Teodor currentzis with his girlfriend. Aristotle: “Everyone knows that death is inevitable, but since it is not close, no one thinks about it”

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Name: Teodor Currentzis

Zodiac sign: Fish

Age: 46 years old

Place of Birth: Athens, Greece

Activity: conductor, actor

Family status: divorced

Among the great conductors who give the world music, Teodor Currentzis stands out very much. This charming artist attracts the attention of listeners not only with his skillful play, but also creative achievements. Wherever the enviable brunette is, all attention invariably switches only to him, starting from the weaker sex and ending with curious paparazzi.

Theodor Currentzis was born on February 24, 1972 in Athens, the capital of Greece. From birth, Theodore's life was closely intertwined with music. The parents of the future artist, as soon as he was 4 years old, gave their beloved child to music school. There young talent mastered the basics of the game keyboard instruments, and a few years later he learned the mystery of the sound of the violin.

The talented conductor grew up to the sounds of classical music. It is known that mother woke her son all the time in the morning by playing the piano. The parent, who was vice-rector at the Athens Conservatory, instilled in Currentzis a love for the illusory world of sounds. Among other things, the younger brother of the conductor, among other things, connected his life with music, becoming a composer.

At the age of 15, Theodore graduated from the theoretical faculty of the Greek Conservatory, and a year later he completed a course in playing string instruments. Everything in Theodore's hands burned and argued. The instruments liked to be in the hands of a young talent, to which he reciprocated. After the guy graduated from the conservatory, he began vocal lessons.

In 1990 talented musician assembled his personal orchestra playing chamber music. Teodor independently trained and selected the repertoire for the members of the team, which existed for 4 years. After that, the conductor decided that he needed to continue his studies in order to reach new heights.

Few people know, but the Greek, while still in Athens, became interested in music Russian composers and listened to and studied it all the time. Therefore, it is not surprising that in 1994 the conductor arrived in the cultural capital of Russia with a balanced decision to conquer it with his skill and talent. That year, the gifted musician was immediately taken to Ilya Musin's course at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. It is known that during his studies he underwent an internship in the St. Petersburg orchestra of Yuri Temirkanov.

It should be noted that the teachers of Currentzis already then predicted a great future for the child prodigy, speaking about him only in a positive way. In conversations with media representatives, the artist has said many times that everything he has achieved is the merit of his wise mentors. After graduating from the conservatory, the young conductor completely immersed himself in work.

For several years the virtuoso collaborated with Vladimir Spivakov and the national orchestra, with whom he even went on an international tour. Then there was work with the Pyotr Tchaikovsky Orchestra and trip around the world in the countries of America, Bulgaria and beloved Greece. A new round in Currentzis's career was the work of a conductor at the Moscow Theater, in which Theodore played 2 productions of the legendary Giuseppe Verdi.

During his career, Theodore visited a large number of festivals and competitions, and also played a couple of dozens of different world and Russian works.

The Music Aeterna orchestra and the New Siberian Singers chamber choir, founded by Teodor, appeared during the conductor's work in Novosibirsk. These musical associations became popular all over the world, and trips with performances around the cities added several thousand more people to the army of Currentzis's admirers.

With these teams Currentzis in different time performed concert performances of the operas Dido and Aeneas (Henry Purcell), Orpheus and Eurydice (Christoph Gluck), That's what everyone does (Wolfgang Mozart), The Marriage of Figaro (Wolfgang Mozart), Don Giovanni (Wolfgang Mozart) ), "Cinderella" (Gioacchino Rossini).

In January 2011, Teodor was appointed artistic director of the Perm Opera and Ballet Theater named after Pyotr Tchaikovsky. It is known that at that time a certain number of musicians of the Music Aeterna orchestra moved to Perm with him. After that, Theodore staged the opera Iolanta at the Royal Theater in Madrid.

Work in Russia continues to this day. Theodore himself noted many times that he would stay here forever. His attraction to Russian music, folklore is so piercing that he is no longer able to leave the lands that have become his native.

It should be noted that, unlike most stars, the conductor from the world famous name happy to communicate with the press, telling journalists the details of his personal life and plans for the near future.

It is authentically known that Theodore was married. At one time, a young guy fell in love with an elegant ballerina from Mariinsky Theater- Yulia Makhalina. All the media wrote about the romance of these 2 stars then. True, this marriage was not long-term. THEY DIVIDED, and each of the ex-lovers went his own way.

