The Postillion of Lonjumeau by Adam, Fri 13 Sep 2024, From (2024/2025), Directed by Evgeny Pisarev, Conductor Clément Nonciaux, Andrey Lebedev, Novaya Opera Theatre, Moscow, Russia

The name of Adolphe Adam is well known to the Russian public, but mainly as the author of the ballet “Giselle”, but in Europe he was much better known as the author of operas. The Postman of Longjumeau (1836) is a charming example of French opera-comique and an undeniable musical rarity. The work is based on a funny story about the postman Chapplou. He has a wonderful voice and sets off to conquer Paris, forgetting about his young wife Madeleine, but ten years later she decides to teach her frivolous husband a lesson. Since in the plot the main character becomes a star of the Parisian opera, it is written as a benefit performance for a tenor. Chapplou is on stage almost all the time. His “crown number” is the postman’s rondo with the highest D of the second octave, which is why the part is called the test for the tenor. Producing director Evgeny Pisarev emphasizes the theatricality and fantasy of the story. He adds two new characters - presenters, who exchange witty remarks in verse, commenting on what is happening. One of them is an experienced opera fan, the second is a naive and enthusiastic newcomer. Scenographer Zinovy ​​Margolin and costume designer Olga Shaishmelashvili , when coming up with a visual solution for the performance, fantasized about the theme of postcards: elegant and colorful, which are usually sent from travel. They easily transport us either to a French village or to a castle near Paris. It's funny, but in the 18th century, mail was primarily a service for transporting people, not letters. At postal stations, travelers rested and changed horses, and the postman, a sort of womanizer-adventurer, showed off on the box. But already in 1837, a year after the premiere of Adana's opera, the first train arrived in Paris, which means the composer was able to capture the “vanishing reality” and a disappearing profession. Comic opera in two acts Music Director and Conductor: Clément Nonciaux Stage Director: Evgeny Pisarev Playwright: Sergey Plotov Designer: Zinoviy Margolin Costume Designer: Olga Shaishmelashvili Lighting Designer: Alexander Sivaev Choirmaster: Yulia Senyukova Choreographers: Alberts Alberts, Alexandra Konnikova Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes with one intermission Premiered on 11 July 2024 Performed in French with Russian surtitles