The famous poem Juno and Avos of the Russian modern opera, written in 1970. In those years, they avoided using the word "rock opera" because rock was banned. But the fact is obvious - it was the first Russian rock opera.
It remains the most popular to this day. One of the great playwrights said: “In order for the performance to be successful, it must have a positive ending, where everyone is happy. And only a genius can afford to create a performance with a tragic ending.
The masterpiece is not destined to sink into oblivion! A captivating charming story in its production went around the world. The first premiere of the opera abroad took place at the Espace Cardin in Paris in 1983. Buy tickets for juno and maybe - you will see a legend that continues to capture the hearts of people today.
It just so happened that all the components of this performance turned out to be brilliant: poetry, music, staging. The plot incredibly captivated its creators. The libretto of Juno and Avos is based on the real events of 1806 surrounding the love story of Nikolai Rezanov, a Russian nobleman, and Maria Concepción Argüello, daughter of the Spanish governor of Alta California.
Voznesensky was inspired to create his own poem by the diaries of Count Rezanov, a book about Rezanov's expedition by George Alexandra Lensen, the ballad "Concepción de Arguello" by Francis Bret Garth, and read by Pyotr Tikhmenev - "History of the Russian-American Company".
Come share the excitement of the famous dramatic production of "Juno and Avos" - a story of romantic love, so celebrated by poets and writers. Their love story, like the love stories of Alexander the Great and Thais of Athens, Anthony and Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet, is admirable.
The original plot of Juno and Avos
The opera is named after the two sailing ships Juno and Avos, who made up the expedition of the Russian explorer. Voznesensky never claimed that the opera had historical accuracy, but the characters in his poem are echoes of the fates of real people.
Conchita was just a teenager when the Russian ship arrived in San Francisco Bay. Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov, envoy of Tsar Alexander I, has a difficult mission: he needs to establish trade relations with the Spanish side of colonial North America. There was a desperate need to provide food for the Russian settlement of Sitka, Alaska. The task was complicated by the fact that Spain was an ally of Napoleon.
Perhaps the mission would have been a failure if it were not for the outbreak of mutual love between the 15-year-old beauty Conchita, a young Spaniard, and the Russian captain Rezanov. Their love was not hindered by religious, linguistic, and age barriers. The shocked parents of the girl give their consent to their betrothal. This wedding was to be a friendly alliance between Spain and Russia.
Nicholas must return to St. Petersburg in order to obtain permission for a mixed Orthodox-Catholic marriage. On the way, he fell ill with pneumonia, besides, he received a head injury, falling from a horse - he died near Krasnoyarsk. Concepción, however, patiently waits for him: every day she goes to the cape to meet him. Now at this place is the Golden Gate Bridge.
After 5 years, she receives reliable information that announced his death.
After the death of his lover, Concepción remains to live in his parents' house for another 20 years, struggles with thoughts of the tragedy and constantly refuses all his many fans. During these years, she has been involved in charitable activities in California, Guadalajara, and Mexico. Then she joins the sisterhood of the Dominican monastery, where she lived until 1857.
Even if we return to Earth
We are secondarily, according to Hafiz
We, perhaps, will warm up with you
I will never see you!
"Juno and Avos" is the most famous and still popular Russian rock opera. The premiere of the performance took place in 1981 at the Lenin Komsomol Moscow Theater, on the stage of which it is still being performed.
Composer
The author of the music for the performance is A. L. Rybnikov. He was born in Moscow on July 17, 1945. His parents were people of creative professions: his mother was an artist-designer, and his father was a violinist. Alexei Lvovich started writing music at the age of 8. His first compositions were pieces for the piano, and at the age of 11 he wrote the ballet Puss in Boots. A. L. Rybnikov graduated from the conservatory in composition, his teacher was Aram Khachaturian.
In addition to the work “Juno and Avos”, Alexey Lvovich wrote another legendary rock opera - “The Star and Death of Joaquin Murieta”. He is the author of music for the mystery "Liturgy of the Catechumens", for the musical drama "Maestro Massimo", for the modern opera "War and Peace", for such films as: "Treasure Island", "The Same Munchausen", "The Tale of the Star Boy ", "Andersen - Life without love", "The Adventures of Pinocchio", "Little Red Riding Hood", "The Brothers Karamazov", etc., as well as to the cartoons: "The Wolf and the Seven Kids in a New Way", "Black Hen", series " Moomin-Troll", etc. In addition, A. L. Rybnikov writes symphonic, chamber and choral music. And there is no doubt that awarding him the title of People's Artist in 1999 is quite fair.
