Admit it, did you also think that the rock opera “Juno and Avos” is a love story between the beautiful girl Juno and the equally beautiful young man Avos, or was it just me who was so ignorant? :-) If you thought so too, then I’ll shake your hand and tell you, hoo from hoo. Make yourself comfortable.
In short, I was lucky just now to accidentally get into the above-mentioned rock opera; Alexei Rybnikov’s theater has crept into our fly-by-night penates. Well what can I say? Considering that when you are on maternity leave, any trip, even to a shopping center, is already a grandiose outing, then a trip to the theater is finally an Event with a capital Se. Needless to say, of course I liked it!
For those who are not into the material (and until recently I myself was not very much into the material, see above), briefly the essence.
The plot is based on real events.
42-year-old Russian diplomat and traveler Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov, after the death of his wife, continuing the work of his father-in-law, sets off to establish trade and diplomatic relations with the New World. So he meets the 15-year-old daughter of the commandant of Upper California, Maria Concepcion Arguello, who, according to eyewitnesses, is a real beauty, although judging by the portraits, one can argue, but oh well
Well, as they say, things started to spin. They began a whirlwind romance. And although her parents were categorically against this development of events (which is not at all surprising), the lovers got married. However, the happiness was short-lived. On official business, the Count had to leave, Conchita, as usual, promised to wait for him, and he, as usual, promised to return in a year. This is where the well-known words of the song “I will never forget you, I will never see you” sound.
By the way, the small but wildest discrepancy does not strike your eye - you’re going to return in a year, Comrade Count, so why the hell “I’ll never see it”, huh?! Well, that’s it, a small non-lyrical digression.
For this Rezanov departs for the distant Race. Upon arrival, various bureaucratic problems await him, times change, bureaucracy remains, including, he hoped to obtain permission from the Pope to marry a Catholic. Things don't go well, he rushes to meet the deadline, falls off his horse on the way, gets sick in upset feelings and dies.
Meanwhile, Conchita, despite the fragments of messages reaching her about the death of her lover, continues to wait for him, going out every morning to the cape (now the site of the support of the famous California Golden Gate Bridge).
She waited for him for 35 (!) years, and then, when she was given exact information about the count’s death, she retired to a monastery. This is such a sad story.
And yes, you won’t believe it, but “Juno” and “Avos” are the names of ships! Unexpected, right? :-) :-)
I liked the production, the choreography was well staged and clearly worked out, the acting and vocals were also at a quite decent level. The only thing that was unusual for me personally was the almost complete absence scenery, they were replaced by, I don’t even know what to call it correctly, this thing was like a large frame standing on supports, with ropes hanging along the entire perimeter (most of the action took place on the ship).
Because of this and also because of the dark lighting of the stage, the action looked somewhat gloomy.
For my taste, I would add a little lighter colors :-) The brightest and most colorful moment (not in feel, but in design) was the governor’s ball in honor of Conchita’s 15th birthday with all the obligatory attributes of balls of those times (1806): ladies, as usual, in fluffy dresses, gentlemen, of course, in uniforms, - they knew how to dress before, eh- graceful ceremonial dances - they knew how to have fun before, eh-. In general, beauty, I love it all, wow. I even tried to capture it. This is what happened.
In my opinion, the scene of several audiences of Nikolai Petrovich with Count Rumyantsev, the then Minister of Commerce, who, as far as I understand, was Rezanov’s patron at court, and through whom all his petitions, permissions and other paperwork necessary in these matters went, is worthy of special mention. With just his drawling speech, capricious intonations and imposing gestures, actor Nikolai Lyutov so subtly conveyed the entire atmosphere of the then court with its intrigues and red tape!
Of course, when I got home, I rushed to study the equipment. I wonder if everything really happened like that, or if the authors of the art embellished it for the sake of greater drama!
In the end, in fact, although who will now know the whole truth, everything turned out to be somewhat more prosaic.
No, well, first of all, our count really turned out to be a very extraordinary and entertaining person, possessing enterprise, charm and a fairly strong grip on life. Not a boring combination, right? His entire career is a series of ups and downs, and their reasons are not always clear. There was even a version that at the dawn of his foggy youth, when young Rezanov served his Fatherland somewhere in the Crimea, his rapid rise through the ranks was greatly facilitated by the arrival of Catherine II there, who took a liking to the impressive young officer who was responsible for her safety during the trip. At that time, Rezanov was only 16 years old.
Secondly, which quite follows from the first, our Nikolai Petrovich very successfully married the 15-year-old, apparently, our count loved the young daughter of the merchant Shelikhov, whose enterprises he was sent to inspect.
