The year 2025 marks a special occasion for classical music enthusiasts, celebrating the 185th anniversary of the birth of the great Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. A highlight of the upcoming festival at Rosa Khutor will be the premiere of a new production of the opera "The Queen of Spades" set against the unforgettable backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains, at an altitude of 1050 meters above sea level.
During the festival, Artistic Director and Conductor Alexey Aslanov will introduce the public to a new creative ensemble, Rosa Philharmonia. This group will comprise an orchestra, a choir, and programs supporting young artists. Formed within the "Rosa Khutor. Klassika" festival, its future performances are already planned for Moscow, St. Petersburg, other Russian cities, and abroad.
The extensive festival program will utilize two concert venues at Rosa Khutor. The Rosa Philharmonia will make its grand debut with a symphonic program, featuring Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 1 and Sergei Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3. The piano solo will be performed by renowned pianist Dmitry Shishkin.
This year, in addition to symphonic concerts and other public events at the main square, the mountain festival's program will include a gala ballet. As in previous years, "Rosa Khutor. Klassika" will attract regional ensembles, with audiences enjoying performances by the "Sochi Chamber Philharmonic," the "Sioni" Caucasian Folk Dance Ensemble, and other artists from Sochi and the Krasnodar Krai.
On the final days of the festival, audiences will witness the premiere of the new production of Tchaikovsky's opera "The Queen of Spades" at the open-air stage of Layzo Park, Rosa Khutor. World-renowned soloists will perform the leading roles:
Young opera singers, selected through an international casting process as part of the festival's educational program, will also participate in the premiere.
The chief director of the festival and the new production of "The Queen of Spades" is Ilya Ustiantsev, choreographer and director from the Mariinsky Theatre.
"We are very pleased that holding a classical music festival at Rosa Khutor is becoming a tradition, a landmark event of the summer season in southern Russia. This year, we decided to celebrate the anniversary of the great Russian composer P.I. Tchaikovsky. His legacy, imbued with deep lyricism, drama, and profound understanding of the human soul, covers a wide range of genres. The opera 'The Queen of Spades' impresses with its psychological depth and musical expressiveness. We hope that the new production, which will be presented by Rosa Philharmonia at the festival this year, will fully demonstrate the ensemble's main approach: meticulous adherence to the traditions of academic performance, strict adherence to the composer's intent, and respect for his score. The premiere of 'The Queen of Spades' will be the main and most memorable event of the festival," noted Alexey Aslanov, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the "Rosa Khutor. Klassika" festival.
As in previous years, a crucial part of the festival will be its educational component – the All-Russian Casting of Young Opera Performers. Finalists of this casting receive a real opportunity to perform in concerts and, most importantly, participate in the opera premiere, sharing the stage with acclaimed masters. The F.E.S. Foundation for the Support of Classical Musical Art (Forma. Energia. Scæna.), a partner and co-founder of the Festival, plays an indispensable role in this endeavor. Interest in the casting is immense, as winning practically guarantees a career breakthrough and employment in leading theaters across the country.
"Successfully addressing the typical challenges of creative strategy and tactics for such a large-scale project, we simultaneously strive to focus on an important aspect – the fate of young talented singers, for whom the 'Rosa Khutor. Klassika' festival truly becomes a rare springboard to universal recognition and, as a result, a long-awaited start to a stage career with enormous potential. The festival's educational program has become one of the most prestigious creative territories in the country, thereby significantly enhancing cultural exchange in the context of interstate relations," commented Tatiana Antonovskaya, Executive Producer of the F.E.S. Foundation and Director of the educational program.
The festival program may be subject to changes and additions. More detailed information about the "Rosa Khutor. Klassika" festival and tickets for "The Queen of Spades" opera can be found on the official website: https://rosaclassica.ru/
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