The long-awaited premiere of the musical “CHESS” took place on 17 October at the MDM Theater. Despite all the circumstances, a performance of truly grandiose scale and Broadway quality appeared in Moscow.
While on Broadway itself all premieres are postponed until next summer, the opening of the Russian production of CHESS gave viewers not only a meeting with the legendary music of ABBA composers Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus and a thrilling story written by Tim Rice, but also a real celebration.
The main guest of the evening was the 16-time world chess champion Anatoly Karpov, one of the prototypes of the protagonist of the musical Anatoly Sergievsky. The premiere was also attended by representatives of the world of chess – world and European champions Alexandra Kosteniuk and Pavel Tregubov, Sergey Karjakin, Russian stars: Philip Kirkorov, Larisa Dolina, Alexey Kortnev, Alena Sviridova, Alena Khmelnitskaya, Stas Kostyushkin, Olga Buzova, Larisa Verbitskaya, Yuri Chursin, Irina Slutskaya, Special Representative of the President of Russia for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy and others.
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The audience did not hide their delight at the scale of the stage implementation of “CHESS” in Moscow. The guests appreciated the multi-level spectacular scenery, the quality and quantity of superbly crafted sound from the best specialists in London’s West End, large-scale crowd scenes and multimedia design that transported the audience in time and space. All as one admired the great music of the “founding fathers” of ABBA and its impeccable performance by the CHAHMAT orchestra, which also became a full-fledged protagonist of the performance – the musicians sat under the very grates of the stage and, thanks to modern technologies of spectacles, appeared either above the airport runway or in the background the majestic Alps, then under the starry sky.
Larisa Dolina: “I am delighted! A grand production, a global project, everything is very well thought out – beautiful music, an interesting storyline, acting, singing, choral parts, orchestra – everything is amazing in this musical ”!
Alexey Kortnev: “This is a very powerful and masterly staged musical! The maximum has been squeezed out of the source material despite the fact that the material itself is heavy, loaded with the political connotations of the past. But it turns out interesting. Five plus scenography, it’s amazing, it’s very cool! “
The story of the confrontation between the Soviet and American grandmasters went to Russia for 36 long years – in the USSR it was banned, and later, this material seemed too heavy to many theater figures. However, Dmitry Bogachev’s company “Broadway Moscow” took a risk and won this game.
Dmitry Bogachev : “It was scary to tackle the most difficult in all respects and at the same time the most interesting work among fifteen musicals in twenty years of my career as a theater producer. Many years passed before I decided on this, feeling confident in my abilities and the support of like-minded people. And at this very moment, in the midst of the production, everything fell upon us at once: the closure of theaters, quarantine, a complete stop of ticket sales, disrupted rehearsals, canceled supplies of equipment, closed borders and the impossibility of the arrival of foreign specialists, a crushing crisis in theater and concert activities. It seemed that the musical “CHESS” in our country was doomed again, like 35 years ago.
The fact that today you, dear viewers, are watching it at the MDM Theater is happening despite all the circumstances and has no rational explanation. This is our theatrical miracle! This happens sometimes in the theater, and nobody knows why. Perhaps thanks to obsession, faith, dedication, mutual assistance, great desire, dedication to the profession and the common cause of our entire creative team, artists and musicians, directors, technical team, management – everyone who has gone from concept to premiere. “
Already now, we can say with full confidence not only that Moscow has received a grand spectacle, but also that the world has found a completely new reading of the plot of the musical – with Tim Rice’s permission, the Moscow production has a new libretto based on both previous versions of the play and historical realities. No wonder Anatoly Karpov, who saw several versions of the musical in London, Stockholm, New York and other cities, at the end of the premiere noted the special veracity of the Russian production.
