"White Wolf" opera dell'arte premieres in Kazan

The opera is derived from a Tatar folk tale about a white wolf, a totemic animal for Tatars' ancestors.

250 people participate in the production. The staging features musicians of State Symphonic Orchestra of the Republic of Tatarstan, State Ensemble of Song and Dance of the Republic of Tatarstan, State Chamber Choir of the Republic of Tatarstan and young soloists who will sing in Tatar.

Alexander Sladkovskiy, who came up with the idea for the opera, wanted to make it in dell'arte style, so that the opera could be visualized anywhere in Tatarstan and Russia.

"It was very challenging to work on an opera. I was asking myself whether I could live up to the expectations a lot," - said Zulphia Raupova, the composer, thanking Alexander Sladkoskiy for the opportunity to work on a national project.

The composer considers the opera a youth-oriented project: "We engaged performers from Kazan, Moscow and St Petersburg, targeting primarily the youth. The values like tribute to ancestors are fading away, and we hope to communicate to young people who we are and where we come from".

"We started anew, and wrote completely new text and new music based on the tale," - said Ruzal Muhametshin, a poet who wrote the opera's libretto. Speaking of the leitmotif of the piece, he pointed out that opera reflects Tatar folk spirit, brings points of view together, shows "how it was then and how it is now".

"Respecting parents and people is an enduring value, - mentioned Natalia Lukina, press-secretary for State Symphonic Orchestra of the Republic of Tatarstan, - the orchestra tried to fill that niche, as the last Tatar opera was staged in 2006".