Mikhail Lermontov "Masquerade"
Theatre of the Russian Army

"The idea of the play was born a long time ago. For me, as well as for Alexander Domogarov, this play is a new stage in life, a rethinking, an answer to many questions," said director Nina Chusova. Why "Masquerade"? Together with Alexander, we discussed what kind of work would mean such a transition, even a transformation in a person's life, and chose Lermontov's "Masquerade" - a symbolic work and a "milestone" for a person and an artist, it is no coincidence that there is something extraordinary in it, not from this life. We took a labyrinth as the basis for the play: in the center of the play, as in the play, there is a man who decides to "get out" to the light side, overcoming obstacles, falling into traps, and everything in earthly life pushes him to the dark side. In essence, this play is about the path of the human soul, whether it is able to survive in a "dark" society, find salvation, get out of the labyrinth. I love this author very much and with the actors we are looking for the sound of Lermontov's word, which is capable of influencing a person very strongly. Lermontov penetrates straight into the soul: you read - and images are immediately born, you stage - the search process begins, answers are found, including to your inner questions. Why are you here, can you trust this world, are you able to bring at least a little light into it" (text from the website of the Russian Army Theatre)

Tracklist

selected tracks from the play

• Ball
• Nina's Waltz
• Arbenin's theme
• Masquerade
• The theme of tragic love
• Nina's Walts-piano fantasy

Credits:

All Music written, arranged and conducted by Vyacheslav Serzhanov

Performed by the Bolshoi Theatre Soloists' orchestra

Solo Cello - Petr Kondrashin

Solo Violin - Alexander Mayboroda

Piano - Irina Popova

Recorded by Ilia Karpov (Academy of Choral Art)
Mixed by Alexander Volkov