By the way, it should be noted that Rezanov’s father-in-law was also an extraordinary and enterprising man. How many extraordinary entrepreneurial individuals are there in this story, don’t you think? :-) So Shelikhov, at that time, was a fairly successful businessman who was the first to begin trade relations with North America Moreover, it was thanks to his initiative that Alaska became part of Russia and the first Russian settlements were founded there, for which he even received the nickname “Russian Columbus.”
This marriage was successful no matter how you look at it: Shelikhov got a son-in-law with a strong position at court, his daughter got the title of count, and our hero got a young, beautiful (as eyewitnesses again wrote) wife with a hefty dowry.
But if we put aside mercantile considerations, then judging by the primary sources, Rezanov loved his wife very much and he, according to him in my own words, “8 years of marriage gave me a taste of all the happiness of life,” and the death of his wife after his second birth became a heavy blow for him, although in the rock opera this is mentioned only in passing as something of secondary importance. After this he was left a widower with two small children.
Six months after the wedding of his daughter, Shelikhov, still a rather old, strong man, suddenly dies, and Rezanov, using his position at court, continues, and very successfully, to further promote his Russian-American campaign. And Shelikhov’s business is alive and well, with Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov at the helm!
Another interesting fact from the biography of our hero. At the very moment when he was left alone with two small children and, experiencing loss, was even planning to leave with the children into the wilderness, the king intervened, at that time it was Alexander I and sent his chamberlain with the original instructions to establish diplomatic relations with Japan, located at that time in complete self-isolation. The Japanese emperor accepted the gifts, and then kept the ship in the harbor for six months, without saying yes or no. As a result, when, after six months of waiting, the Japanese answered that they did not want to trade with Russia, the count’s patience ran out, and he told the Japanese dignitary everything he thought about him, his mother country, the emperor, geishas and samurai :-) Figuratively, obviously.
I don’t think there’s any need to tell what happened next. The assignment failed miserably; it was clear that Rezanov’s usual luck had deserted him at that time. But not for long, don't worry.
By the way, another interesting fact. According to some contemporaries, the Japanese emperor was offended by the ill-conceived gifts from the Russian side and even returned them back, for example, dishes and fabrics, which the Japanese themselves were masters of, and also the fur of a silver fox, which in Japan is considered an unclean, devilish animal.
In general, Comrade Ryazanov was not prepared, he did not study the local production and raw material base before the business trip, so to speak. I don’t know if the Japanese emperors are really such touchy people, I don’t know them, but the Japanese apparently liked our charming count, because in Japanese history textbooks he is mentioned as a highly intelligent and highly respected railroad diplomat :-) Wow!
In general, this is how Rezanov arrived on the sunny Californian coast, in the glorious San Francisco Bay. And then it started :-)
And let the lovers subsequently be accused of selfish and pragmatic intentions. They will say that, on the one hand, Rezanov in his diary describes what is happening too dispassionately and detachedly, often mentioning that this is all for the sake of the needs of the fatherland and all that (after all, it was thanks to his successful voyage to California that he managed to supply Russian settlers in Alaska with food , who were literally starving due to the distance from Russia and the negligence of their previous suppliers) and that, on the other hand, Conchita also pursued ambitious plans to become the chamberlain’s wife and dreamed of hanging out at the luxurious Russian imperial court. As they say, let them talk!
After all, whatever one may say, it was still beautiful story love, even without a happy ending. And most likely, if it weren’t for her, I’m sure, Count Rezanov, a Russian traveler, diplomat, and simply an enterprising man, would not be as known to descendants as, in fact, the commandant’s daughter, the beautiful Maria Concepcion Arguello. And the rock opera, first staged by the unsurpassed Mark Zakharov on the stage of the famous Lenkom with Nikolai Karachentsov and Elena Shanina in the lead roles, is truly worthy of attention, and it is undoubtedly worth watching!
Not so long ago, in 2000, a symbolic reunion of lovers took place: in Krasnoyarsk, a monument was erected on Rezanov’s grave - a white cross, on one side of which it was written: “Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov. 1764-1807. I will never forget you,” and on the other - “Maria Concepcion de Arguello. 1791-1857. I'll never see you again." The sheriff of Monterrey came to the opening and scattered a handful of earth from Conchita’s grave there. He took back a handful of Krasnoyarsk soil - Conchite.
Well, Rezanov’s Russian-American plans, unfortunately, were not destined to come true: as we all know, 60 years later Alaska was sold to America for next to nothing. But the American Admiral Van Ders would later write the following lines: “If Rezanov had lived ten years longer, and what we call California and American British Columbia would have been Russian territory.” Everything can be, everything can happen, but, as you know, history does not tolerate the subjunctive mood...