AT this moment the musician is credited with an incredible number of novels, but whether the artist actually has a girlfriend is unknown

In 2017, the great conductor is still traveling the world, performing in different cities With concert program, consisting of songs loved by the audience. At the end of November, the artist will visit the St. Petersburg Philharmonic named after Dmitry Shostakovich, the Moscow Conservatory named after Pyotr Tchaikovsky, as well as the Tonhall Concert Hall (Zurich).

The schedule of performances in December is already scheduled for every day, until the end of the month. Before the New Year, admirers of classical music living in Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Tyumen and Perm will also have the opportunity to hear a concert performance of classical melodies by the Music Aeterna orchestra.

Among other things, from July 20 to August 30, 2018, Currentzis, accompanied by the Perm Opera Orchestra, will perform 9 Beethoven symphonies as part of the Salzburg Festival.

It turned out that the musician is not on Instagram and Twitter. O breaking news From the life of the conductor, admirers will learn on his official website. There, anyone has the opportunity to get acquainted with the schedule of upcoming concerts, as well as materials related to the creative biography of a celebrity.

Discography

• 2017 - "Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6"
• 2016 - "Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto, Op. 35 – Stravinsky: Les Noces»
• 2016 - "Mozart: Don Giovanni"
• 2015 – Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps
• 2014 - "Rameau - The Sound of Light"
• 2014 - "Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro"
• 2014 - "Mozart: Così fan tutte"

Some people are born with an extraordinary gift and talent from above, which subsequently develops a person and makes him famous all over the world. Our hero eventually became a real phenomenon in the world of classical music. Born far beyond the borders of Russia, he came to her, received citizenship and conquered with his talent. From the article you will learn about the personal life of Teodor Currentzis and what provided the young man with such wild success and recognition, as well as the details of the biography hidden behind the curtain of private life.

Biography

Teodor Currentzis is a bright and talented conductor, in his hands the music takes on a new unique shade, and the stick in his palm makes amazing movements that enliven every note of the work. But this is only for big stage, his personality always attracts journalists and the media, wherever he goes, fans and paparazzi follow him. The height of the star is 178 cm. The whole fate is like theatrical action, filled unexpected turns and the cycle of events. Our hero was born far away from Russia, his origin refers to the warm shores of Greece, where great thinkers used to live. To understand how he was able to achieve extraordinary success so soon, let's go back in time.

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Outside the window was 1972, February 24, when the future musician was born, he was born and grew up in the territory ancient city Athens. From the very beginning, his biography has been connected with music. His life, like a composition, gradually develops from notes. The boy was only four years old, and he had already begun to learn the basics of playing the piano, a little later his choice fell on the violin. But none of this would have happened if it were not for his mother, who from birth began to accustom her sons to the cultural world and art. She often took the family to performances. opera singers, and in the morning I woke up with an awakening melody on the piano. So, in the heart of the boy, an unlimited love for classical music was born. Father is a policeman.

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The mother of our hero played excellently on several instruments herself, and subsequently took the post of vice-rector at the Athenian conservatory. Do not forget about his younger brother, he also chose the path of a musician and today is famous composer in Prague. At the age of 15, the young man successfully completed the faculty of theory at the Athens Conservatory, and the following year he successfully completed the direction string instruments. But he did not stop there, the guy went further and began to take professional vocal lessons at the Greek Academy. And in 1990 he collects his first chamber orchestra, with whom he performed as a conductor for four years.

Since early years he was fond of Russian culture and classical composers, the guy constantly listened to their works. There is nothing surprising that he decided to master a new level and become a real professional. In 1994, he moved to St. Petersburg to continue his studies and enrolled under the direction of Musin at the local conservatory.

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In the future, he repeatedly praised his mentor, only he helped create a unique style and achieve success. The teacher helped the young talent to strengthen his role as a conductor. All this time he was diligently studying Russian culture, music, heart suggested that here was his real homeland. Even during the training, our hero undergoes an internship in the orchestra under the direction of Yuri Temirkanov.

Theodore's wife Julia Makhalina

Famous people and musicians are always very popular among journalists and the media, such fame could not pass by our young talent. Everyone was surprised that in such young age he manages an entire orchestra, but most of all fans were interested in the personal life of a foreign performer who hides behind a thick backstage curtain. Theodore does not feel much discomfort due to the increased attention to his person. He is used to sharing information with journalists about future projects, performances and new events, but the details of his private life cannot be extracted from the star. All fans, especially representatives of the opposite sex, are interested in whether he is actually married?

