For the first time in the 80th season on the stage of the Bashkir State Opera and Ballet Theater, the opera "Hercules" by Georg Friedrich Handel. The performance, which a year ago brought its creators and performers two "Golden Masks", will be presented on April 6 by the star composition of the singers.

In the title role will be laureate of the international competition Jan Leische. The remaining parties will be performed by Honored Artist of the Republic of Bashkortostan Larisa Akhmetova (Deyanira), laureate of the Russian National Theater Award "Golden Mask", winner of the National Opera Award "Onegin", laureate of international contests Dilara Idrisova (Iola), laureates of international and all-Russian competitions Ekaterina Kulikova (Likhas) and Sergei Sidorov (Gill), Honored Artist of Belarus Vladimir Kopytov (Priest). Behind the conductor's console - musical director of the production, Honored Artist of Belarus, laureate of the Golden Mask Artem Makarov. Opera is performed in English.

Opera "Hercules" was first performed in London, in 1745. The libretto written by Thomas Brauton was based on the tragedy of Sophocles "The Trachyonians" and the IX book "Metamorphosis" by Ovid. Hercules returns home after feats and wanderings, bringing with him a beautiful captive - Princess Iolu. The wife of Deyanir, overwhelmed by jealousy, becomes an involuntary culprit of his death. But the gods take Hercules to Olympus, granting the hero immortality, and his son - an excellent wife.

The cases of appealing to "Hercules" are quite rare even in European practice. In Russia, the opera was first performed in January 2013, in the Moscow Concert Hall. PI Tchaikovsky - in concert performance. All-Russian theatrical premiere of the opera "Hercules" was held in the Bashkir State Opera and Ballet Theater in December 2015. The producer-director was the honored art worker of the Russian Federation, laureate of the State Prize of Russia and the RF Government Prize. F. Volkova, laureate of the "Golden Mask" George Isahakyan. The performance of the performance was rendered to a timeless space, its semantic center was the drama of human feelings, relevant at all times. Georgiy Isahakyan said that "Hercules" is intended to help the viewer, having come into contact with ancient music, "to remember why we come to this world and to rush to the sky".

The playing space is formed by a choir, according to the laws of the ancient idea, built in a semicircle, and a rotating podium on which most of the events unfold. The action includes both modern costumes and scenery, as well as multi-colored tunics, illustrating the emotional state of the characters. Scenography of the performance was developed by Valentina Ostankovich, lighting design - Denis Solntsev; both artists are laureates of the Golden Mask.

The choir, in accordance with the canons of ancient music, acts in the opera as a full participant in the action. The choruses were staged together with the choirmasters of the Ufa theater - the winner of international competitions Alexander Alekseev and the honored art worker of the Republic of Belarus Alfiyoy Belogonova - by Vitaliy Polonsky, the head of the chamber chorus of musicAeterna of the Perm Academic Opera and Ballet Theater. P. I. Tchaikovsky.

In the autumn of 2016 the opera "Hercules" was shown at the Moscow Opera Theater. EV Kolobova within the framework of the First Festival of Musical Theaters in Russia "To See Music", having received flattering reviews from viewers and critics. Within the framework of the Russian National Theater Festival "Golden Mask" the performance was presented at the New Opera in April 2017. Dilyara Idrisova and Artem Makarov became laureates of the prestigious award in the nomination "Special Prize of the Jury of Music Theater".

Press Service of the BSTU.