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Anna Karenina MusicalOpening Date: October, 2016
Closing Date: 2020 Air date: 2017 Medium: cinema & online Where to watch: Broadway on Demand, Vimeo |
Stage Production Notes
Based on Tolstoy’s novel, Anna Karenina Musical is tells the story of Anna Karenina, a married woman who falls in love with the dashing military officer Alexey Vronsky.
Following the relatively recent establishment of American and British musical theatre in Russia, Anna Karenina Musical was the third original Russian musical to be staged at the Moscow Operetta Theatre. The theatre, along with the same creative team, had previously produced The Count of Monte Cristo (2008) and Count Orlov (2012). Count Orlov ran for four years, and reportedly sold close to a million tickets.
According to Russia Beyond the Headlines reporter Julia Shevelkina, the adaptation of classic novels is part of a trend in Russia is not only for audiences “who love costume dramas,” but also to accommodate “a minister of culture who didn’t want state-run theatres to stage radical modern plays.”
With a libretto by Yuli Kim, a popular Russian poet and playwright, and music by Roman Ignatyev, Anna Karenina Musical is described as a “spectacular, breathtaking, emotional, and high-tech show…” and a “fusion of pop music and high culture.” The musical was directed by Alina Chevik, choreographed by Irina Korneeva, with musical direction by Konstantin Khvatynets.
The popularity of the musical team was such that a thousand women reportedly auditioned for the role of Anna Karenina.
Anna Karenina Musical was performed in Russian, though programs in English, which included a detailed synopsis, were provided for English-speaking audiences at the theatre.
Writing for The Moscow Times, Ciara Haley exclaimed “From a visual perspective, the show is a marvel.” While also noting the sumptuous costume design, Russian Art and Culture reviewer Emily Couch stated that the musical translation had lost all of Tolstoy’s philosophical musings and most of the “original complexity” of the novel.
Critics were divided as the effectiveness of the music. Ciara Haley stated “the music breathes a modern vitality into Tolstoy’s story,” while Emily Couch claimed the “most of the music lacks…originality,” and that most songs were “reminiscent of 1980s pop ballads.”
Anna Karenina was the first original Russian musical to be staged outside of Russia, with the Seoul Arts Center in Korea slated to perform the musical in 2017.
Based on Tolstoy’s novel, Anna Karenina Musical is tells the story of Anna Karenina, a married woman who falls in love with the dashing military officer Alexey Vronsky.
Following the relatively recent establishment of American and British musical theatre in Russia, Anna Karenina Musical was the third original Russian musical to be staged at the Moscow Operetta Theatre. The theatre, along with the same creative team, had previously produced The Count of Monte Cristo (2008) and Count Orlov (2012). Count Orlov ran for four years, and reportedly sold close to a million tickets.
According to Russia Beyond the Headlines reporter Julia Shevelkina, the adaptation of classic novels is part of a trend in Russia is not only for audiences “who love costume dramas,” but also to accommodate “a minister of culture who didn’t want state-run theatres to stage radical modern plays.”
With a libretto by Yuli Kim, a popular Russian poet and playwright, and music by Roman Ignatyev, Anna Karenina Musical is described as a “spectacular, breathtaking, emotional, and high-tech show…” and a “fusion of pop music and high culture.” The musical was directed by Alina Chevik, choreographed by Irina Korneeva, with musical direction by Konstantin Khvatynets.
The popularity of the musical team was such that a thousand women reportedly auditioned for the role of Anna Karenina.
Anna Karenina Musical was performed in Russian, though programs in English, which included a detailed synopsis, were provided for English-speaking audiences at the theatre.
Writing for The Moscow Times, Ciara Haley exclaimed “From a visual perspective, the show is a marvel.” While also noting the sumptuous costume design, Russian Art and Culture reviewer Emily Couch stated that the musical translation had lost all of Tolstoy’s philosophical musings and most of the “original complexity” of the novel.
Critics were divided as the effectiveness of the music. Ciara Haley stated “the music breathes a modern vitality into Tolstoy’s story,” while Emily Couch claimed the “most of the music lacks…originality,” and that most songs were “reminiscent of 1980s pop ballads.”
