“Juno and Avos” is one of the most famous modern operas by composer Alexei Rybnikov based on poems by poet Andrei Voznesensky. Its first show on the stage of the Moscow Lenin Komsomol Theater (Lenkom) took place on July 9, 1981.
Late 1970s famous composer Alexey Rybnikov became interested in creating musical improvisations based on Orthodox chants. One day he demonstrated his work artistic director"Lenkom" to Mark Zakharov, after which he got the idea 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 suggested using his poem “Maybe,” 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 prohibited at that time (as was rock music in general), the authors called the work "modern opera".
Staging dance numbers was performed by choreographer Vladimir Vasiliev.
The plot of the poem and rock opera is based on romantic story the love of the Russian traveler Nikolai Rezanov and the daughter of the governor of San Francisco, Maria Conchita Arguello de la Concepcion.
Chamberlain Rezanov, having buried his wife, decided to devote all his strength to serving Russia. His proposals on the need to try to establish trade relations with North America For a long time they did not receive a response from the authorities, but finally he was ordered to carry out the desired journey. Before leaving, Rezanov says that with youth he is 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 like 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.
Two ships, Juno and Avos, sail under the St. Andrew's flag to the shores of California. In Spanish California at that time, the wedding of Conchita, the daughter of the governor, and Senor Federico is approaching. Rezanov, on behalf of Russia, greets 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’s feelings. But from that moment on, good fortune turns away from Rezanov. Conchita's fiance 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 sets off on his return journey. In Siberia, he falls ill with a fever and dies near Krasnoyarsk. And Conchita remains faithful to her love for the rest of her life. After waiting for Rezanov for thirty-five years - from sixteen to fifty-two - she tonsured herself a nun and ended her days in the cell of the Dominican monastery in San Francisco.
The first cast of the play included Nikolai Karachentsov (Count Rezanov), Elena Shanina (Conchitta), Alexander Abdulov (Federico). Immediately after its release, the opera became the most discussed event in cultural life capital Cities.
The rock opera "Juno" and "Avos" has successfully passed the test of time - the performance is still on today with constant sell-outs. Over the 30-year history, there have been six performers of the role of Conchita and three chamberlains Rezanov.
Currently, on the stage of the Lenkom Theater, the role of the chamberlain, Count Nikolai Rezanov is performed by folk artists Russia and Viktor Rakov; Conchitas - 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 play, stars Nikolai Karachentsov, Anna Bolshova and Viktor Rakov.
The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources
A quarter of a century ago, a production directed by Mark Zakharov at the Theater named after them was called a theatrical sensation. Lenin Komsomol rock opera by Alexei Rybnikov to a libretto by Andrei Voznesensky. And not surprisingly, then back in 1981 orthodox prayers and chants, the St. Andrew's flag, the Mother of God with the baby Jesus on the stage of Lenkom - all this seemed like a miracle. And the history of this work began with the meeting of Rybnikov and Voznesensky.
- a real, albeit sad, love story between the Russian traveler Nikolai Rezanov and the daughter of the governor of San Francisco, Maria Conchita Arguello de la Concepcion. The huge age difference, thousands of kilometers separating the lovers, will not allow the lovers to live happily.
This sublimely tragic love story inspired Andrei Voznesensky to create the poem “Maybe,” which was later reworked by the author into the libretto of the opera. Rybnikov has long wanted to combine traditional Orthodox chants with elements of modern musical language. And when Andrei Voznesensky approached him with the text of his poem “Maybe,” written on the basis of authentic historical facts, Rybnikov began working on a rock opera.
The plot of the rock opera “Juno and Avos”
Two sailing ship"Juno" and "Avos" under the Russian flag arrive in California, where the captain of the brig "Avos" is Russian Count Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov fell in love with a local beauty Maria dela Conception Arguello, daughter of the commandant of the fortress of San Francisco. The love of the count and the young Spanish woman aroused the jealousy and hatred of the rival in love with her. Urgent departure Ryazanov to their homeland separated the lovers. Waiting for several years for permission to marry a Catholic woman, the count died near Krasnoyarsk without achieving it. A Conchita she waited for him for 35 years until she received reliable information about his death, after which she took a vow of silence and retired to a monastery.