Plot
The most famous work of the composer A. L. Rybnikov was and remains the rock opera Juno and Avos. A summary of the performance will be presented in this article. The plot is based on the poem of the same name, written by Andrey Voznesensky. It introduces us to a true story that happened at the beginning of the 19th century. The Russian statesman Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov traveled to California in 1806, where he met Conchita, the daughter of the commandant of San Francisco.
So, “Juno and Avos” (a brief summary of the opera will be described in detail later) is a story about how Nikolai Rezanov, as part of the expedition he led, stops in California on his way to Alaska. At the ball, he meets sixteen-year-old Conchita, who falls in love with him. After becoming engaged to her, Nikolai Rezanov is forced to continue the expedition and leave his bride in California. On the way to St. Petersburg, where he was going to apply for permission to marry Conchita, since she is a Catholic, Nikolai Petrovich falls ill and dies. Conchita waited for him for many years and did not believe that he had died, and having received confirmation of his death, she took the veil as a nun and took a vow of silence.
Prologue
The rock opera "Juno and Avos" (the summary goes "toe-to-toe" with the work itself) begins with a prologue. Nikolai Petrovich prays, invoking the Lord and the Motherland. After that, a prophet enters the stage, who predicts to Russia that the difficult year of 1812 is coming soon.
The first act of the rock opera "Juno and Avos"
The summary of the first part is as follows: after the funeral service in the church of his wife, Rezanov petitions Count Rumyantsev to support his project - the first round-the-world trip in Russian history, which he intends to lead in order to establish friendly relations with America, which promises Russia great benefits . Having received the go-ahead from Rumyantsev, N.P. Rezanov sets off on a voyage.
Second act
Rock opera "Juno and Avos" summary (second part) tells about what happens to the heroes already in America. The scene begins with the fact that Nikolai Petrovich writes a letter to A. N. Rumyantsev about the state in which his expedition arrived at the shores of California, and how they were met by the locals. Next, the action is transferred to the ballroom. Here N.P. Rezanov met Conchita, in honor of whose 16th birthday a ball was given. Nikolai Petrovich presents a gift to the commandant's daughter - a golden diadem from the collection of Empress Catherine. After the ball, Rezanov enters Conchita's bedroom and seduces her. The girl falls in love with him, and he feels only remorse. At confession, the girl tells everything to her confessor, about which he informs her father, who insists on the engagement in order to hide the dishonor of his daughter. Rezanov and Conchita get engaged, after which he sails away, but he is not destined to return to her. For thirty years, Conchita had been waiting for the return of N.P. Rezanov, not believing the rumors about his death.
For more than 30 years, the phenomenal rock opera "Juno and Avos" continues to excite the hearts, immersing the audience in the romantic world of two lovers: Count Rezanov and young Conchita. Their sad love story ended over two centuries ago, but thanks to heartfelt poetry set to beautiful music, this story seems to live forever.
background
The modern opera Juno and Avos is based on real events that took place in the 18th century. In St. Petersburg, a son, Nikolai, was born into the impoverished noble family of the Rezanovs. The boy received a good education at home and showed a brilliant ability to learn languages. In addition, by the age of 14, he had grown handsome beyond his years and was able to enlist in the artillery. In a fairly short time, an ambitious and purposeful young man changed several positions and rose to the rank of the ruler of the office under the secretary of Catherine II, Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin.
Portrait of Count Nikolai Rezanov, correspondent of the Russian-American Trading Company, by an unknown artist
However, the appearance of a young, tall, handsome Rezanov at court aroused fears among the new favorite of the Empress, Count Zubov. The latter, having decided to remove a potential rival from the road, ordered Nikolai to be sent to Irkutsk. In the province, Rezanov was supposed to inspect the trading activities of the merchant and traveler Grigory Shelikhov, known as Russian Columbus. He became the founder of the first Russian settlements in America, it was with the help of Shelikhov that Alaska became part of the Russian Empire under Catherine II.
