Adamova conquered Bolshoi Theatre
Opera experts will also discuss how she played her Lyubasha's part but there was no doubt that she sang perfectly and won hearts of spectators with her dramatic artistry. A spectator was ready to welcome the Yakut opera singer infinitely. After each act, which was four, Aitalina Adamova went to greet with handsome baritone singer Vladimir Redkin, who took the part of Gregory Gryaznov. A conductor had to interfere in during dragged applauds.
Zurab Sotkilava entered into make-up room after performance congratulated her: “Well done! You are worth of Bolshoi Theatre!” Her producer Valery Shadrin, owing to whom everything was held, confessed: “I remember all her triumphs but she has never sung so”. Aitalina said:” it is my present to Vyacheslav Shtyrov in his inauguration”.
I would remind you that the performance took place on 27th January. It was the day when Yakutia honoured its president.
How it was exciting! However she was confident but it was in Bolshoi Theatre all the same, a performance from golden collection. And the idea to send Aitalina Adamova to Moscow occurred to Shadrin?! He has subtle impeccable taste and he understood long ago what pearl she was and counted on her opportunely. The most prestigious contest of vocalists named in honour of Tchaikovsky in Russia and abroad and her doubtless victory can serve as demonstration of it.
It did not mean however that all theatres will be opened for this reason. There was an audition of common rights before performance in Bolshoi Theatre, where she sang along with other good singers who had pretensions on part of Lyubasha. They preferred the singer from north theatre. Conclusion of treaty, the surname “Adamova” on playbills of Bolshoi Theatre, rehearsals, when famous soprano-singer of the Soviet Union, now director of opera in Bolshoi Theatre Makvala Kasrashvili himself, concertmaster Alla Osipenko and producer Dmitry Maslennikov, apprentice of Great Pokrovsky, who had been working in opera theatre since 1947, prepared her part, all that might be regarded as happiness. When they gave her dresses with labels “the costume of Elena Obraztzova, Irina Arkhipova, Tamara Sinyavskaya” the yakut prima donna nearly sobbed: ”These are museum relics! What a wonderful present theatre has given me!”
- Valera, am I in the paradise? – She said being completely touched.
But happiness was fragile. It was advances which only the strongest could work through. Not only producer worried about her, but also Yury Kozlovsky, Culture vice-minister, who was in Moscow on business trip. He did not want to worry the singer therefore he constantly asked Shadrin: ”How things are going? May I help?” He brought a huge bouquet of white roses on the performance. “It is not a bouguet but a whole bush!” Valery Shadrin said laughing. Yakuts were terribly glad to see their country woman. Aita’s producer gave them twelve invitation cards. Tickets on “Tsar’s bride” cost two thousand roubles. Owing to him the management of theatre, the chief manager of Bolshoi Theatre, Anatoly Iksanov on person, allowed Sakha TV Affiliate in Moscow to make recording of performance saying: “If only for Yakutia…”.
So, she came out. First Valery did not recognize her because make-up artists made her look as real Russian Lyubasha. Praying for her Shadrin whispered after her each word. In powerful final scene when Lyubasha died to the crashing accompaniment of orchestra, just imagine how it was when 120 men played forte, his eyes were full of tears…
Yakuts were not allowed to go to make-up room with congratulations. The federal guard service of the President guarded Bolshoi Theatre and one need to have a special permit to pass trough hall. Only Shadrin had a permit. So it was he who witnessed how theatre soloists and Zurab Sotkilava congratulated reddened Aitalina. “Her face was as red as beet”, - he told me. Michael Kazakov was also there. He was a gold medal winner in Tchaikovsky contest. He took part in wonderful concert in Sakha Theatre which Aitalina Adamova gave in summer, when Opera and Ballet Theatre was closed under repair.
After Aitalina Adamova played Lyubasha’s part opera director Makvala Kasrashvili asked:
- Valera, how many does she have parts?
- 17.
- Well then there are still 17 parts left…
She was also asked how many good singers work in yakut theatres and owing to Aitalina Adamova’s triumph they remembered brilliant performances of Anegina Ilyina. So present Lyubasha in Bolshoi Theatre was not a single case, it was the triumph of the whole vocal art of Yakutia in Moscow. It is indeed.
// Jan. 31, 2007. Written by Elena Stepanova
Translated by Zhenya Popova, Yakutsk State University student.
Resource: GazetaYakutia.ru |