Anatoly Karpov: “An amazing premiere, although it’s strange for me to feel like a prototype of the protagonist of a great work during my lifetime. I saw the musical “CHESS” on many stages around the world – in America, England, Sweden, France … And then I saw it in Russian for the first time. Translating Tim Rice’s libretto into Russian is a huge undertaking. And Alexei Ivaschenko succeeded. It is clear that Sergievsky’s image is collective, but some details of my chess life can be traced. It is a very difficult task to show chess in art: outwardly everything is calm in this game, but such passions flare up inside at this time! The play is just about that. It is a pity that Tim Rice himself could not come, who in three weeks was so imbued with chess at the match in Merano that he created this wonderful piece! I would like to congratulate everyone who took part in this grand performance! “
An international team worked on the original version of the musical in Russia: Russian text writer Alexei Ivashchenko, director Evgeny Pisarev, music supervisor John Rigby, lighting designer Nikolai Simonov, costume designer Maria Danilova, sound engineer Richard Brucker, choreographer Irina Kashuba, lighting designer Alexander Sivaev, video designers of Raketa Media company, musical director and conductor Evgeny Zagot and many others.
Evgeny Pisarev: “I am absolutely happy that I have something to do with this musical legend! Now, when the whole musical world is frozen, Broadway is closed at least until next summer, we are releasing an expensive, beautiful, loud, dramatic, huge musical performance. This is a completely unusual and unexpected musical for the Moscow stage. Our production is a kind of crossover of a musical, an opera and a rock concert – cool, bright, with magnificent costumes and the most complex sets. But still her main merit is music ”!
The leading roles in the premiere screening of CHESS were performed by Alexander Sukhanov, Alexander Bobrov, Anastasia Stotskaya and Anna Guchenkova.
Anastasia Stotskaya: “Before the premiere, I am always overly worried, and today is no exception. But I understand that this is just the beginning, and we need to work further. The performance is very complex vocally – I have never had such diverse material in any project. In addition, this is a very energy-consuming role, you need to live it. But today I heard how the audience welcomes us, I saw how the whole audience was applauding while bowing. And now I can say nothing more, except that I am immensely happy! “
At the end of the premiere, Anatoly Karpov symbolically presented on stage to Dmitry Bogachev a set of collectible “Karpov’s Chess” from the “Invincible” series for Tim Rice. “Invincible” chess pieces are created on the principle of traditional Russian dolls. A unique gift will await the playwright who plans to attend the Russian production of the musical in Moscow.
The musical “CHESS” will be shown daily at the MDM Theater.
The guests of honor, celebrities and partners of the project shared their impressions of the premiere show.
Mikhail Shvydkoi:
It seems to me that the very fact of the premiere in the midst of a pandemic is a challenge to nothingness in general and any challenge to death. The fact that Dmitry Albertovich Bogachev has been bringing the best musicals to Russia for the last 20 years and showing them to the public is a feat. Today we are witnessing one of the stages of this feat, which he has been carrying out over the past two decades. Perhaps CHESS is the last such significant musical that Bogachev has not yet brought to Moscow. And I think that with this gesture he made a gift to the public. Great orchestra, great artists. I wish luck!
Evgeny Zagot:
I am extremely happy that the premiere took place. It seems to me that it was a very solid and stable performance. And we gave the audience, who had been waiting for this event for so long, a holiday. I always feel when something is missing in my work, but today we gave our best. There was such a feeling of calm and at the same time drive – the best combination.
Natalia Gulkina:
I did not specifically study the content of the musical before going to the theater, and expected it to be something light, super fun, as this genre implies. But it turned out that this is a serious production about the confrontation between the two countries, the Iron Curtain and difficult human destinies. It’s great that the younger generation will come to the performance, learn about history, and become involved in chess. Excellent decorations – laconic and stylish. I liked the choreography very much. And Nastya Stotskaya is a real star!
Larisa Verbitskaya:
A very bold and bright performance. I didn’t know that chess can be so musical. This is a musical about the time in which I lived, it gave us an incredible number of talented people in various fields of art, sports and, of course, politics. It was a very interesting time! And tonight I had the opportunity to remember him through such a musical story. The musical reflects bright events, characters, people, and their fates. The music is very catchy and the choreography is wonderful. This is a must see!
Mikhail Minin – General Director of MTS Entertainment, co-producer of the musical “CHESS”:
The musical “CHESS” is a bright event on the world theater stage. We are glad that MTS, for which this is the first experience of co-producing music shows, took a direct part in the appearance of the long-awaited production of it in Russia. We believe that “CHESS” will be a success among Russian audiences.