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Even at the beginning of his creative way on the territory of Russia, he fell in love with the famous ballerina of the Mariinsky Theater Yulia Makhalina, she instantly turned the head of the guest of the second capital, and between them flared up bright romance. It was the most beautiful couple in the cultural life of St. Petersburg. The girl at that time was already famous and popular, she helped our hero break into the walk of fame thanks to her acquaintances with privileged people.

So gradually they grew career ladder inseparable duet. But the happiness of young people did not last long, and soon the marriage broke up. They filed for divorce without scandals and trials. Former spouses they did not comment on the reasons for their expense in the media, they only said that they had parted by mutual agreement.

The latest news says that the young man is absolutely free and there are many rumors about him about orientation, someone believes that the star is gay, he is credited with a large number of novels with women, but none of them find confirmation. Only Theodore himself can throw off the veil of secrecy of his life, but when it will be unknown.

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In 2014, our hero received citizenship in Russia. He stated that he had found a second home here and was extremely proud to work here. Theodore always opposes manifestations of censorship and restrictions on art and creative trends, takes an active part in public life countries. His main task now is to overcome the limitations of academicism in music and revive every note in it.

Conductor's creative path

The beginning of his career begins immediately after graduating from the St. Petersburg Conservatory. The guy abruptly merges into the cultural and musical life of Russia, becomes a sought-after conductor. In the initial period, he actively collaborates with the national orchestra of Russia, with which he will then go to big tour overseas to the Americas. After that, as part of a large symphony orchestra, he sets off to conquer his small homeland Greece, Bulgaria and USA.

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The young talent collaborates with the theater in Moscow "Helikon-Opera", where he takes on the revival of several productions by G. Verdi. He constantly participates in prestigious festivals and competitions, his tour includes London, Bangkok, Moscow and Miami. Throughout his creative career, Theodore has turned into reality great amount classical works Russia and Abroad.

In 2009 he becomes a permanent employee Bolshoi Theater, and in 2011 he became a well-known Perm conductor at the local Opera and Ballet Theatre. His bright creative activity was repeatedly nominated for many awards, one of them was the Golden Mask. He is also considered a laureate of the Stroganov Prize. In 2008 he was awarded the Order of Friendship. In 2017, with the MusicAeterna orchestra, he opens the Diaghilev P.S. festival, where Patricia Kopachinskaya performed as a soloist on the violin.

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Under his leadership, concerts are constantly held not only in Russia, but also abroad. So quite recently, on November 25 of this year, there was a real cultural event in St. Petersburg. The orchestra brought to life Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 4 "Magic Horn of a Boy". According to the poster, in a month we will meet him in Moscow on the stage of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory, where he will play works by Rachmaninov, hurry up to buy tickets.

Music pieces played

Throughout his creative career, our hero has revived a huge number of works by Russian classics and foreign representatives. But the brightest works:

• in 2003 he staged the ballet "Kiss of the Fairy" in Novosibirsk;
• followed by participation in the opera "Aida";
• for seven years of work at the Novosibirsk Opera House, the Marriage of Figaro, Don Juan, Cinderella, Orpheus and Eurydice, Romeo and Juliet, Dido and Aeneas, Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District were born ;
• in given time he continues touring and embodies the works of Russian classics in a new light.

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From the article we learned the secret aspects of Theodor Currentzis's personal life. Being born in Greece, his whole life was drawn to Russia, the homeland of the great musicians of classical music. It was the arrival in his new homeland that became decisive in his fate. We wish the musician new ideas and success.

