The 16th International Festival of Opera Art "Shalyapin Evenings in Ufa" started. Today the Bashkir Opera and Ballet Theater opened the festival and the 81st theater season with the premiere of the opera "Faust" by Charles Gounod.

As noted by the chief conductor of the theater, musical director and conductor of the premiere Artem Makarov, the choice of this particular work is not accidental. This year marks the 145th anniversary of the birth of the great opera singer Fyodor Chaliapin, who once brilliantly introduced Mephistopheles to the public, as well as around the world celebrating the 200th anniversary of Charles Gounod, the author of the famous opera.

Director of "Faust" - Honored Artist of Russia, laureate of the State Prize of Russia and the RF Government Prize. F. Volkov, laureate of the "Golden Mask" George Isahakyan. The production designer is Denis Sazonov, the lighting artist is Irina Vtornikova, the choirmaster - Alexander Alexeev.

The party of Mephistopheles was performed today by the People's Artist of the RB - Askar Abdrazakov (Mariinsky Theater). Inimitable Faust - Honored Artist of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Republic of Bashkortostan, laureate of the Golden Mask Ilgam Valiev, Margarita - People's Artist of the Republic of Bashkortostan Elvira Fatykhova.

This role of Mephistopheles for Askar Abdrazakov is the 12th in a row, but, according to the artist, he has not seen such a "Faust" yet. "I am very happy that I am working with Georgiy Isahakyan again. Today, something happened from a number of productions of a global scale. Everything is wonderful here, and most importantly - harmoniously. "

The performance is completely transferred to the realities of 2018, it raises such topics as the theme of loneliness in the world of gadgets and social networks, the search for the real interlocutor, losing oneself in the endless whirl of information.

"Even at the very beginning of the work on the material, we realized that it would not be a traditional performance. And now we see that it's unexpected, modern, tough, principled, it's about what is today's insane world, what kind of person today, how much we feel alone today. I am very glad to work in the walls of your theater for the fifth time, here many operas easily fit the company, it is a great pleasure to work. I think we have a very seamless and mature version of "Faust", - says the director of the premiere.

The production is full of massive scenes, most of the company is involved here. The costumes have come down from the nearest fashion shows, and in the middle of the scene there is a huge bitcoin icon, a clothing store, an exotic garden, a golden calf, and much more.

This is a technically complex and rich performance, every minute the audience is waiting for something unusual. So the director shows the speed, the dynamics in which we live today.

"I am glad that this premiere will become a springboard for a young artist - Denis Sazonov, he is a representative of a new generation who otherwise sees art that can not be left without interest," Georgy Georgievich said.

"Faust" in the Ufa theater was first presented in 1939, then the productions were performed in 1950, 1961, 1978, 1999 and 2007.

Recall, the festival "Shalyapin evenings in Ufa" on September 17 will continue the opera "The Tsar's Bride" Rimsky-Korsakov, and on September 19 the opera "Rigoletto" by G. Verdi will be shown.