with an emphasis not on scenery, costumes, or even vocal abilities. The main thing was the actor's ability to convey emotion to the viewer, who unwittingly became a participant in the action.

The long-hackneyed material, sounding from every Moscow stage, was not interesting to Boris Alexandrovich. Thanks to talented associates, Gennady Nikolaevich Rozhdestvensky and Dmitry Dmitrievich Shostakovich, he was able to embody all his ideas and plans. The cast worked with inspiration on complex and interesting productions, conveying a dramatic game through music.

Mastery of Transformation

The inconspicuous room of the old bomb shelter, where the Pokrovsky Theater was located, has become the center of cultural life not only in Moscow or the Union. Even sophisticated foreign audiences were delighted with the works created by the talented creative alliance.

The smallest detail, gesture, posture, emphasis - everything is organic. The actor confidently plays on stage, skillfully conveying the inner world of his hero. Admirers of musical art, having visited only one performance, will be able to appreciate the huge contribution of the director, who hones the slightest movement of each character on stage to perfection.

Boris Alexandrovich had the talent of a teacher who, with paternal love, passed on knowledge to his "child" to continue the development of the opera craft. Once again, passing a new work through the prism of his genius, the legendary director managed to create completely a new masterpiece, relevant and in demand today.

Keeping on with life

The Moscow State Academic Pokrovsky Chamber Theater today works without its beloved director. But, having given a lot of strength to various scenes, both domestic and foreign, the titan of opera art continues to live in the native walls of his offspring. The high standard set by the master allows his students to set works that serve as a guideline for mastery, both for actors and spectators. The genius of Pokrovsky continues to be embodied in no less talented productions of his students around the world.