Now - about Teodor Currentzis, what I know and think about him. I first saw him in Musin's class during my years of study at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. He was a handsome black-haired young man. There was nothing more to say about him - at that time, brighter and more interesting guys studied with Musin, such as Tugan Sokhiev (he is now the main one in Toulouse), Daniel Boyko (New York Symphony). There was also Vasya Petrenko, he, however, studied with Martynov, now he is in Liverpool. All of them, the same age as Theodore, confidently made a worthy career where they aspired. "Near" Theodore I happened to see once: a student of our class prof. Sintsev, he accompanied Rachmaninov's Third Concerto, and one day he came to class for a rehearsal. Having "lost" the whole concerto (she played, he waved), Theodore made a thoughtful air; my teacher Leonid Nikolayevich Sintsev turned to Theodore with subtle advice: to conduct the introduction to the second movement more transparently, rather in the spirit of Tchaikovsky, than with thick Rachmaninoff paint. Theodore looked haughtily at our teacher; in his eyes read: "what can you give me?" When Theodore left, saying goodbye coldly, Sintsev asked: who is this boy? Why is he behaving like this?
This was my first personal impression of Teodor Currentzis. Then it became known that he married the ballerina Yulia Makhalina, who had great connections in the musical and theatrical world of St. Petersburg. The marriage was short-lived.
Another episode is connected with Yuri Temirkanov. Somewhere abroad Temirkanov was told about "his assistant" Teodor Currentzis. Temirkanov could not remember who it was. He doesn't really have any assistants. then he was prompted: remember, someone asked for this young man, and you allowed: "Let him sit in the choirs." For some reason, this fact later turned into a story about Theodore's work with Temirkanov. In general, the attitude towards him in St. Petersburg was somewhat frivolous due to various circumstances.
Due to the constant mention of his name in last years I somehow came across his website. Its content surprised me greatly. Here, take a look, it's autobiographical http://www.teodorcurrentzis.com/biography1.php
How can a person of sound mind and sober memory of himself write such a thing? How can you take it seriously?
What does all this mean, coupled with the ecstatic delight in front of his "genius" on the part of enlightened Moscow criticism? Can not understand. But everything I know about him makes it impossible to take this figure seriously. Everyone builds a career as they can. Currentzis went his own way. His path lies in the same place where his more talented peers have long established themselves, that is, in good Western orchestras. it is possible that through vigorous activity in Russia, Currentzis will make some name for himself and get a place somewhere to leave and not remember all these Novosibirsk-Perm.
And then what will everyone say? What will become of these gigantic projects?

(whispering) I think it's all one big wiring. I don't eat it

The bright and unusual conductor Teodor Currentzis attracts the attention of the audience and the press not only with his creative finds, but also with the unusualness of his personality. Wherever he appears, the attention of the public and journalists is guaranteed to him. He also builds his life according to the laws of the theater - dynamically, with unexpected turns and extravagant actions.

Greek childhood

Teodor Currentzis acquired a profession in Greece. His biography will be connected with music from the very beginning. From the age of four, the child learned to play the piano, later he went to violin lessons. Everyone in his family loved music, his mother early age took him to the opera and he grew up listening to classical music, his mother started every morning by playing the piano. A big role in choosing a future occupation in life was played by my mother, who herself professionally played several musical instruments and subsequently became vice-rector of the Athens Conservatory. Younger brother Teodora also became a musician, he writes music and lives in Prague.

We can say that Teodor Currentzis is a child prodigy, at the age of 15 he already graduated from the theoretical faculty of the Athens Conservatory, and a year later - the faculty of string instruments. After that, he began to take vocal lessons at the Greek Conservatory. In 1990 he created his first chamber orchestra, which he conducted for four years. By this time, Teodor Currentzis realized that he needed to enter a new professional level and decided to continue studying.

Study in St. Petersburg

In 1994, Teodor Currentzis arrived in St. Petersburg and entered the class of Ilya Musin at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. The conductor always speaks of Musina with a special intonation, he claims that everything he has achieved to date is the merit of the teacher. He shaped the musician as a person and as a conductor. Theodore was very interested in Russian music, read a lot, listened, researched and dreamed of working in Russia. Even during his studies, he managed to undergo an internship in an orchestra under the direction of he also participates in the work of the leading orchestras of St. Petersburg: the Mariinsky Theater, the Philharmonic, the Symphony Orchestra. This experience was a high start for the new conductor.

creative path

After graduating from the conservatory, Teodor Currentzis actively joins the musical life of Russia. He collaborates with Vladimir Spivakov's Moscow Virtuosos, with whom he participates in a big tour of the United States, with the Bolshoi symphony orchestra them. P.I. Tchaikovsky, with the orchestra. With teams from Greece, USA, Bulgaria.

Teodor Currentzis cooperates a lot and fruitfully with the Moscow theater "Helikon-Opera", in which he conducts two productions by G. Verdi.

The history of participation of Teodor Currentzis in various festivals is also rich. They conquered Moscow, Colmar, Bangkok, London, Miami.

For 20 years of his creative activity Teodor Currentzis has played more than 30 of the world's greatest orchestras with various orchestras musical works, among which there is a lot of music by Russian classics, works of the Baroque and Renaissance periods, as well as works by contemporary authors.

Since 2009 he has been a permanent guest conductor of the Bolshoi Theatre.

Since 2011, Teodor Currentzis has become the chief conductor of the ballet.

