Composer Igor Matvienko admitted that staging the ethno-opera “Prince Vladimir” cost him “a lot of money.” He spoke about this in an interview kp.ru.
According to him, state grants were allocated for the creation of the opera, but he has to support the troupe on his own. The composer explained that the work took two years, and he began work on it more than 10 years ago.
“Since this is an opera with small fantasy elements, I have the mythological Scandinavian character Odin in it, which I play. But it happened completely by chance, because the actor we invited for this role could not take part in our project. Time was running out, it was necessary to start rehearsals. And since I initially sang all the parts in the studio myself, I tried to sing at rehearsals, and then I got involved in the process. I think: why not try?” – Matvienko noted.
He also added that the premiere of the production is planned for February 6, 2025, which is his birthday.
Igor Matvienko’s production center in March 2023 accepted grant of 28 million rubles for the production of the ethno-opera “Prince Vladimir”. The authors of the competition document noted that Matvienko’s music will allow “to reach the most hardened hearts, to awaken in them a sense of participation in the great events of the past and to draw parallels with the present day.” They also complained that the population of the country does not know the history of Russia, listens to Western music, does not have access to folk ethno-folk music and patriotic projects performed in a modern form.
Previously Matvienko invited Putin at the premiere of the opera about Prince Vladimir.