One of the most efficient theatre managers, artistic Director of two Russian musical theatres — the Novosibirsk academic Opera and ballet (NOVATUS) and Mikhailovsky Opera and ballet in Saint-Petersburg — Vladimir Kekhman, which is often accompanied by scandals and public outrage, I am sure that the most expensive state-funded theatre — music — in a pandemic, and especially after Russia will survive everywhere. So I suggested that his system of salvation. Reviewer “MK” talked with Vladimir Kekhman failed on the anniversary of Novatus, on the sanitary standards of the Opera, the Directorate of Imperial theatres, the post-Soviet optimisation and financial safety cushion of Directors.
— Vladimir Abramovich, Novatus in may was 75 years old. Presidential grant on the anniversary, the theatre building in an incredible illumination, cooked a fantastic gala, which had to be cancelled. What people do not see?
— People saw a magnificent gala-concert with participation of world stars: Roberto Bolle, Placido Domingo, Vladimir Malakhov, Diana Vishneva, and many other of our friends who had come to Novosibirsk at the jubilee theatre on 12 and 13 may. With all the already signed contracts, and Cherry, by the way, we are even 30 percent of the fee paid. And it is still unclear when we will be able to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Novatus. As there is no clear understanding of when we will be able to open.
Another anniversary question: lighting design Novatus, which was criticized in social networks, and even Mr. Navalny somehow bothered not so much a question of money spent (412 million), how much the aesthetic side.
— still no light design Novatus. Today installed all the appliances, fully tested the whole system, Italian designer and Russian video artists write the program, which, of course, we were prepared for may 12, but, when entered quarantine in Italy, all work was stopped. Since may 11, when the quarantine was removed, the process continued in Italy and Russia. Moreover, due to the fact that this system is unique, we want to hold a competition among young artists and designers. They will have the opportunity to Express themselves, to create video content. But only after the system has started. I repeat, this is a unique project, he has no equal in Russia. And as for all the criticism this character… I’m not familiar with it, but for me the father of lies — the devil.
— the Position in which all cultural institutions, heavy. But for musical theater as the most expensive art form with the long-term planning is generally a disaster. You, as a supervisor of two musical theatres, how to assess a situation?
— I evaluate it as a complete change of the principles of musical theatre as such in the future. Everything about the two main theaters, the Bolshoi and the Mariinsky, I understand — they are a national treasure, was, is and will be.
— But even their leaders mood sour. So, at the beginning of quarantine, the General Director of the Bolshoi Vladimir urin in his interview to the newspaper “Kommersant” predicted the Bolshoi theatre almost closed. Is the emotion? Confusion?
I don’t even want to comment on it. Moreover, I wrote to Vladimir Georgievich SMS, asked why he even gave this interview. Nothing ever with the Bolshoi theatre cannot happen: there is a great Big. And we must pay tribute to Gergiev, the Mariinsky he did the same to the reputation and importance of the team. Therefore, for these two theatres is no need to worry. Regardless of whether they work or not — simple they will be compensated, as, indeed, will receive compensation and other state musical theater (we are only talking about them). But the difference in the amounts would be substantial: for example, Novatus with a Large difference in 22 times.
more specifically?
— the Novosibirsk theatre will receive 18 million roubles for three months, and Large more than 400 million. I believe that with such a huge imbalance, we are in a more difficult position compared to Moscow. And this is assuming that we have in Novate average salary — 67 thousand. In a Large theater has 3200 people, and we have 885. Disparate compensation.
This imbalance in funding, on the one hand understandable, but on the other, can supply regional musical theater on the brink of closing.
— And here, I think, should be decided at the government level.
— what decision are you talking about?