Music of Siberia

In 2003, Teodor Currentzis was invited to Novosibirsk, where he staged the ballet The Fairy's Kiss by I. Stravinsky, then the opera Aida in collaboration with D. Chernyakov, this performance became a notable event not only in the Siberian musical life, but throughout Russian stage. Since 2004, Teodor Currentzis has been the chief conductor of the ballet. For seven years of cooperation with the theater, he directs concert performances of such works as Le nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, F.A. Mozart, "Dido and Aeneas" by G. Purcell, "Cinderella" by G. Rossinni, "Orpheus and Eurydice" by K.V. Gluck. Works as a conductor in opera productions of The Marriage of Figaro and Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District.

During this period, as part of his interest in the authentic performance of musical works, Teodor Currentzis created the Musica Aeterna Ensemble, specializing in the historical performance of music, and the New Siberian Singers Chamber Choir, which gained wide popularity in Russia and abroad.

Achievements and awards

The bright life of the conductor Teodor Currentzis has repeatedly been decorated with well-deserved awards. So, he received five times " golden mask", is a laureate of the Stroganov Prize. His works have repeatedly received awards and prizes at music festivals around the world.

In 2008 he was awarded the Order of Friendship.

Teodor Currentzis: personal life and family

Bright and famous people always interested in people and the media. Teodor Currentzis, whose personal life is under scrutiny, is no exception. The conductor, however, does not feel uncomfortable and often communicates with the press with pleasure, talking about his creative plans and his views on music. But the question of whether Teodor Currentzis is married or not always remains unanswered. Although many ladies are waiting for him with spiritual awe, because the musician embodies the ideals of many women: rich, famous, handsome. So is Teodor Currentzis free? He had a wife, and this is reliably known. Even at the dawn of his life in Russia, he was conquered by a ballerina of the Mariinsky Theater. Teodor Currentzis + Yulia Makhalina - the duet has become a noticeable phenomenon in the cultural life of St. Petersburg.

The ballerina spent a lot of effort on promoting her husband up the career ladder, he owes her many high acquaintances that were useful to him in the future. By the time she met the conductor, Yulia was already a star, she was actively promoted by the choreographer O.M. Vinogradov, and she could say a word in support of the beginning musician. The marriage was short-lived. Is Teodor Currentzis married today? Personal for him is taboo subject, although rumor ascribes to him many novels.

civil position

The conductor leads an active creative life, but at the same time his private life is full of events. In 2014, he became a Russian citizen, claiming to have found a second home here. Conductor Teodor Currentzis, whose personal life is now connected with Russia, is actively involved in the musical and social life of the country, so he was one of those who supported the dismissed director of the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater. He always stands for the freedom of artistic expression of the artist and is an active fighter against censorship and restrictions.

In his free time, Teodor Currentzis reads a lot, listens to recordings of outstanding orchestras and a lot of non-classical music, but says that he has completely stopped going to concerts - this hinders his inner search. He believes that today music has become too academic and this prevents young people from perceiving it, so his goal is to bring it closer to the listener, removing the barriers of academicism. He dreams of a revolution in music and does everything to keep it alive.

Theodor Currentzis. Photo: Charis Akriviadis/EPA/Scanpix/LETA.

On October 23, Teodor Currentzis, a superstar conductor of Greek origin, will perform with his orchestra MusicAeterna at the Latvian National Opera. Russian place residence and global scale.

Where does Europe begin? This geographically incorrect question will be answered without hesitation in the largest of the easternmost cities in our part of the world - in the Urals Perm. “Perm is the first city in Europe!” - such a flattering thesis for the townspeople gave rise to its place on the map. True, this place can be described in the opposite way: they say, Europe ends in Perm. However, in the last half dozen years, the supporters of the first point of view have an unkillable trump card. This is the name of the most famous Permian in the world and one of the most famous in the world. contemporary music Russians. Greek, born in Athens. Conductor, musician, cultural trader, frantic experimenter Teodor Currentzis.

true caliber

Recently, Robert Wilson, the famous American theater director said: "New York - country town because they don’t know anything about Perm.” In fact, in this phrase there are more reasons for the patriotic pride of Russians than in all the reports from Moscow military parades, as well as reports on the launch of Kalibr missiles, taken together. But the merit is that the Americans Wilson and Peter Sellars, the Italian Romeo Castellucci, the Austrian Markus Hinterhäuser and other theater giants are now well aware of Perm, that Moscow snobs and millionaires are pouring into the gloomy industrial-prison-taiga Prikamye for the premiere of performances , belongs to one person. To the artistic director of the Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre, who lives in a village house an hour's drive from the city, but at the same time constantly moves somewhere between Vienna, Salzburg and other musical capitals of the planet. An undoubted and sincere Russian patriot, who still speaks Russian with a rather strong accent.