From that moment on, Rezanov's fate was forever connected with Russian America. He married Shelikhov's daughter, the young Anna, both of whom greatly benefited from this marriage. Shelikhov strengthened his position at court, his daughter received a title of nobility and all the privileges associated with it, and Nikolai became a co-owner of a huge capital. By order of Paul I, who replaced the Empress, a single Russian-American company () was created on the basis of the Shelikhov trading company and the companies of other Siberian merchants. Of course, Rezanov became its authorized representative, who did his best to merge the companies into one powerful organization.
At his new post, Rezanov petitioned the emperor to establish sea communication with Russian settlers in America. Due to the irregular and long delivery of food from Russia, they often received food expired and already unfit for consumption. By 1802, a plan was developed for a round-the-world trip, the goals of which were to inspect Russian settlements in Alaska and establish ties with Japan.
However, preparations for the expedition for the count were overshadowed by the death of his wife. Anna died 12 days after the birth of their second child. The inconsolable widower was about to retire and devote himself to raising children, but was stopped by the order of the emperor. He appointed Rezanov as envoy to Japan and leader of the first Russian round-the-world expedition. In 1803, the count set off on the two ships Nadezhda and Neva.
The brainchild of geniuses
The Land of the Rising Sun kept the diplomat on its soil for six months and eventually refused to do business with Russia. After the failed mission, Rezanov continued on his way to Alaska. Arriving at the place, he was amazed: the settlers lived on the verge of starvation, in devastation, scurvy “thrived”.
Seeing the confusion of the ruler of Russian America Baranov, Rezanov at his own expense purchased the frigate "Juno" from a visiting merchant with a cargo of food. However, it was clear that these products would not last long. Then the count ordered the construction of another ship - the Avos tender. For provisions, he decided to go to the rich and prosperous fort of San Francisco in California, and at the same time establish trade relations with the Spaniards, who ruled this part of America.
Starting from this journey, the action of the famous rock opera "Juno and Avos" unfolds, although at first there was only "Avos". The poet Andrei Voznesensky wrote the poem "Perhaps!" Based on the travel diary of Rezanov and the notes of J. Lensen, he had a very high opinion of the Russian count. The poem told the sad love story of 42-year-old Rezanov and 15-year-old Spaniard Conchita, a girl whom Nikolai met on the California coast.
Anna Bolshova as Conchita and Dmitry Pevtsov as Nikolai Rezanov on the stage of the Lenkom Theater in the rock opera Juno and Avos
When director Mark Zakharov turned to Voznesensky with a request to write a libretto for the plot of The Tale of Igor's Campaign, the poet was not at a loss and offered to put his poem as the basis of the performance instead. The director agreed, and invited Alexey Rybnikov as a composer. Thus, thanks to the initiative of three geniuses, one of the most poignant musical performances of the 20th century was born, which became a sensation both in the USSR and abroad.
The premiere of the rock opera took place on July 9, 1981 on the stage of the Lenkom Theatre. Those who were lucky enough to participate in the production of a rock opera later admitted that the performance owed its stunning success to love. Every syllable and every note of the work is saturated with an atmosphere of love and inspiration, and even with the replacement of familiar and beloved actors, the opera does not lose its charm. But still, it is customary to consider the version of the play with Nikolai Karachentsov and Elena Shanina, the first Rezanov and Conchita, to be canonical.
"I will never forget you"
The events described in the rock opera are romantic, and the main characters are full of love and self-sacrifice. Reality differs from fiction, but, oddly enough, not much. When the Juno and Avos arrived in California in 1806, the Spaniards greeted the Russians unfriendly and refused to sell anything to them. However, quite soon the governor of San Francisco, José de Arguello, succumbed to the diplomatic gift of persuasion and the charm of Rezanov, especially since the young daughter of the governor, the beautiful Maria dela Concepción, or, simply, Conchita, fell in love with the count.
Despite the fact that Rezanov was already 42 years old, he did not lose his attractiveness at all, in addition, he was famous, rich and revolved in the highest circles of society. Contemporaries claimed that in Conchita's desire to marry a Russian count there was as much love as calculation, she allegedly dreamed of a luxurious life at court in St. Petersburg, but subsequent events proved the sincerity of her feelings for Rezanov.
