Helikon-Opera

The Moscow Musical Theater "Helikon-Opera" is a unique cultural space where classical operatic traditions are combined with modern theatrical solutions. This theater has become one of the most visited and beloved cultural centers in the Russian capital, attracting audiences with its diverse repertoire and high level of performing artistry.

History of the Theater's Creation

The theater was founded on April 10, 1990 by the outstanding director Dmitry Bertman. The first production was Igor Stravinsky's opera "Mavra," performed on the stage of the Central House of Art Workers. At the origins of the collective's creation was also the conductor Kirill Tikhonov, People's Artist of the USSR, who headed the musical direction of the theater and formed a full-fledged orchestra. In just a few years, a small semi-professional studio transformed into a real theater with its own recognizable creative style. By the mid-1990s, the troupe was fully staffed, and a choir was created, which later became a special source of pride for the collective.

Key Milestones in Development

A pivotal moment for the theater was the production of Tchaikovsky's "The Queen of Spades" in 1995, after which Helikon-Opera began to be regarded as a serious professional collective. This was followed by landmark productions: Bizet's "Carmen," Offenbach's "The Tales of Hoffmann," Shostakovich's "Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District." The decade since its founding was marked by the triumphant success of Shostakovich's opera, which received the National Award "Golden Mask" in four nominations, including best opera production and best director's work.

The Theater Building and Its Architecture

The theater is located in the historical estate of the Shakhovskoy-Glebov-Streshnev family on Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street, in the very center of Moscow. The history of this building dates back to the 18th century, when it was the estate of General-in-Chief Glebov. In the 19th century, a private theater already operated in the estate, where French and Italian actors performed, as well as the Vienna Operetta troupe.

Legendary Past of the Building

Over the years, legendary artists performed within the walls of this estate:

• Fyodor Chaliapin
• Sergei Rachmaninoff
• Claude Debussy
• Sarah Bernhardt
• Isadora Duncan

Alexander Pushkin read poetry here, and Pyotr Tchaikovsky conducted. This place has always been associated with high culture and art.

Reconstruction and Current State

In the 2000s, the Moscow government decided to transfer the architectural monument to the Helikon-Opera theater. The reconstruction project was developed by a group of architects from Mosproject-4 under the leadership of Andrei Bokov. Construction work began in 2007 and lasted nearly ten years. During the reconstruction period, the theater operated on the site of the former "Et Cetera" theater on Novy Arbat. On November 2, 2015, the grand opening of the restored building on Bolshaya Nikitskaya took place.

Theater Halls

Today, the theater has three halls:

• Stravinsky Hall — a modern stage with 488 seats, equipped with state-of-the-art technology. A distinctive feature of the hall is the impressive suspended ceiling imitating a starry sky
• White Column Hall with 156 seats — a historical stage built in 1885 by architect Konstantin Tersky. The 19th-century stucco molding, marble columns, and wooden vaulted ceiling have been restored here
• Pokrovsky Hall — used for chamber productions and concerts

The Theater's Creative Collective

The Helikon-Opera troupe employs more than 500 people. This is a stellar ensemble of soloists, many of whom perform on prestigious opera stages in Europe and America, a symphony orchestra, and a professional choir.

Leadership and Production Team

Dmitry Bertman is the founder, artistic director, and general director of the theater. Over the years, he has staged more than 120 productions worldwide. The production team includes outstanding masters:

• Vladimir Fedoseyev — musical director of the theater and principal guest conductor, People's Artist of the USSR
• Valery Kiryanov — principal conductor
• Igor Nezhny and Tatiana Tulubyeva — principal designers, Honored Artists of Russia
• Damir Ismagilov — lighting designer, Honored Artist of Russia
• Edvald Smirnov — choreographer, laureate of international competitions
• Yevgeny Ilyin — principal choirmaster

Repertoire and Productions

The musical theater's repertoire includes more than 75 productions, covering a wide range of operatic art — from classical works to contemporary compositions and rare operas never before performed on the Russian stage.

Landmark Productions

Among the theater's most significant productions:

• "Dialogues of the Carmelites" by Poulenc — winner of the main prize of the "Nail of the Season" award
• "Fallen from the Sky" based on works by Prokofiev
• "Turandot" by Puccini — laureate of the "Nail of the Season" award in 2018
• "Chaadsky" by Manotskov — world premiere, awarded the "Golden Mask"
• "Sadko" by Rimsky-Korsakov
• "Eugene Onegin" by Tchaikovsky

Each theater premiere is distinguished by dramatic intensity, high vocal and acting mastery of the performers, and bold direction. The theater presents more than 300 performances per season.

Features of the Productions

Helikon-Opera is a director's theater, where the singing actor takes center stage. The theater is famous for the interweaving of opera and drama, creating unforgettable stage images. The stage features both radical interpretations and traditional productions. The theater often turns to rare works: Berg's "Lulu," Grétry's "Peter the Great," Janáček's "The Makropulos Affair," Riesa's "Rasputin." This approach allows audiences to discover forgotten or little-known operatic masterpieces.

Awards and Recognition

Over its history, the theater has won 11 "Golden Mask" awards — Russia's highest theatrical honor. Among the most significant achievements:

• Award for the production "Carmen" in the nominations "Best Director's Work" and "Best Female Role" (1998)
• Award for "The Tales of Hoffmann" as best director's work (1999)
• Award in the "Innovation" category for "The Annunciation" (2000)
• Four awards for "Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District," including best opera production (2001)

In 2000, Helikon won the Moscow Opera Festival. The theater has repeatedly become a laureate of the Union of Theater Workers' "Nail of the Season" award.

International Activity

The art of Helikon-Opera's actors and singers has been applauded by audiences in many countries around the world:

• Spain
• France
• USA
• United Kingdom
• Austria
• Germany

The legendary musician Mstislav Rostropovich and the outstanding tenor Roberto Alagna performed together with the theater's soloists and orchestra. The theater carries out joint productions with foreign theaters, for example, "The Golden Cockerel" was created in collaboration with the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. In cooperation with the Moscow City Department of Culture, the theater holds the International Competition for Young Opera Directors "Nano-Opera" every two years.

Practical Information for Visitors

How to Get There

Theater address: Moscow, Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street, 19/16. The theater is located in the Presnensky District of the Central Administrative Okrug, within walking distance from the "Arbatskaya" metro station.

Tickets and Prices

Ticket prices range from 500 to 10,000 rubles depending on the chosen performance and seat in the hall. Tickets can be purchased through the theater's official website or at the box office.

Contact Information

• Official website: helikon.ru
• Email: [email protected]
• Phones: +7 (495) 691-85-70, +7 (495) 250-22-22

Helikon-Opera Today

Over more than thirty years of its existence, Helikon-Opera has gone from being the main "troublemaker" in the capital's opera life to one of the recognized leaders of the Moscow theater scene. This is a theater with a very broad creative palette, where each performance becomes an event in the city's cultural life. The theater continues to develop, releasing new productions and attracting talented performers. Both experienced masters and young artists work here, ensuring constant renewal of the troupe and maintaining a high professional level. Helikon-Opera remains a theater where the classical traditions of operatic art organically combine with modern directorial solutions, creating a unique theatrical space that attracts both opera connoisseurs and those who are just discovering this genre.