The case of Currentzis says a lot about the role of the individual not even in history, but in geography. “Very fun when you fly to conduct Vienna Opera from Perm, not from Paris, ”he remarks in an interview, not without panache. The frenzied activity of the maestro eliminates geographic distances and familiar cultural hierarchies. At the time of his work at the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater (currentzis was its main director in the 2000s), he thundered with Verdi's Macbeth: Moscow director Dmitry Chernyakov staged the opera, the Paris National Opera actively participated in the project, and artists from the most different cities and countries. Currentzis called the Moscow composer Dmitry Kurlyandsky, the Greek director Theodoros Terzopoulos to Perm to stage the opera Nosferatu, and the British observer said about the result: “Even in London you rarely see such a bold and radical performance both in music and in staging.” I was no less impressed by the boldness and radicalism of the staging in Perm of what seems to be a textbook "La Traviata" (it was directed by Robert Wilson) - in the work on which Danes, Austrians, and Luxembourgers also participated.

And that's just selected examples from the infinite track record Currentzis, about whom the aforementioned Markus Hinterhäuser, intendant of the most prestigious Salzburg Festival, said simply (about the conductor and his orchestra): “On this moment there is nothing better in the world."

“I conquer the capitals of the world from my village,” states Theodore. - And you tell me which of the Moscow orchestras performs at the Salzburg Festival? No one will offer a Russian orchestra to play Mozart in Salzburg and Mahler in Vienna or Provence. And that's exactly what we're doing."

Press photo.

His arrogance is understandable and deserved: this summer, Currentzis and his Perm orchestra and the MusicAeterna choir (in the orchestra, however, musicians from different countries) opened the opera program of the Salzburg Festival with The Mercy of Titus directed by the American director Peter Sellars. Salzburg - almost the main music Festival in the world, and "Mercy" is one of two latest operas the local genius of Mozart's place. The work of the 18th century in the Permian-American interpretation turned into a statement on acutely topical contemporary themes(for example, the theme of refugees), and even underwent actual musical changes. Journalists wrote: showing this in Mozart’s homeland is like going to a restaurant with centuries old traditions In the center of Vienna, a Russian chef came and said, "Now I'll show you how to cook schnitzel." However, the production was a resounding success.

This year, Currentzis held the traditional Perm Diaghilev Festival (Teodor is its artistic director), signed a contract with the famous German SWR Orchestra (from the 2018/19 season he will be its chief conductor), and a concert at the Latvian National Opera, which will be held as part of "Baltic Musical Seasons", his joint tour with pianist Alexander Melnikov will begin in Europe.

Orchestral and flying cymbals

In 2017, the name of Currentzis is constantly heard in the media - but it has been heard in them (at least in Russian ones) more or less constantly for many years. This is facilitated by the director's amazing performance, and his tireless innovation (often provocative), and, of course, his very figure: extravagant, imposing, highly attractive to journalists and the public.

The conductor is generally a public profession, and Currentzis behaves no less artistically in front of cameras and voice recorders than his fellow theatergoers from the acting department. A 45-year-old tall brunette with an unusual appearance for Russia and with a piquant accent, he participates in glamorous photo shoots, releases a perfume of his own name, and willingly gives interviews to various publications, including glossy ones. They call Theodore the "black prince" and mention his reputation as a heartthrob. Eventually Russian Google immediately strives to complete the request like this: “Teodor Currentzis, wife” - the girls, therefore, are interested and, perhaps, count on something.

Brightness, catchiness, showiness are characteristic of everything the conductor does. Whether it's the avant-garde La Traviata, concerts where listeners can lie on the floor and receive programs at the exit, Currentzis's manner of conducting or his own manner of dressing. “Now he is wearing a strict black jacket, but the stage image of the maestro is usually very theatrical and thought out to the smallest detail,” writes Russian Vogue. - Clothes - only black or white. Legs are pulled into almost ballet leggings and boots with lacing, a shirt with wide sleeves and cuffs a la Don Juan. With hair, too, something intriguing.