The Earl stayed in San Francisco for only six weeks, but during this time he managed to successfully fulfill his mission and even more: he obtained provisions for the starving people from Alaska, enlisted the support of the Spanish governor and became engaged to Conchita. At first, Jose de Arguello did not want to marry his daughter to a Russian count. Parents took the girl to confession and urged her to abandon such an unexpected marriage, but Conchita was adamant. Then they only had to give their blessing to the engagement, but the final decision on the issue of marriage was with the Roman throne.
However, the harsh Russian winter and the long journey through Siberia undermined the strength of the diplomat. Due to a severe cold, Rezanov lay unconscious and feverish for almost two weeks. In a serious condition, he was brought to Krasnoyarsk, where he died on March 1, 1807. When news of the count's death reached Conchita, she did not believe him. True to her promise, she waited for Rezanov and for a year every morning came to a high cape, from where she peered into the ocean. Over the following years, the best grooms in California wooed the beautiful girl, but each time they received a constant refusal.
Conchita remained faithful to the deceased count and saw her destiny in charity and teaching the Indians, in her homeland they began to call her La Beata - the Blessed One. After 35 years, Maria Concepción entered the third Order of the White Clergy, and after another 10 years she took the monastic order. She died at the age of 67, next to her grave in the cemetery of St. Dominic, a stele was erected in memory of her fidelity and love.
Thanks to the world-famous rock opera, a symbolic reunion of unfortunate lovers took place. In 2000, the sheriff of the city where Conchita was buried brought a handful of earth from the grave of a Spaniard and scattered it over the burial site of Rezanov in Krasnoyarsk. A monument was erected on the grave of the count, where the lines from the famous romance are depicted: "I will never see you, I will never forget you."
"Juno and Avos" is one of the most famous modern operas by the composer Alexei Rybnikov based on the verses of the poet Andrei Voznesensky. Its first show on the stage of the Moscow Theater named after Lenin Komsomol ("Lenkom") took place on July 9, 1981.
In the late 1970s, the famous composer Alexei Rybnikov became interested in creating musical improvisations based on Orthodox chants. Once he demonstrated his achievements to the artistic director of "Lenkom" Mark Zakharov, after which he set about to create an opera based on them based on "The Tale of Igor's Campaign". It was decided to turn to Andrei Voznesensky to write the libretto for the opera. Voznesensky did not support this idea, but instead offered to use his poem "Perhaps", created in 1970. He managed to convince Rybnikov and Zakharov, after which work began on adapting the poem to the stage. I had to work on many scenes and arias.
Since the word "rock opera" was forbidden at that time (as well as rock music in general), the authors called the work "modern opera".
The staging of dance numbers was carried out by choreographer Vladimir Vasiliev.
The plot of the poem and rock opera is based on the romantic love story of the Russian traveler Nikolai Rezanov and the daughter of the governor of San Francisco, Maria Conchita Argüello de la Concepción.
Chamberlain Rezanov, having buried his wife, decided to devote all his strength to the service of Russia. His suggestions about the need to try to establish trade relations with North America for a long time did not meet with a response from the authorities, but at last he was ordered to carry out the desired journey. Before leaving, Rezanov says that from a young age he was tormented by one circumstance, the impression that the icon of the Kazan Mother of God made on him - since then he has treated the Virgin Mary more as a beloved woman than as the Mother of God. Appearing to him in a vision, the Mother of God tells him not to be horrified by his feelings and promises to pray for him.
Under St. Andrew's flag, two ships, "Juno and Avos", sail to the coast of California. In California, Spain at that time, the wedding of Conchita, the daughter of the governor, and Senor Federico is approaching. Rezanov, on behalf of Russia, welcomes California, and the governor invites him, as the ambassador of Emperor Alexander, to a ball in honor of his daughter's sixteenth birthday. At the ball, Rezanov invites Conchita to dance - and this event becomes fatal in their lives and in the life of Federico. The groom is openly jealous, Rezanov's companions make a cynical bet whether he can "pick a California flower." The men understand that none of them will step aside without a fight.
At night, Conchita prays to the Virgin Mary in her bedroom. Rezanov comes to her with words of love.
At this moment, a reciprocal feeling arises in Conchita's soul, and she reciprocates Rezanov. But happy fortune from that moment turns away from Rezanov. Conchita's fiancé challenges him to a duel, during which Federico dies. The Russians are forced to urgently leave San Francisco.