Anna Karenina was the first original Russian musical to be staged outside of Russia, with the Seoul Arts Center in Korea slated to perform the musical in 2017.
Filmed Production Notes
Anna Karenina Musical was filmed live in 2016 or 2017 at the Moscow Operetta Theatre.
Vault International Productions (VIPRO) and Stage Russia HD distributed the musical in the United Kingdom and the United States with English subtitles.
In 2017, the film was released in Russia and South Korea.
In July 2017, Anna Karenina was released in select cinemas in the United States. Encore screenings were held in September.
The musical was re-released in cinemas across the US and United Kingdom in 2019 and again in 2020.
Between July 3rd - July 12th, 2020, Anna Karenina was available to stream via North West Film Forum (NWFF). Viewers were able to pay on a sliding scale, between $5 and $25, with funds going to Stage Russia and the NWFF. It was the third time NWFF had released the musical.
Anna Karenina Musical was released online via Digital Theatre and on Stage Russia. It is currently available to view on Broadway on Demand and Vimeo.
Anna Karenina Musical was filmed live in 2016 or 2017 at the Moscow Operetta Theatre.
Vault International Productions (VIPRO) and Stage Russia HD distributed the musical in the United Kingdom and the United States with English subtitles.
In 2017, the film was released in Russia and South Korea.
In July 2017, Anna Karenina was released in select cinemas in the United States. Encore screenings were held in September.
The musical was re-released in cinemas across the US and United Kingdom in 2019 and again in 2020.
Between July 3rd - July 12th, 2020, Anna Karenina was available to stream via North West Film Forum (NWFF). Viewers were able to pay on a sliding scale, between $5 and $25, with funds going to Stage Russia and the NWFF. It was the third time NWFF had released the musical.
Anna Karenina Musical was released online via Digital Theatre and on Stage Russia. It is currently available to view on Broadway on Demand and Vimeo.
Anna Karenina Musical PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Moscow Operetta Theatre
Producer: Vladimir Tartakovskiy, Alexei Bolonin
Book and Lyrics: Yuliy Kim
Music: Roman Ignatyev
Director: Alina Chevik
Musical Director: Konstantin Khvatynets
Orchestrations: Alexey Kurbatov
Arrangements: Sergey Sysoev, Sergey Chekryzhov
Choreography: Irina Korneeva
Scenic & Costume Design: Vyacheslav Okunev
Wig & Make-Up Design: Andrey Drykin
Lighting Design: Gleb Filshtinsky
Sound Design: Oleg Chechik
Cast:
Ekaterina Guseva (Anna Karenina), Sergey Lee (Alexey Vronsky), Alexander Marakulin (Alexey Karenin), Natalia Bystrova (Kitty Shcherbatskaya), Denis Demkiv (Konstantin Levin), Andrey Alexandrin (Stiva Oblonsky), Karine Asiryan (Princess Betsy), Maxim Zausalin (Master of Ceremonies), Oxana Lesnichaya (Patti), Lika Rulla (Countess Vronskaya), Alexander Markelov (Prince Shcherbastsky), Ella Merkuylova (Princess Shcherbatskaya), Stanislav Bezgin (Seryozha)
Vocal Ensemble: Evgeny Bezgin, Zakhar Kotyshev, Lilia Kuznetsova, Konstantin Leshchenko, Vita Pestova, Anna Podsvirova, Vasily Remchukov, Nikolay Rubtsov, Anastasia Sivaeva, Marina Torkhova, Anastasiya Chikunova
Ballet: Roman Andreykin, Ulyana Bachernikova, Lyubov Vakhtina, Alexandra Vvedenskaya, Maria Vishnyakova, Irina Garashkina, Natalia Gololobova, Edgar Golosnoy, Olga Golub, Ekaterina Goncharova, Alexey Deftyarev, Daniil Isupov-Dolinskiy, Julia Kuli-Zade, Irina Morozova, Denis Moshonkin, Maxim Nikonov, Vladislav Nuñes Romero, Dmitry Panin, Ilya Tokarev, Stanislav Chunihin, Vera Shvorak
Figure Skaters
Elena Leonova, Andrei Khvalko Sr., Maria Zhukova, Andrei Khvalko Jr.