In articles about the maestro, the adjectives “mysterious”, “mystical”, even “alien” flicker. Which, in general, is natural - since we are talking about a resident of the Urals, the Russian metropolis of mysticism and ufology. Old-timers, like me, should remember the cycle of reports "M-sky Triangle", which once glorified the Riga newspaper "Soviet Youth" throughout the Union. It was about contacts with aliens, behind the mysterious letter “M” there was hiding the village of Molebka of the then Perm Region - to this day it claims to be the mecca of ufonauts and ufomans.

One may not believe in specific Ural miracles, but one cannot but admit that the Urals are a wonderland. The writer Olga Slavnikova, a native of Sverdlovsk, sang a special Ural (“Riphean”, as it is called in the novel “2017”) type: a passionary, an idealist, an eccentric, a contactee with extraterrestrial and otherworldly entities. “The thinking of a true Riphean is fantastic thinking,” she says. The one who maximally corresponds to the spirit of this earth, who breaks away as far as possible from the Earth in general, from solid ground, flat reality. Born in hot yellow Attica, having lived for twenty-two years on the shores of the Aegean Sea, the Greek Currentzis, according to this definition, is one hundred percent Riphean, Uralian.

Idealist and ascetic, caught even in the messianic. Mystic giving journalists business cards with the inscription Dreamer of dreams ("Dreamer of dreams" in his own translation) and explaining: “That real life in which we live is in harmony with the world of dreams. A hoaxer who can casually tell an interviewer that he sometimes looks into the past.

“I called Brahms yesterday, and he told me how to perform it,” the conductor drops in a dispute with fellow musicians. This is, of course, a joke. But it is unlikely that Currentzis is ironic, explaining his own “superpower” as follows: “My intuition is close to mysticism - that which connects us with another world.”

Speaking of music, he often resorts to metaphors from the field of magic and alchemy. The word "alien" in the mouth of Theodore is a high praise for the performer and composer. So he calls Stravinsky, whom he considers " the greatest artist 20th century" for musical radicalism, the ability to go against established rules. “Stravinsky was kind of like an alien,” Currentzis says. “But this is the real voice of Russia.” Exactly the same can be said about him.

Hundred-ruble opera

Look into the past, break the usual rules: for Currentzis himself, both are something like a creed. On the one hand, he is known as an innovator, even a provocateur, an adherent of music and theater of the future, on the other hand, as a kind of reenactor trying to reproduce old works in the form in which they were once conceived and sounded. After all, centuries ago, the instruments were different, the music sounded differently, the opera scenery and costumes looked different - hence the legendary performance of Mozart on violins with gut strings and other historical meticulousness of Currentzis, which seems no less a radical gesture than the performance of cutting-edge avant-garde works.

“Informal from classical art”, as it is called, Currentzis is closely within the traditional framework and boundaries, he tries at least to go beyond them, at the maximum - to erase them. For example, to erase the border between the scene and auditorium, which the conductor explicitly calls his goal. The Laboratory of the Modern Spectator operates at his Perm theater, introducing the audience to the working process of musicians. These are lectures, master classes, rehearsals, to which outsiders are allowed. “Only by seeing and hearing all the stages of work on a work, one can understand what the composer has invested in it,” says Currentzis. - In general, my goal is to erase the boundary between the stage and the hall. I want to create the feeling that we are all together, the orchestra and the audience, making music.”

Consistent democratism in celebrities is as infrequent as it is attractive. Adhering to leftist convictions in his Greek youth, going to demonstrations, Currentzis even now, not without pride, albeit ironically, calls his Perm theater "absolutely communist." In the Russian capitals, Theodore's concerts are famous for sky-high ticket prices - but he himself complains that he has no power over pricing in the touring process, and claims that in Perm you can listen to him for 100 rubles. At the current exchange rate, one and a half euros.

By the way, he rarely performs in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Having worked in Siberia and the Urals for a decade and a half, he is generally a convinced patriot of the province. In it, according to the conductor, money and status considerations weigh much less on the performers, in it the musical policy is more flexible and not so crushed by tradition.
However, it is impossible not to pay attention to the disadvantages of Russian provincial life even as Currentzis. Famous all over the world thanks to him Perm theater has almost the smallest stage of all opera houses Russia. “Musicians rehearse in gyms, ballet does not fit on the stage, and the roof is blown away by the wind,” is how Currentzis describes preparations for premieres that delight Western theatergoers and Moscow oligarchs. By 2020, local authorities promise to build the Perm Opera new scene- and the conductor is forced to reinforce the agreements with them with threats to leave Perm if the promise is not fulfilled.