— If, indeed, the vaccine will be created soon, then a visit to the ballet or Opera performances when complying with Europe’s sanitary regulations that may be introduced in a pandemic, will almost exotic, theatres will not be able to earn as before. For example, in the room for fifteen thousand spectators to let you only five hundred. Here is the famous concert hall of Vienna “Music Verein” now considering the possibility of starting work: at a capacity of 1800 people are going to sell 400 tickets, that is, one spectator minus three seats. And this is concert hall with lots of space, and the orchestra sits in the pit and on stage. And in Novate in the hall, which seats fifteen hundred seats, when the scene can be up to 300 people: the orchestra — 85, Hor — 80, extras to 50, and in the Opera “Prince Igor”, for example, and even ballet, will be only 300 viewers?
so When, say, pandemicheskim and sanitary way it would be simply impossible to keep the number of musical theatres, which exists in Russia. And it is clear that the return to the financial situation which was before, is impossible. Before the pandemic, the income outside the budget of Novosibirsk for the year was to reach 500 million rubles — with these revenues we pay the artists fairly large amounts. Now, if in the public hall will be three times less, we’ll go back to five years ago. When I came to the theater, the income amounted to 115 million rubles, while the average salary of actors was around 30 thousand, technical staff — in the range 7 to 13 thousand. Yes, in Novosibirsk, in St. Petersburg, at the Mikhailovsky theatre, when I came back in 2007, musician of the orchestra received 11 thousand. We can of course back in those days, but I think that is a road to nowhere.
You Kekhman, effective creative Manager, the work in two major theatres of Russia has proved its worth and which one of the most difficult situations can find a way out. Today you have the solution to how to keep musical theater? What steps need to be taken?
— to make an intelligent decision, first you need to understand whether we can afford in the current environment, such a luxury — in every big city to have its own troupe of musical theatre.
is it bad when in large cities have their own Opera or ballet company? It is the prestige of the region and city, their level of culture.
— It sounds good, but now it is impossible to have a decent quality in so many groups across the country. Of course, in the regions there are leaders, trendsetters, the Opera theatres in Yekaterinburg, Perm and Novosibirsk. To effectively use the building of theaters in each city, you need to create a single regional Directorate. The artists transferred to the jurisdiction of this Directorate and move from city to city. That is, the theater remains in the region as a platform, and forms of existence of the creative team to radically change. Not many musical theatres, which could boast of outstanding quality. So we could in the current situation in some way to properly allocate resources in order to preserve the quality of the productions. And if you continue to smear, as now, financial support for all the theatres, it will only lead to one thing — loss of product quality.
the Intendant of the Opera in Paris, Mr. Lissner said in an interview with Figaro: “We will never work at the Paris Opera in the form in which we have to offer. Because we will not be able to give the viewer the quality of our level.”
What do you mean by “optimization”, which the Russians is that creepy? Education and medicine were goodtimesroll to the fact that the profession of doctors and especially the teachers were not respecting. And how to optimize Novosibirsk (subordinated to the Federalia) and the Perm theatre (regional jurisdiction)? On what basis?
— these theaters Have, by and large, everything will be fine. Another question is the future of theatres in Astrakhan, Voronezh, Samara, Nizhny Novgorod.
to close Them, in your opinion, or…?
I Repeat, do not have anything close. The question is: based on the perspective that theoretically offers the CPS should consider whether it is necessary in each theatre to have its own Opera, ballet company. Work so many theaters in the world: one have his own company and building, which takes different groups. This, for example, the châtelet theater in Paris, Lincoln center in new York. At the Metropolitan Opera ballet season the company holds ABT. In Russia before the revolution worked perfectly famous the Directorate of the Imperial theatres, and the system of which I speak, have been invented.
How she can approach the modern system of theatres and how can it function?
Can such a system: in Russia, two directorates — one Federal, the other interregional, and subordinate to both is a certain number of theatres. Ideally in a major city has a theatre building, has its own technical staff and minimal staff, which provides speech on this site any Russian company. This can be done gradually, developing a tour plan. I think, to go to theatres in this format of existence, it would be advantageous from the point of view of common sense, but it would be good even from the point of view of legislative. Will now be empty planes, empty trains, affordable ticket prices. Any strong company with good school can go and show their performances. And the theatres we cannot be shortened — buildings remain.
Who will be the judge — what theatres are to optimize and which to leave? After all, there are about 30 around the country (plus or minus): one under Federal jurisdiction (a minority of them), others are regional or even municipal. From the point of view of Economics they have different “pockets”.
— This will happen naturally. Not going to talk about specific regions, there are a few governors with great pleasure, if they offer this optimization, I will agree.
— Probably there are those who are happy to optimize not only music, but all cultural institutions in their provinces.
— It is not. Just musical theater is very expensive.