MTS is developing an ecosystem of useful products and services for Russian users. The direction of entertainment is one of the key and strategically important. Due to the additional capabilities of digital services (targeting, convenience of ticket sales, a recommendation system using big data), we will develop and improve offline projects in the field of entertainment. The organizers make every effort to ensure the safety and protection of viewers at the shows. I am sure that despite all reasonable restrictions, everyone will see the musical and our first investment experience will be successful.
IVAN:
Delightful! I would like to note the orchestra, live music is always very pleasant. The second is the ensemble. Cool actors and, most importantly, history. I believe that every Russian person should come here and see the history of this sport, get to know their heroes, find out what is behind them!
Rodion Gazmanov:
Incredibly cool! This is a breath of fresh air, especially nowadays. I admire the boldness of not only the production, but also the fact that, in principle, the premiere took place. Because today everything is canceled, everything is falling apart. It’s great that there is such a stronghold of art in this difficult time. I admire the artists and the whole team, everything is brilliantly staged. Special respect to the authors for the music. And the libretto is above all praise! And I did not know that Ivaschenko had a hand here, but I recognized the handwriting. And when he went on stage, my suspicions were confirmed. Great respect, admiration and gratitude!
Anatoly Tsoi:
I really liked it, all expectations were met. This is my third time at a performance and for the first time in my life a musical of this magnitude – incredible scenery, incredible music. I myself can play chess, my grandfather taught me as a child. I will not say that I am a fan of this sport, but definitely a fan of this musical!
Alena Sviridova:
Wonderful premiere! I have it for the first time in the season, in fact – it is very interesting what filigree numbers there are in the play. We didn’t hold back our emotions and shouted “bravo”!
Evelina Bledans:
Filigree performance of artists is beyond praise! And when the whole audience is imbued with patriotism, which permeates the entire work, it is amazing. The musical is British, but how close it is to us!
David Shneiderov:
I really liked the musical – it is very fresh and relevant, it is absolutely impossible to understand that it is already many years old. The guys sang great. Most of all I liked the guy who performed Trump. Just stunned! And outwardly he looks like my relative Rob Schneider.
Stas Kostyushkin:
Awesome musical! I adore those people who are fighting for art today. Because, unfortunately, one has to fight for art. This musical is very daring, very crazy. Everyone understands, but no one lets art and creativity die, and today’s “CHESS” is an excellent proof of that! I knew about this musical well from the composition One Night in Bangkok. This is the soundtrack of my childhood and the last grades of school. And when the main character in the first act began to hum it, my wife and I immediately recognized her – to goose bumps. And then during the intermission I went to Wikipedia and looked at everything. And in the second act I listened to my favorite song with pleasure!
Alena Khmelnitskaya:
I am a fan of all Broadway Moscow musicals. This is such a colossal and powerful work, wonderful actors, I saw someone for the first time. Alexander Bobrov did not take part in Dmitry Bogachev’s musicals before, and I liked it the most! His role is so negative, but that makes it more interesting. I liked the scenography very much, the scenery. This is really cool!
Roman Kagramanov:
Gorgeous musical, I love it! The scenery is top, the vocals are awesome, the orchestra is a bomb. The action is addictive, it was very interesting what will happen in the end. I would come again to be honest. The play is a bomb!
Maria Tretyakova:
I liked it very much, the wonderful musical is a classic, and a great adaptation to the Soviet era. I really liked the leading actors, and the production is very large-scale. On the one hand, this is such an English-language material. On the other hand, it turned out to be a very patriotic musical. The author of the libretto is Aleksey Ivashchenko, in “CHESS” you can feel his handwriting. Incredible set design, very cool. Just bravo!
Ivan Chuikov:
I really liked the musical! I don’t even know what I liked more about it. Music is ABBA! It is immediately recognizable. The music is great. I really like Anastasia Stotskaya – it’s amazing, but I still haven’t been able to get to musicals with her. She is great!
Anastasia Tarasova:
Awesome musical! Delightful music that captures from the first minutes and does not let go until the end. This is a very real and honest performance not about chess, but above all about us today. There is a problem of choice, a love line, and a question of predestination. The leitmotif is “chess is life”, in which it is important to make your move correctly. Bravo to the artists and everyone involved!
