#modern-opera

#modern-opera

"Serebrennikov pulls the action of Mussorgsky's brooding opera, which follows the reign and death of an ill-fated 17-century Russian tsar, firmly into the present day."

Turnage's sour, spiky style is established enough to have its own stock language of gestures. His way of setting swearing - short and exclaimed - becomes almost meta in Festen.

A Russian political leader sings about war with Ukrainians and the need for a durable peace while the political elite argues over ties with Europe versus Russian traditions.