Anna Krainikova de dos (Varia), Elena Kelessidi (Liouba), Julie Mathevet, Andreea Soare sur le divan et Andrea Hill et Anna Pennisi derrière le divan (Quatre jeunes filles). Foto: Andrea Messana

Beautiful La Cerisaie at Garnier, Paris

Philippe Fenelon. Foto: DR

The composer Philippe Fenelon has composed an opera named La Cerisaie based on the a novel by Anton Tsjekhov with libretto by Alexei Parine which had it world premiere as opera at Opera de Paris January 25^th 2012. It has been performed in a concert version in Bolshoi, Moscow last year.

Well. The beautiful stage never looks like a cherry orchard, the cherry trees don’t look like the trees we observe on stage, but the scenography, by Jean-Pierre Vergier, who is also responsible for the beautiful costumes, where we feel our self like in a large garden surrounded by heavy trees, but in the first part it I supposed to be the large ball room at the estate, is functioning very well, it is delicious to look at, this is very well followed up by beautiful costumes
. The military uniforms, continuing the grey colours of the forest in their delicious shining grey colours

. The look is good.

Fenelon has composed his music in an interesting way, made for big orchestra in the grave, and in addition on stage in the first act (for the ball) a chamber orchestra consisting of two groups, a string quintet and an enlarged wooden quintet. They are performing alone, in dialogue with and as a contrast to the large orchestra
. After the break this chamber orchestra is moved closer to the audience, and then it sounds much better, as their now is a clear contrast, and dialogue between these two parts. In addition is the female Babouschka choir in some parts in the second act moved down in the orchestra pit, where they are singing as choir, and for the Epilogue also as choir with four female soloists. It works very well.

In front: Alexandra Kadurina (Gricha) et Elena Kelessidi (Liouba), Behind: Anna Krainikova (Varia) et Ulyana Aleksyuk (Ania) Foto: Andrea Massena

The musical highlights in the production are on the one side the many solos for different members of the cast, which one by one are having each their scene, profiling them self, but often in dialogue with others members of the cast. In these solo parts, Fenelon is showing a big talent for underlining the very different characters personality, which are different if they are aristocracy, children, workers, military, guests at the estate, the butler, the housemaid and so one
. Another side of musicale highlights are the ensembles, with up to ten voices, each singing their melody line. Presented with beauty, and it is very well prepared. In my case, attending to the representation no. 5 of this world premiere, working and sounding very well. It presents a group of outstanding voices. It seems that the rehearsal period has been good, and the conductor Tito Ceccherini has been working and is working well with the orchestra and the entire ensemble.

The Tshjekhov´s testament play, an aristocratic family returns to their country estate in Yalta just before it is sold to a son and grandson of persons who has been working for the aristocratic family at the estate. The stage director Georges Lavaudant reveals the tension in this tale of social change, intended as a comedy, but often in the theatre versions set as a tragedy. The setting of the cherry orchard provides a luminous symbol for the decline of a world threatened by the forces of modernity, and in the end it is also snow-covered, as the streets of Paris became, when we left the Garnier opera house Tuesday February 7^{th 2012}.

Ksenia Vyaznikoya as the old butler Firs, and Mischa Schelomianski as Charlotta. Foto: Andrea Massena

Regi is by Georges Lavaudant who is gicing the participants god possibilityes to form each their own characters in a good way, wit pleasure I enjoyed many good details in the staging, Firs (Ksenia Vyaznikova)  as the old butler, lookd like a very old servant in the house, and keept her forming af the role through all the many scene. Elena Kelessidi as Liouba the owner of the estate as the prominent high class leading lady on stage. – Reminding me of (The Merry Widow). CLosely followed up by her dauthter Lionia (Marat Gali) which has the colorature parts in the opera, well formed. Furthermore in the role as Charlotta Mischa Schelomianski
. and as Grischa, Alexandra Kadurina, the son of Liouba, who dont want to leave his childs home. And Lopakhine who is the one bying the estate Igor Golovatenko. Anna Krainikova made and song a beautiful portrait of her role as Varia, the young beautiful women, who realizes that Lopakin loves her but cannoy make his mind up to marry her because she has no dowry. In despair she finds herself drawn to the church for the beauty of its services. If she cannot find work, she contemplates living in a convent.

From my point of view, I enjoyed the idea of the production and the good casting with many different wellformed characters.

La Cerisaie (2010) Opéra in 12 scènes, a prologue and an épilogue by Philippe Fénelon (1952)

7 présentations between 27 january to 13 fébruary 2012 at Palais Garnier, Paris

Direction musicale : Tito Ceccherini – Mise en scène et lumières : Georges Lavaudant –Décors et costumes : Jean-Pierre Vergier – Chorégraphie : Thomas Stache – Chef du Chœur : Patrick Marie Aubert.

COMMANDE DE L’OPÉRA NATIONAL DE PARIS

Alexey Tatarintsev (Iacha), Igor Golovatenko (Lopakhine), Marat Gali (Lionia), Thomas Bettinger (Un Invité) et Anna Krainikova (Varia). Foto: Andrea Massena

En langue russe
TITO CECCHERINI Direction musicale
GEORGES LAVAUDANT Mise en scène et lumières
JEAN-PIERRE VERGIER Décors et costumes
THOMAS STACHE Chorégraphie
PATRICK MARIE AUBERT Chef du Choeur

The cast: 

Applaus, in the middle the composer Philippe Fenelon. Foto: Henning Høholt

ELENA KELESSIDI Liouba
MARAT GALI ° Lionia
ALEXANDRA KADURINA ° Gricha
ULYANA ALEKSYUK ° Ania
ANNA KRAINIKOVA ° Varia
IGOR GOLOVATENKO ° Lopakhine
MISCHA SCHELOMIANSKI Charlotta
SVETLANA LIFAR Douniacha
ALEXEY TATARINTSEV ° Iacha
KSENIA VYAZNIKOVA ° Firs
THOMAS BETTINGER ° L’Invité
JULIE MATHEVET
ANDREEA SOARE
ANDREA HILL
ANNA PENNISI Quatre jeunes filles
ORCHESTRE ET CHOEUR
DE L’OPÉRA NATIONAL DE PARIS
° Débuts à l’Opéra national de Paris