#опера

Rosa Ponselle - Tchaikovsky: Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt, Op. 6 No. 6

Opera de Paris by IsacGoulart

Mezzo-sopranos in the role of Fedor Basmanov, favorite of Ivan the Terrible, in Tchaikovsky’s operaOprichnik(1872). From top to bottom: M. I. Dolina, E. I. Zrubeva, N. A. Fride, A. V. Kravets, L. G. Zviagina, T. S. Liubatovich. Late 19th-early 20th centuries.

The role of Basmanov is the only so-called “trouser role” (a male role written to be performed by women) in Tchaikovsky’s operas. The queer sexual subtext surrounding the character is quite overt and caused trouble for both Imperial and later Soviet censors. We stan a legend.

(photos sourced from goskatalog.ru)

“Stravinsky” hall of Moscow “Helikons-opera” theatre is located within the courtyard of XIX c. manor.