The project “Russian Operas in the Astrakhan Kremlin” has been presented at the Russian House in Berlin

On March 28, 2024, the exhibition “The First Russian Opera” opened at the Russian House in Berlin.

The exhibition prepared by the Russian House in Berlin together with the M.I. Glinka Berlin Society to celebrate the 220th anniversary of the composer’s birth, presents the original exhibits of the 19th and 20th centuries: programs, music books and archival photos. These valuable artifacts tell about the significant contribution of Mikhail Glinka to the development of Russian musical culture; they help the visitors feel the atmosphere of the time when the first Russian opera A Life for the Tsar was first performed.

The historical background of the opera A Life for the Tsar is the events of the Polish intervention of the 17th century, which became a symbol of national unity. The text of the libretto was written in Russian, which makes the work the pioneer in using the Russian language in opera. Glinka's musical style, which combines melodic turns and folk melodies, lays special emphasis on the national identity of the work. The success of A Life for the Tsar impacted the development of the Russian opera tradition greatly. This opera by Glinka is a historical monument that reflects the deep national and cultural roots of the Russian musical tradition.

Another interesting part of the exhibition is the fragments of the video recording of the opera Ivan Susanin staged by the Astrakhan State Opera and Ballet Theater and presented on Cathedral Square of the Astrakhan Kremlin on September 2 and 3, 2023. The visitors of the exhibition can also see the sketches of the costumes for this production made by Tatyana Kondrychina.

The exhibition complements the information exposition “Mikhail Glinka. Musical Travels” of the Russian National Museum of Music which will last until July 31, 2024.