Theater of the Permian period

However, it all started for Currentzis just in the capitals. In the capital of Greece, where he was born in 1972, he entered the Greek Conservatory, graduated from its musicological faculty and the faculty of stringed instruments. AT northern capital Russia, where he came in the first half of the 1990s to study with the legendary teacher Ilya Musin. “Petersburg educator of conductors, he seems to have taught everyone, including the current leaders of the Mariinsky and the Bolshoi,” they write about Musin; and if there is something that unites such dissimilar Russian stars, like Gergiev and Currentzis, then this is studying with Ilya Alexandrovich.

In the 2000s, Teodor managed to work in Moscow with the orchestras of Mikhail Pletnev, Vladimir Spivakov, with the Bolshoi Theater - but since 2003, the name Currentzis begins to sound in connection with loud, even sensational premieres in distant Novosibirsk. In the same place, in 2004, the MusicaAeterna orchestra appeared, which the conductor now calls “special forces” (“This is a team of outstanding musicians who gather to transform music system. The power and passion of the performance they give is something amazing. They are like special forces in this).

Currentzis ended up in Perm in 2011. Under the then young, ambitious governor Oleg Chirkunov, they tried to turn the scary industrial city into the cultural capital of Russia - including through the efforts of invited enthusiasts. Little came of this. Moscow gallerist Marat Gelman became a personal enemy of the Permian patriots and was eventually fired from his post as director of the Museum of Modern Art he had created. Chirkunov was also soon put out with public service. And only Curentzis, appointed at that time as the artistic director of the Perm Opera House, is still in his post.

To understand how a single extravagant Greek influenced the reputation of the harsh Ural millionaire, we can compare two passages. Here's what he said about his hometown and the area where he lived, the Permian writer (and a great patriot of the Urals!) Alexei Ivanov, author of The Heart of Parma and Tobol: “In the evening you can’t walk here alone at all. Not long ago, by the side of the path I walk down when I'm plotting, a gas station guard and a girl operator were shot dead at night at a gas station for thirty thousand in proceeds. Not far from the house of my student, they dug up the corpse of his classmate. By the way, at the local school where I worked, a gang of schoolchildren was identified, which accounted for eleven murders. If I take a collective photo of the students who went to my local history circle, a third can be safely crossed out: he hanged himself, they killed him, they sat down ... "

And here is what he wrote less than a year back moscow glossy magazine: “Now the most demanding audience from all over Russia and the real figures of world art flock to the Diaghilev Festival in Perm. Theatrical legends walk the streets of Perm: directors Peter Sellars and Bob Wilson. In the dumpling shop one could meet the radical performance artist Romeo Castellucci. And for a bowl of soup in the Ural Hotel - the intendant of the Vienna and Salzburg festivals Markus Hinterhäuser.

The Perm festival bears the name of Diaghilev not by chance - the organizer of the Russian Seasons, who grew up on the Kama, stunned Paris, until recently was the main symbol of the involvement of the Ural province in the big cultural world. True, Pyotr Vail, having visited Perm, wrote that Diaghilev "left it into the world and will never return." But - turned out to be wrong. Diaghilev is back, at least with the most popular festival of his name; moreover, the world itself came to provincial Perm.

True, the person who made this happen, received Russian citizenship only many years after the application was submitted (although by the time of the application he was already a world celebrity). It cannot be compared with the speed with which Depardieu and Segal were recognized by the Russians - for nothing that for those it was pure clownery, and Currentzis for decades raised (and how successfully!) The international prestige of Russian culture.

When this Greek speaks of his Russian patriotism, you suddenly realize how rare a case is in front of you in modern times - a declaration not of loyalty to the authorities, not of belonging to an aggressive majority, but of real idealism: “Perhaps I am overly romantic, but I really believe that Russia is a country that was created to make people dream, to set new tasks for the future. After all, reality does not exist apart from us, it is formed, among other things, from our participation. I believe that Russia can still give a lot to humanity.”

By the way, for all his undoubted romanticism, Currentzis is by no means an overworld dreamer. He has a civil temperament, which he proved by writing open letter in support of Boris Mezdrich, director of the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater (he was fired after loud scandal with the opera Tannhäuser, which was considered insufficiently moral by the local Orthodox community).

There, the conductor writes among other things: “Show me the state of cultural life in your country, and I will tell you what the future holds for you.” At a time when Tannhauser is banned, Nureyev is canceled, Matilda is being burned, these words are hardly optimistic. But the fact that at the same time in the same country works and uses incredible success Currentzis, allows you to believe that not everything is hopeless.