Lenkom Theater Performance "Juno and Avos"Summary
Creators "Juno and Avos" defined the genre of this performance as “contemporary opera”. Its plot is based on the fate of the Russian count, chamberlain Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov, who set off in 1806 on the sailing ships “Juno” and “Avos” to the shores of California.
Spiritual suffocation and the unbearability of existence in Russia force Rezanov to look for new lands to fulfill the eternal dream of a free country for the Russian people. Rezanov realizes the utopian nature of his plans, but stubbornly submits one petition after another asking to be allowed to travel to California.
Refusals broke his will. In despair, Rezanov prays to the Mother of God, confessing his most intimate and frightening feeling - love for the Mother of God as a woman. Rezanov is overcome by a painful obsession and hears an unearthly voice blessing him. Following this, Rezanov's dream comes true - he receives highest resolution for a trip.
After a difficult journey across the Pacific Ocean, Rezanov comes into contact with Spanish Franciscan monks and the governor of San Francisco, Jose Dario Arguello. Being invited to a reception with the governor, Rezanov meets his daughter, sixteen-year-old Concepcia de Arguello. At the ball, Conchita's fiancé Federico sings a sonnet about the sad fate of two lovers, and Rezanov sees in Conchita the earthly embodiment of the supernatural passion tormenting him.
At night in the garden, Rezanov hears a conversation between Conchita and Federico about their upcoming engagement. Unable to cope with the feeling that gripped him, he enters Conchita’s bedroom. Rezanov begs her for love, and then, despite all the girl’s despair, takes possession of her... And again a sad, quiet unearthly voice is heard. At this moment, love arises in Conchita’s soul, but in Rezanov’s soul only despair and bitterness remain.
From this moment on, good fortune turns away from Rezanov. His act forces Conchita's fiancé to challenge the chamberlain to a duel, during which Federico dies. The Russians are forced to urgently leave San Francisco.
In his letter to Rumyantsev, Rezanov writes that his dreams of enlightening human souls in the new Russian colonies were shattered, and he dreams of one thing: returning ships and sailors to Russia.
After a secret engagement with Conchita, Rezanov sets off on his return journey. In Siberia, he falls ill with a fever and dies near Krasnoyarsk. Conchita remains faithful to her love for the rest of her life. After waiting for Rezanov for thirty years, she became a nun and ended her days in the cell of a Dominican monastery in San Francisco.
For more than 30 years, the phenomenal rock opera “Juno and Avos” continues to excite hearts, immersing viewers in the romantic world of two lovers: Count Rezanov and young Conchita. Their sad love story ended more than two centuries ago, but thanks to the soulful poems set to beautiful music, this story seems to live forever.
Background
The modern opera “Juno and Avos” is based on real events that occurred back 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 brilliant abilities for learning languages. In addition, by the age of 14 he had grown handsome beyond his years and was able to enroll in military service to the artillery. For quite a short time An ambitious and purposeful young man, he changed several positions and rose to the rank of ruler of the chancellery under the secretary of Catherine II, Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin.
Portrait of a correspondent of the Russian-American trading company, Count Nikolai Rezanov, by an unknown artist
However, the appearance of the young, tall, handsome Rezanov at court aroused fears among the Empress's new favorite, Count Zubov. The latter, deciding to remove a potential rival from the road, ordered Nikolai to be sent to Irkutsk. In the provinces, Rezanov was supposed to inspect trading activities merchant and traveler Grigory Shelikhov, known as the 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, young Anna, and both benefited greatly from this marriage. Shelikhov strengthened his position at court, his daughter received the title of nobility and all the privileges associated with it, and Nikolai became a co-owner of huge capital. By order of Paul I, who succeeded 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 made every effort to merge the companies into one powerful organization.
At his new post, Rezanov submitted a petition to the emperor to establish sea communications with Russian settlers in America. Due to the irregular and long delivery of food from Russia, they often received food that was expired and no longer suitable for consumption. By 1802 a plan had been developed trip around the world, 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 resign and devote himself to raising his 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 two ships “Nadezhda” and “Neva”.
The brainchild of geniuses
A country rising sun kept the diplomat on her soil for six months and ultimately refused to do business with Russia. After the failed mission, Rezanov continued his journey to Alaska. Arriving at the place, he was amazed: the settlers lived on the verge of starvation, in devastation, and scurvy “flourished.”