Irina Slutskaya:
The long-awaited premiere from Dmitry Bogachev. Fascinating storyline, brilliant acting, beautiful scenery and incredibly magical music. Taken together, it turned out to be an amazing musical, which is definitely doomed to success with the audience. Congratulations to all those involved with the premiere, I got great pleasure from Chess. Bravo!
Lena Tumanova:
I’m thrilled! I thought what could be done in this thread. How are chess matches usually played? Athletes sit and are silent. It would seem, how can such a plot be taken from this ?! I walked with absolutely no expectations, and I am delighted! It’s so emotional, bright, such cool numbers. And a number with typewriters is a bomb. There are so many elements of contemporary choreography. Everything is so trendy and so tastefully done.
Vladimir Strezhakov:
I have such a divine attitude to the musical for one simple reason – I cannot sing and dance. And when my colleagues do it at the same time, I take off my hat in front of them. Therefore, I visit musicals wherever I am. And ours – even more so. And then my friends play with whom I acted in films, played in the theater. I like watching the ensemble work, listening to music and voices.
GLAVNAYA:
I liked everything very much, the actors were chosen gorgeous, the music was just creepy. It touched the soul very much. The MDM Theater, as always, pleased with the scenery, special effects, selected voices and all this together made an indelible impression – the musical that we all have been waiting for.
Yana Poplavskaya:
The scenography is gorgeous! You have heard the applause on the chronicle! The conductor is bombastic! I like it so much, this musical fills me so much! A stylish, powerful performance and the story is mesmerizing!
Alexandra Kosteniuk:
I have dreamed of seeing this musical for so long and I am very pleased that I managed to do it in Moscow! This musical is a very powerful piece. The tragedy of human lives, betrayal, love, pain of mistakes is played out on the stage. And chess in this piece, oddly enough, does not play a major role at all.
Sergey Karjakin:
Very interesting and dramatic. It was as if I was immersed in the events of those years, I attended the matches Spassky-Fischer, Karpov-Korchnoi. And it really was not just world championship matches, it was a confrontation between countries. And this is shown in the play. And I would like to express my gratitude to the creators of the musical, because this is an excellent popularization of chess, which is very, very important!
Alexander Bobrov (performer of the role of Trump):
Everything that Dmitry Bogachev does is worthy of respect – not everyone is capable of despairing and inventing, building a huge colossus from scratch. And this requires an entrepreneurial and romantic perspective. He has both. And looking at him, you start to believe easier that all this is possible. Musical material is hellish work, an unbearable burden, it was clear even in the first days of casting. When I saw Freddie Trumper’s aria, I listened and realized that I could take with my soul and ligaments. Let them spit on the wall, but I want to participate in this project! The material is so complex that you have to sharpen it every day and find again some points, correcting which, you become a little better.
Anna Guchenkova (performer of the role of Svetlana):
Perhaps this is the most adult and serious musical in my career. And everything inside is grown up. There is no such frivolity and lightness. The story itself is deep and powerful. If we talk about my role – every woman experienced parting, albeit not so globally, but there were disappointments, betrayals. I think every girl will find a part of herself in this.
Alexander Sukhanov (performer of the role of Sergievsky):
For an event of this scale, there is always something to work on, what to improve. Today was worthy! Our team is great. The rehearsals took place after six months of inactivity, and everyone was waiting. Is life like chess? Sure! Chess is a choice that sooner or later faces everyone.
Vladimir Ivanenko, general producer of the “Retro FM” radio station, the main media partner of the musical:
The revival of the musical “Chess” is a very big, long-awaited event and we are very pleased that “Retro FM” has become a partner of this grandiose project. And the point is not only that the authors of the music are the soloists of the cult group ABBA, but one of the main roles was written for Alla Pugacheva herself. It’s just that “Chess” combines in general everything that any spectator will like – an unusual story, a bright performance, sharp plot twists, nostalgia, hit melodies and voices that creep through. For the first time we see the Russian version of the legendary musical from the 80s, banned from showing in the USSR, and somehow it turned out that it looks not only very cool, but also incredibly relevant. Such a premiere was really worth waiting for all these years and decades!