Having made a secret engagement with Conchita, Rezanov embarks on the return journey. In Siberia, he falls ill with a fever and dies near Krasnoyarsk. And Conchita remains true to her love for the rest of her life. After waiting for Rezanov for thirty-five years - from sixteen to fifty-two - she takes the veil as a nun and ends her days in the cell of the Dominican monastery in San Francisco.
Nikolai Karachentsov (Count Rezanov), Elena Shanina (Conchitta), Alexander Abdulov (Federico) were involved in the first part of the performance. Immediately after the release, the opera became the most discussed event in the cultural life of the capital.
The rock opera "Juno" and "Avos" has successfully passed the test of time - the performance is still going on with the same full houses. Over the 30-year history, six performers of the role of Conchita and three chamberlains of Rezanov have changed.
Currently, on the stage of the Lenkom Theater, the role of chamberlain, Count Nikolai Rezanov is performed by People's Artists of Russia and Viktor Rakov; Conchita - Alla Yuganova and Alexandra Volkova.
There are two television versions of the play - 1983 and 2002. The first version captures the classic look of the performance with Nikolai Karachentsov, Elena Shanina and Alexander Abdulov. The second version, filmed for the 20th anniversary of the performance, features Nikolai Karachentsov, Anna Bolshova and Viktor Rakov.
The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources
"Juno and Avos" is a cult performance not only for Lenkom, but also for theatrical Moscow for more than one decade. He was born in 1981 and since then, for more than twenty years, has been going on with the same full house. We offer you two versions of this magnificent performance.. the 1983 version with Elena Shanina as Conchita (this version is considered a classic) .. And the 2004 version with Anna Bolshova, in my opinion an even more successful production ..
History of creation
Back in the late 70s, Alexei Rybnikov, turning to the poetry of Andrei Voznesensky, created the rock opera Juno and Avos. Just like the main characters of this work - the Russian traveler Count Rezanov and the daughter of the governor of San Francisco Conchita - Rybnikov's opera was in for many amazing adventures, moreover, on an international scale ...
Alexey Rybnikov
Few people remember that for the first time the opera was presented not on the stage of Lenkom, but in an Orthodox church. In February 1981, in the Church of the Intercession in Fili, in the presence of not only music lovers, but also specially invited Western correspondents, as well as representatives of the police and the KGB (who did not need an invitation!). Speakers were installed to the right and left of the altar base to create a stereo effect, in the center Alexei Rybnikov himself sat at a table with a tape recorder, who spoke a few introductory phrases, and then about a hundred people listened to the recording of the rock opera for almost two hours. Everything happened in an unheated room, the audience did not take off their winter coats. But the goal was achieved: articles appeared in the Western press, after which the authorities decided to figure out what kind of attack this was - "Juno and Avos".
To begin with, the Melodiya company was instructed to suspend the release of the disc with Rybnikov's opera.
Mark Zakharov
Help arrived from the most unexpected quarters. Andrei Voznesensky was friends with the world-famous designer and couturier Pierre Cardin, who arranged creative evenings for the Russian poet in his theater on the Champs Elysees. Having received a cassette with a recording of "Juno" from a friend, Monsieur Cardin was delighted and, having arrived in Moscow, decided to attend the performance. He was shown a draft version, but that was enough for the French guest to invite the Lenkomites to Paris. He was not even embarrassed by the fact that the troupe of Mark Zakharov at that time was considered restricted to travel abroad. The authority of Pierre Cardin in the USSR was so great that he was a member not only of the Ministry of Culture, but also of Yuri Andropov himself, where he never tired of repeating that Soviet art can be proud not only of ballet and circus, but also of modern opera. Thanks to the efforts of the Parisian celebrity, the go-ahead for the theater tour to France was received. And thus - and a tacit permission for the premiere of the play on the main stage of Lenkom.
