Artist SHAMAN
Photo: GLOBAL LOOK PRESS.
On February 6, 2025, the popular producer and composer Igor Matvienko will turn 65. For this occasion, the creator of the bands “Lube”, “Ivanushki International” and “Factory” has prepared a creative surprise. The premiere of the maestro’s ethno-opera “Prince Vladimir” will take place at the State Kremlin Palace.
The main role in the project will be played by the artist SHAMAN: it is he who appears on the posters with the image of Prince Vladimir, who ran to the barber. He will be accompanied by the permanent leader of the Lyube group, Nikolai Rastorguev. In a grey wig and beard, he will play the role of Governor Fedor, who accompanied Vladimir on his campaign against Russia in the 10th century.
The young singer Soya will be reincarnated as the wife of Prince Rogneda. Surprisingly, neither “Ivanushki” nor the girls from “Factory” had a place in the opera. But Igor Igorevich himself will appear on stage in the role of… God! The supreme god of the Scandinavians, Odin, will play Vladimir’s mysterious companion, Gangrad.
“The ethno-opera will immerse you in the atmosphere of ancient Russia, where heroic tales and melodies inspired by folk traditions are intertwined. Legends come to life in the film, and with them the soul of our people,” the project description says.
Igor Matvienko said that he worked on Prince Vladimir for 10 years and a fragment of the opera was shown at the Tavrida.ART festival a year ago. But, as the creators promise, the characters’ appearances will be significantly redesigned for the premiere.
“Dear ones, we celebrate the Day of the Baptism of Rus. And in six months, in early February, our great team led by Igor Matvienko will present a large-scale ethno-opera “Prince Vladimir”, about an event that became the starting point of a thousand years of Russian history,” SHAMAN wrote earlier on his Telegram channel.
