Russian Director Serebrennikov : Free Cyril: Premiere in spite of house arrest

The Russian Director Kirill Serebrennikov could not travel to the Premiere in Hamburg, because he was arrested in August 2017, and since then in Moscow under house arrest. Nevertheless, his new production of Verdi's "Nabucco" on Sunday evening at the Hamburg state Opera without a hitch. As in the case of "Così fan tutte" in November 2018, its Director work for the Opera Zurich, the theatre - and film-makers from the distant staged, with the help of his Co-Director Evgeny Kulagin on-site, with video recordings of the samples, the nitrogen provided to it by USB, and back sent video messages from Moscow to Hamburg. Also the stage design and the costumes come from Serebrennikov. According to reports, the artist has no access to the Internet and should hardly come into contact with others.

Serebrennikows trial has been running since the 7. November; the authorities accuse the 49-Year-olds to have the state funds, embezzled, what this denies. The Director, whose recent films, "reads the characters" and "Leto" in the German cinemas were up and running at the Cannes film festival were celebrated, has always fought for the freedom of art and opinion, he confesses to his homosexuality. He should be silenced, the cultural scene are intimidated in Russia, on the part of critical Russia observers. After the statement had been considered by the former accountant as the main witness for the prosecution, in February, considerable doubt as to the charges, is to be rolled out of the case now re – opened- a small sign of hope.

Kirill Serebrennikov a New hope

The "Nabokov"-production with Dmitri Platanias in the title role, Oksana Dyka as Abigaille, and Paolo Carignani at the rostrum of the Philharmonic state orchestra Hamburg political traits decidedly. The plot is located in the UN-security Council; and photographs of refugees and war victims are displayed around Syria, the actual Refugees. A "project choir Nabucco" sings his own Version of the Verdi-prisoner's chorus "Va, pensiero". This Serebrennikows is not addressed current position on the stage. Only applause at the end of the Premiere unrolled Kulagin with others from the Team, a banner with the inscription "Free Cyril". Tsp (dpa)