Reise’s 1988 opera, Rasputin, was produced for the first time in Russia at the beginning of October, with 5 performances at the Helikon Opera Theatre. The performances played to sold-out houses, and generated tremendous interest in the Russian media. Reviewers noted how successfully Reise captured and interpreted the complexity of this troubled and controversial period in Russian history, viewed with the mixed feelings that to this day still permeate the Russian view of the period. Nikolay Galin and Natalia Zagorinskaya starred as Rasputin and Tsarina Alexandra Fedorovna, with Nikolay Dorozhkin as Tsar Nikolas II. The production was directed by Dmitry Bertman, and the musical director and conductor was Vladimir Ponkin. Helikon has scheduled further performances January 28-February 1, 2009.

The set design featured a giant egg crate, filled with enormous, Fabergé-style eggs; the effect was visually stunning, figuratively representing the dichotomy of the proletariat and the aristocracy. Towards the end of the opera, one of the eggs cracks, and the character of Lenin emerges to end the opera in the bloody days of 1917, immediately following the assassination of the Tsar and his family.

Photos from the performances. (A SimpleViewer gallery)

Interview in Moscow with Jay Reise  (Video at RussiaToday.com)