Seeing the confusion of the ruler of Russian America Baranov, Rezanov own funds purchased the frigate "Juno" with a cargo of food from a visiting merchant. However, it was clear that these products would not last long. Then the count ordered the construction of another ship - the tender "Avos". For provisions, he decided to go to the rich and prosperous Fort San Francisco in California, and at the same time establish trade relations with the Spaniards, under whose rule this part of America was.
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 “Maybe!”, based on Rezanov’s travel diary and the notes of J. Lensen, who 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 Californian 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 approached 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 suggested instead that the play be based on his poem. The director agreed, and invited Alexey Rybnikov as a composer. Thus, thanks to the initiative of three geniuses, one of the most piercing musical performances of the 20th century was born, which became a sensation both in the USSR and abroad.
The rock opera premiered on July 9, 1981 on the stage of the Lenkom Theater. Those who were lucky enough to participate in the production of the rock opera later admitted that the performance owed its stunning success to love. Every syllable and every note of the work is imbued 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, the version of the play with Nikolai Karachentsov and Elena Shanina - the first Rezanov and Conchita - is considered 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 from fiction differs, but, oddly enough, only slightly. When Juno and Avos arrived in California in 1806, the Spaniards greeted the Russians unfriendly and refused to sell them anything. However, pretty soon the governor of San Francisco, Jose de Arguello, succumbed to Rezanov’s diplomatic gift of persuasion and charm, especially since the governor’s young daughter, the beautiful Maria dela Concepcion, or, simply, Conchita, fell in love with the count.
Despite the fact that Rezanov was already 42 years old, he had not lost any of his attractiveness; in addition, he was famous, rich and moved in the highest circles of society. Conchita's contemporaries claimed that Conchita's desire to marry a Russian count contained as much love as calculation; she supposedly dreamed of a luxurious life at court in St. Petersburg, but subsequent events proved the sincerity of her feelings for Rezanov.
The Count stayed in San Francisco for only six weeks, but during this time he managed to successfully complete 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 the Russian count. Her parents took the girl to confession and convinced her to give up such an unexpected marriage, but Conchita was adamant. Then they only had to give their blessing for the engagement, but the final decision on the issue of marriage was behind the Roman throne.
However, the harsh Russian winter and the long journey through Siberia undermined the diplomat's strength. Due to a severe cold, Rezanov lay unconscious and feverish for almost two weeks. IN in serious condition he was brought to Krasnoyarsk, where he died on March 1, 1807. When the 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 she came to a high cape, from where she peered into the ocean. Over the following years, to beautiful girl The best grooms in California were wooed, but each time they received an invariable 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 Concepcion entered the third Order of the White Clergy, and after another 10 years she was ordained a monk. She died at the age of 67, and a stele was erected next to her grave in the cemetery of St. Dominic in memory of her fidelity and love.
Thanks to the world-famous rock opera, a symbolic reunion of the unhappy lovers took place. In 2000, the sheriff of the city in which Conchita was buried brought a handful of earth from the Spanish woman’s grave and scattered it over Rezanov’s burial site in Krasnoyarsk. A monument was erected at the count’s grave, which contains lines from the famous romance: “I will never see you, I will never forget you.”
The inexorably approaching spring and the awakening of nature to life set the mood for a romantic mood. I want to touch something sincere, pure and real!
Today I will tell you about the musical “Juno and Avos”, about the history of the creation of the musical itself, about the real events that underlie it musical performance and about the creators of this wonderful creation. And at the end of the article you will find a pleasant surprise on the topic.
“Juno and Avos” a musical?
It would be more correct to call this artistic performance a rock opera, but the birth of this rock opera took place during the times of severe Soviet censorship and therefore at that time everything connected with rock music would never have been released to the public. And what a loss would befall us if such injustice happened!!! Therefore, this musical performance was called “modern opera” by its savvy creators. Musical common name for musical performances and films, we have already talked about the musical genre in the article. Well, it doesn’t matter to us what genre the performance belongs to, what’s important is that it turned out to be amazingly insightful and captured our hearts for a long time.
Creators
The musical is based on Andrei Voznesensky's poem "Maybe", the music for the play was written by composer Alexey Rybnikov, and was staged by Mark Zakharov on the stage of the Moscow Lenin Komsomol Theater in 1981.