Lenkom Theater Performance "Juno and Avos"Summary
Creators "Juno and Avos" defined the genre of this performance as “modern 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.
1806 Two sailing ship "Juno" And "Perhaps" under Russian flag arrive in California where is the captain of the brig "Perhaps" fell in love with a local beauty from the hacienda. He 46, she 16. He is from Russia, she is from America. He is Orthodox, she is Catholic. They love each other But fate had a difficult test in store for them The basis of the plot "Juno and Avos" lies the true romantic love story of a Russian count Nikolai Rezanov And Conchita Arguello. As the story goes, in 1806 Rezanov undertook a sea expedition with Alaska to the shores California on ships "Juno" And "Perhaps" in order to obtain provisions for the starving Russian colonies in America. Arriving at California, he met in the Spanish colony San Francisco daughter of the local governor, but their rapidly developing romance was interrupted by the count's urgent departure to Russia. But he never returned. Conchita waited for him for 35 years until she received reliable information about him, after which she retired to a monastery
Mark Zakharov, without a doubt, managed to create a real masterpiece with small means and mostly, thanks to the wonderful game Nikolai Karachentsov, Elena Shanina and Alexander Abdulov. This is a television version of the famous rock opera of the same name, staged on the Lenkom stage in 1983 and still included in the theater’s repertoire. This amazing sad story love of the Russian traveler, count Rezanova to the daughter of a Spanish colonist, Cum , formed the basis of the plot "Juno and Avos" the famous cult rock opera, which became a hit the day after the premiere, and continues to sell out 30 years later!
I really love this production. Especially for musical compositions. Listening to them, a current permeates the body, the heart shrinks into a lump, the soul is torn to pieces. Alexander Abdulov plays passionately. He is especially good at characters with unstable psyches, “difficult people.” Knowing about the replacement, due to known circumstances, N. P. Karachentsova, D. Pevtsov my heart is filled with sadness. In my opinion, Dmitry Pevtsov outwardly too young for this role. I don't want to offend you in any way Dmitry, belittle his talent, or upset his fans, I have absolutely no doubt about his acting abilities, I respect and appreciate him very much for what he does in cinema and in the theater, but still he is insufficient to convey the inner power of this role. It falls short a little. There is no feeling of aching melancholy and soul-shattering pain as from the display of this image by Nikolai Karachentsov. What sacrificial love! Karachentsov is magnificent and incomparable! Master! I can’t imagine what this performance looks like without Nikolai Petrovich. Playing like this is not something everyone can do! TV version of the play N. P. Karachentsov and E. Shanina I’m watching it again with pleasure: skill, talent, love for my characters are all there in this recording of the performance. There are no words to describe. This is one of those things where something heard a hundred times is not worth watching once. You have to see it with your own eyes, hear it with your ears and experience it with your heart. This is something that seems quite understandable tragic story love, you never know the examples but after watching, when the ability to speak and think returns, the question arises: "What is this? What was it that I saw? For such a whirlwind of emotions, feelings, experiences, as shown in the play, cannot be imagined with the head. Looking at the screen, I got the impression that Rezanov obsessed. He is obsessed with the idea, he literally burns from the inside, he is full of passion, inner strength, hot, crazy, frenzied blood is seething in him. It's a volcano! Even the recording makes a strong impression. The desire to rewatch and listen is not quenched. A wonderful fruit of labor of a team of talents from a literary basis Voznesensky, music Rybnikova, directing Zakharova, acting work and further down the list.
Whatever happened in the 19th century, one way or another at all the performance has long been separate living creature, a phenomenon of art. Certainly, Nikolai Petrovich Karachentsov the center of all the action. One of our most wonderful actors created the image of and brought it to life for millions. No one can surpass him in sincerity and dedication in everything. And the main aria from this work "I will never forget you" , which he performs himself, with his low baritone, strikes on the spot and conquers forever. This great work is no longer perceived in the same way when performed by other artists. I can’t talk about the cast that replaced the original actors, since I only saw the version with Dmitry Pevtsov, and this '83 version is great. And captivating Elena Shanina, And Alexander Abdulov, And Mikhail Polyak keep the bar at the highest level. I don’t want to replace any of them; they are all natural and the only possible ones, as if in reality.
Divine and therefore eternal. EVERYTHING IS LOVE Work "Juno and Avos" outside of time and space. One of the most powerful theatrical experiences of my life! I will carry it in my heart until my last breath, across the universe.
"Juno and Avos" is one of the most famous modern operas composer Alexey Rybnikov to 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 about the need to try to establish trade relations with North America did not meet with a response from the authorities for a long time, 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 the cultural life of the capital.
The rock opera "Juno" and "Avos" has successfully passed the test of time - the performance is on still 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