Theatre: Moscow Operetta Theatre
Producer: Vladimir Tartakovskiy, Alexei Bolonin
Book and Lyrics: Yuliy Kim
Music: Roman Ignatyev
Director: Alina Chevik
Musical Director: Konstantin Khvatynets
Orchestrations: Alexey Kurbatov
Arrangements: Sergey Sysoev, Sergey Chekryzhov
Choreography: Irina Korneeva
Scenic & Costume Design: Vyacheslav Okunev
Wig & Make-Up Design: Andrey Drykin
Lighting Design: Gleb Filshtinsky
Sound Design: Oleg Chechik
Cast:
Ekaterina Guseva (Anna Karenina), Sergey Lee (Alexey Vronsky), Alexander Marakulin (Alexey Karenin), Natalia Bystrova (Kitty Shcherbatskaya), Denis Demkiv (Konstantin Levin), Andrey Alexandrin (Stiva Oblonsky), Karine Asiryan (Princess Betsy), Maxim Zausalin (Master of Ceremonies), Oxana Lesnichaya (Patti), Lika Rulla (Countess Vronskaya), Alexander Markelov (Prince Shcherbastsky), Ella Merkuylova (Princess Shcherbatskaya), Stanislav Bezgin (Seryozha)
Vocal Ensemble: Evgeny Bezgin, Zakhar Kotyshev, Lilia Kuznetsova, Konstantin Leshchenko, Vita Pestova, Anna Podsvirova, Vasily Remchukov, Nikolay Rubtsov, Anastasia Sivaeva, Marina Torkhova, Anastasiya Chikunova
Ballet: Roman Andreykin, Ulyana Bachernikova, Lyubov Vakhtina, Alexandra Vvedenskaya, Maria Vishnyakova, Irina Garashkina, Natalia Gololobova, Edgar Golosnoy, Olga Golub, Ekaterina Goncharova, Alexey Deftyarev, Daniil Isupov-Dolinskiy, Julia Kuli-Zade, Irina Morozova, Denis Moshonkin, Maxim Nikonov, Vladislav Nuñes Romero, Dmitry Panin, Ilya Tokarev, Stanislav Chunihin, Vera Shvorak
Figure Skaters
Elena Leonova, Andrei Khvalko Sr., Maria Zhukova, Andrei Khvalko Jr.
Sources
Articles
Websites
- Emily Couch, ““ANNA KARENINA MUSICAL” AT THE MOSCOW OPERETTA THEATRE,” Russian Art and Culture (Dec 12, 2018)
- Alexandra Guzeva, “Russia’s Anna Karenina musical to be shown in U.S. and UK cinemas” Russia Beyond (March 4, 2019)
- Ciara Haley, “‘Anna Karenina’ the Musical Arrives on the Moscow Stage” The Moscow Times (Oct 28, 2016)
- Ruth Moore, “East Side Story,” The Moscow Times (Dec 8, 2016)
- Julia Shevelkina, “Leo Tolstoy’s ‘Anna Karenina’ turned into a musical,” Russia Beyond the Headlines (Nov 12, 2016)
- Uncredited, “Russia’s Anna Karenina musical set to hit big screens in US, UK,” TASS (March 1, 2019)
- Shaun Walker, “Musical version of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina to open in Moscow,” The Guardian (Aug 19, 2016)
Websites
- Anna Karenina Musical, Accessed via: https://karenina-musical.ru/en/
- The Barbican, “Stage Russia: Anna Karenina Musical” Accessed via: https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2019/event/afternoon-arts-stage-russia-anna-karenina-musical-12a
- Digital Theatre, “Anna Karenina”, Accessed via: https://www.digitaltheatre.com/consumer/production/anna-karenina
- North West Film Forum, “Stage Russia HD – Anna Karenina Musical [Online]” Accessed via: https://nwfilmforum.org/films/stage-russia-hd-anna-karenina-musical-encore-encore/
- Show One Productions, “Anna Karenina (Musical), Moscow Operetta Theatre,” Accessed via: https://showoneproductions.ca/event/anna-karenina-musical-20190923/
Written by Luisa Lyons (November, 2020)