1981 premiere of the play
20 years later
However, Andrey Voznesensky believes that it was not without the intervention of higher powers: “All our efforts to break through the premiere were crushed by the KGB prohibitions. But one day Mark said: “You know, Andrei, there is one person who will help us.” We went to the Yelokhov Church, where Mark said: “Let's put candles on the Kazan Mother of God!” Three candles were lit. And I bought three swatches. One brought Karachentsova (performer of the role of Count Rezanov. - Approx. Auth.), the other, maybe Shanina (Elena Shanina, performer of the role of Conchita. - Approx. Auth.), maybe Rybnikova, I don’t remember, and left one for himself. And then we were all allowed! Maybe Mark Anatolyevich called someone at night and agreed ... But the fact is that they allowed it. It's like in "Juno and Avos", after the intervention of the Mother of God, they suddenly give the green light to the trip ... So this is a magical story. And the mystery continues."
AT THE PREMIERE sp. "JUNONA AND AVOS" IN PARIS, 1983
Interestingly, the first Soviet rock opera was "Orpheus and Eurydice" by the Leningrad VIA "Singing Guitars", but still the first Soviet rock opera in the whole world was and will be called "Juno and Avos" ... Indeed, Rybnikov's rock opera was destined experience world fame. By the way, in the early 80s, a record was recorded (and not with the Lenkom actors, but with invited singers), which sold over two million (!) copies, for which the Melodiya company awarded Rybnikov with the Golden Disc.
Monsieur Cardin kept his word and presented the "Russian miracle" on the stages of Paris, New York, Hamburg, Munich, Amsterdam and other cities of the world. In Paris, Pierre Cardin showed Russian rock opera for two months (!) at his theater on the Champs Elysees, inviting celebrities there. So, the Rothschilds were the whole clan.
Singer Mireille Mathieu paid her respects. Arabian sheikhs visited the outlandish opera. All two months there were full houses, despite the rather expensive tickets - a place in the stalls cost four hundred francs. Subsequently, an English documentary film about the Moscow performance was also filmed. The opera has also been staged in Hungary, Germany, South Korea, the Czech Republic, and Mexico. Of course, the creators of "Juno" dreamed of Broadway. And then the famous Broadway producer Joseph Papp ("Hair", "Corus Line!") offered to make "Juno" with American actors. We prepared a translation into English, Rybnikov flew to New York many times, where rehearsals with the actors had already begun. However, Joseph, like the hero of the opera, Count Rezanov, suddenly fell ill and died, and the project stalled.
From time to time, Lenkom went on tour in Russia, where something incredible was happening. Alexander Abdulov, I remember, told how the tour in Leningrad took place in the early 80s: “When we first brought Juno and Avos to St. Petersburg, several hundred young people broke down the doors of the Gorky Palace, then for thirty or forty minutes they were caught with dogs throughout DC. Once I was simply stunned: there were about forty minutes left before the start of the performance, I raised my head upstairs, and there, on the grate, there were about twenty people, waiting for a meeting with art. So specifically, they lie in the beams. But they could have easily crashed onto the stage!
The play "Juno and Avos" has become the hallmark of the theater, and today it is not a dilapidated, but quite a modern project, where young talented actors are constantly introduced. Therefore, the interest of the public does not weaken. Andrei Voznesensky, at the request of Mark Zakharov, even changed the final line of the performance, which now sounds like this: “Children of the twenty-first century! Your new age has begun.
In 2005, there was a danger that the legendary performance would be curtailed or suspended after the legendary performer of the role of Count Rezanov, 60-year-old People's Artist of Russia Nikolai Petrovich Karachentsov, got into a severe car accident. However, the theater found two worthy Rezanovs in the person of Dmitry Pevtsov, who is in amazing shape at 45, as well as Viktor Rakov, People's Artist of Russia, and the show continues.
In the early 80s, a pirate film-play based on Juno was filmed, with Karachentsov, Shanina, Abdulov, who walked around the country in a video version. In 2004, a new CD was recorded (the disc was released by Sony Music and Columbia) with Lenkom actors and the Araks group, and a new film based on the play was shot for DVD with dolby sound. Alexey Rybnikov has repeatedly spoken about the existence of a full-length musical film project, but the composer still does not see worthy candidates among film directors, since musical films have not been professionally filmed in Russia for a long time. And it’s impossible to shoot a picture based on Juno badly, or even at an average level!
The magnetism and amazing energy of the performance made it truly eternal... Decades pass, the actors change, but this performance floats like "Juno" on the waves of time... Amazing acting, heartfelt music and strong texts make this rock opera a real theatrical miracle.
