- Title: RUSSIA: RUSSIA'S FIRST WESTERN-STYLE MUSICAL 'NORD OST' OPENS IN MOSCOW
- Date: 18th November 2001
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (NOVEMBER 18 ,2001) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) PAN/SV STAGE SETS (3 SHOTS) SV MUSIC ENGINEER AT CONTROL PANEL/ PAN TO STAGE SET MCU (Russian) GEORGY VASILYEV, GENERAL DIRECTOR OF THE PROJECT SAYING "The musical reminds viewers of the country's past. There's lots of warmth and kindness in this play. That is what people want to see in everyday life. There is a lot
- Embargoed: 3rd December 2001 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVABK16XN8X2MQS3JUJ66VK1LQS1
- Story Text: Russia's first and most expensive western-style musical has opened in Moscow. The $4 million US dollar production of Nord Ost is said to resemble well-known western hits like "Les Miserables", "Phantom of the Opera" and "Cats"
but has its own Russian flavour - it is a story of love, betrayal and courage.
Colourful costumes, special effects and plenty of music is what is reputed to make Nord Ost stand out from all other Russian theatre performances.
It is the first western-style musical produced in Russia and with production costs estimated at $4 million US dollars it is said to be by far the most expensive show ever staged in the country.
Georgy Vasilyev, the musical's general director and producer, said the idea to make a Russian musical came to him 5 years ago when the Russian company "Link" began negotiating the deal with the British production company "Cameron Mackintosh Ltd" the London organisation responsible for the hit musicals 'Miss Saigon', 'Les Miserables' and 'The Phantom of the Opera'.
At first the idea was to bring the hit musical 'Les Miserables' to Russia. But the project failed to get the financial backing required.
Vasilyev said he then decided to create a musical based on a Russian story, with Russian music and targeted specifically at a Russian audience.
He said the aim was to combine Western technologies with Russian music and actors.
" Russia has very strong theatrical and musical traditions and we have to follow them. This show resembles 'Les Miserables' and
"The Phantom of the Opera' for its music and stenography but at the same time it's a truly Russian musical".
The plot of " Nord Ost " is based on a well known Russian novel, "The Two Captains". Written by author Veniamin Kaverin in 1942, the book is an adventurous story of love, friendship, betrayal and courage set against the background of war.
The story goes back to 1913 when the ship "St. Maria" led by captain Tatarinov perishes in Arctic waters. In his last letter to his family the captain blames his brother for the failure of the Arctic expedition.
But the letter never reaches his wife and daughter Katya.
It is found by a mute boy Sasha, who 25 years later becomes a pilot, falls in love with Katya and decides to follow the route of captain Tatarinov and his crew.
The storyin 1943 when fighting the Nazis in the Arctic Sasha accidently comes across the ship's debris and diary that reveals the truth of what really happened.
"The musical reminds viewers of the country's past. There's lots of warmth and kindness in this play. That is what people want to see in everyday life. This is a lot of patriotism in this musical and the audience leave the theatre with a great sense of pride" said Vasilyev.
Nord Ost is so far the only daily running show in Russia with around 66 dancers and singers of various ages taking part.
Tickets sell for $15-16 USD, around a third of the price for a similar show in the West.
Vasilyev says production of musicals in Russia is a risky business but regardless of the risks he thinks the show could do well.
The organisers hope that several expensive special effects will help increase the show's pull - among the effects - a ship's bow emerging from make-believe blocks of ice and a genuine plane landing on stage. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None