— I was always for the downtrodden. Just imagine how a city proud of its musical theatre, and he — Bang, and merged. The artists went to work, rehearsing, now what?
— It can continue to be proud of, but there will be not a private company, and that which is to come to him. Their the artists will be part of this team. It is impossible to pick up and drive people to the street. We should really look at what is happening: it will be impossible for everyone to live, including musical theatres, as before. For example, I have Michael in ballet, where a sufficient number of pensioners who come to class, do “gymnastics”, get their 34 thousand, and we can in no way be fired. Or with an Opera company when I came, there were 53 lead singer, but they really could sing 11. Now there are 43, of which 5 can’t sing.
— you think so?
Is the musical Director Alexander Vedernikov thinks so, they cannot be put in play. Yes, the ballast, and in each such theatre from 10 to 30 percent. And there are theaters, where “La Bayadere” or “Swan lake” in the corps de ballet ballerinas dance 16 instead of 32. Such groups also exist. The situation is very different everywhere, but optimization is not hard as it may seem. Rather, it is the redistribution of resource — both financial and human. I twice did this in Michael’s and in the Novosibirsk theatres. Everything was perceived quite calmly, the only person I in Novosibirsk fired a half or two years, was the wife of the former Director — she was press Secretary. But everything else — the creative process.
That’s interesting, Vladimir Abramovich, as your colleagues will think of the offer?
— All of my colleagues are categorically against it. But when such a huge funding gap, theatres to compete with the big and most important in the country impossible. So the situation is simple: if we want to improve the quality of regional theaters, there we go. If you don’t want to reserve in regional theaters, and then everyone will survive as you can.
— are You absolutely sure that none of your colleagues will not support you?
— none.
So Kekhman — again, one soldier in the field?
I did not fight with anyone. I believe that this is the work and responsibility. But why would she need someone, if all all so well. Director receive a salary of 300-500 thousand rubles, and will to continue. For example, in the Soviet Union, the head of the Kirov theater had a salary of 1200 roubles a month, and it was premium, touring, premium for the title. Then it was serious money. Fifteen hundred roubles, then 500 thousand now — these are incomparable things, the apartment was then worth 4 thousand rubles. Any dancer, musician, worked at the Mikhailovsky theatre until 1992, arriving with a month long tour of Japan, could afford to buy an apartment. But this is the way of peaceful life.
Musical theatre, the only one of all who are engaged in long-range planning: 3-5 years contracts with Directors, special��but foreign. And now, when no one knows what will happen, how can something to plan?
— In our case, against Novatus and the Mikhailovsky theatre, nothing changes at all. We have a very strong their own music managers, and their base — our theatres. We do not need anyone — neither from the West invited the Directors nor the conductors. We are focused on the viewer, not the critic. Who needs international projects, those now really are in a difficult position. Although today it is likely that the Opera star, and agents will descend from the sky, and many Russian singers, so popular in the West, can we have more singing, but for other money.
— what, in your opinion, will decide fees in the world’s Opera houses?
— In 2019 I lost 13 dancers, that of Novatus went into the theaters of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Europe. We have a very popular artists, which is a strong school.
But that was before the “war”, when the status of singers or dancers could impose any conditions. But the situation is very influenced by the labor market, including Opera and ballet. Someone somewhere is now waiting at his some of the unemployed? How even ethical in this situation dictate? Understand the naivete of this question.
— unfortunately, the word “immoral” apply to artists is simply impossible — they think only about themselves. And if you don’t close all the borders, they will make decisions in favor of its benefits. I have long been Yuri Temirkanov Temirkanov taught: if you want to stay in this profession, never expect gratitude. And what will happen in the world, I don’t know. Around the world there are not many theatres, and we have very good footage, which will be, no matter where they are from Novosibirsk or St. Petersburg. In our ballet school in Novosibirsk, nearly 50 percent of Chinese learning. The level of education and skill are very high in ballet. I was in this situation only concern the public: as soon as in musical theatre disappears as immediately lose the audience.
are You ready to lead this Directorate, if you will hear the top and it will be created?
— of Course, to create ready. Moreover, in 2021, I end all restrictions. And if you give me this right, I presume part of the regional theatres to convince of the advantages of such a system. You only need the right and money.
— Not afraid to suffer for their reform efforts?
Well… so this will end all my theatre activities.