There is a story about how the happy meeting of the creators took place. And it was like this... Composer Alexey Rybnikov came to Mark Zakharov and presented his works, they were improvisations on Orthodox chants. Zakharov appreciated Rybnikov’s work and he had the idea of creating a musical performance, the only topic that interested him at that time was the theme of the work “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign.” With thoughts of combining Rybnikov’s improvisations and “The Lay,” Zakharov went to the poet Andrei Voznesensky and, at the meeting, outlined his idea to him.
Andrei Voznesensky, having listened to Zakharov’s idea, proposed an even more daring option for a musical performance and gave Zakharov his poem “Maybe” to read.
Zakharov quickly read the poem and even more quickly agreed to stage a play based on it.
This is how the creators of this unforgettable musical were connected.
The story of “Juno and Avos”
If you think that the names of the heroes of the rock opera are Juno and Avos, then you are mistaken, these are the names of the sailing ships on which our main character sailed to the coast of California.
More about this. Voznesensky’s poem was written, as it is now customary to say, “based on real events.” It is based on the biography of Nikolai Rezanov, a Russian officer, leader of the first round-the-world expedition. Reading the story of Rezanov’s life and the navigator’s travel diary, Voznesensky was inspired by the life of his brave compatriot. Real story was this: Nikolai Rezanov sailed to California in 1806 to replenish food supplies for the Russian colony in Alaska. In San Francisco he met Conchita Arguello, with whom he fell in love and became engaged. But Rezanov, due to duty, was forced to leave first for Alaska, and then to the emperor’s court in St. Petersburg. At the emperor's court, he planned to get permission to marry a Catholic. And on the way, Rezanov fell ill... He fell seriously ill and died in Krasnoyarsk, never returning to his beloved. Rezanov was 42 years old when he met Conchita, Conchita was 16 years old. Rezanov died at 43.
Conchita refused to believe the rumors about Nikolai's death and waited for his return until 1842, when the English traveler George Simpson was able to tell her the exact details about what happened to Rezanov and his death. She believed the news of her beloved’s death only 35 years later, after which she became a nun and took a vow of silence. She passed away in 1857, having lived in the monastery for almost two decades.
This hopelessly poignant story has a small continuation in our time. In 2000, the sheriff of the city of Benish, where Conchita Arguella was buried, traveled to Russia to the city of Krasnoyarsk and brought a handful of earth from Conchita’s grave and a rose to Rezanov’s grave. Centuries later, our contemporaries tried to reunite these loving hearts.
Standing on Rezanov's grave white cross, it has the words “I will never forget you” on one side and “I will never see you” on the other side carved into it.
This is the story of Conchita Arguello and Nikolai Rezanov, the rest, what the poet Andrei Voznesensky added, is the artistic frame of this poignant story of two people who lived in the 19th century.
Conchita and Rezanov
Even without artistic image supplemented by Voznesensky, the story of Conchita and Rezanov is piercing to the depths of the soul! In our age of consumerism and cynical disregard for spiritual values, it is difficult to imagine such devotion and all-consuming love of Conchita, who dedicated her entire life to Rezanov alone, abandoning her own own desires and expectations.
The fate of the musical
The musical was staged in 1981, and it was surprising that the commission passed the rock opera the first time, without changing anything about it. Voznesensky recalled that before this commission they were in church at the Kazan Icon Mother of God, which is mentioned in the musical, and even brought illuminated icons to their dressing rooms.
The first performers of the roles were Rezanov - Nikolai Karachentsov, Conchita - Elena Shanina, Fernando (Conchita's fiance) - Alexander Abdulov.
Nikolai Karachentsov played Rezanov until the accident that happened to him.
The performance toured abroad - New York, Paris, Germany, the Netherlands, etc.
In 2010, the musical appeared on stage for the 2,000th time; it was also staged in other countries in Germany, South Korea, Ukraine, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic.
Where to watch a rock opera?
It would be great to watch the musical with your own eyes, but we don’t always succeed, and therefore I advise you to watch a rock opera without leaving your home.
I recommend watching the musical "Juno and Avos", staged by Lenkom in 1983, this is one of the first productions, in my opinion the most successful! For some reason, subsequent re-productions always lose something elusively valuable.
As I promised at the beginning of the article, I give you a surprise