Opera

Australian Premiere

The Golden Cockerel

by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov / Directed by Barrie Kosky

FRANCE & AUSTRALIA

Fall in love with this richly melodic, kaleidoscopic work, seemingly tailor-designed for Kosky's inimitable aesthetic. This dreamscape production, rapturously received in France, is an Australian premiere you'll never forget.

Barrie Kosky is our most celebrated international opera director. After providing two dazzling Adelaide Festival operatic centrepieces in recent years, Saul in 2017 and The Magic Flute in 2019, audiences have hoped for a trifecta. Adored for the startling vision he brings to familiar classics, in 2022 he’s back with a work never before seen in Australia.

Dark wit spiced with surreal burlesque. Classic Kosky… A triumphant evening
Bachtrack

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov is Russia’s answer to Wagner and The Golden Cockerel, the summation of his craft, was conceived over the terrifying din of the 1905 revolution. Half surreal fairy-tale, half political satire, it fell foul of Tsarist censors and poor Nikolai died with the voluptuous score of his imagination unheard. Premiering in 1909, it has become a key work of European operatic repertoire.

If you’re transported by Scheherazade, or Flight of the Bumble Bee, you’ll fall in love with this richly melodic, kaleidoscopic work, seemingly tailor-made for Kosky’s inimitable aesthetic.

You wish it would never end… The Golden Cockerel is certainly the Rimsky-Korsakov masterpiece.
Opera Today

In its impossibly demanding roles for bass, lyric coloratura soprano and stratospheric tenor you will hear the three operatic Olympians who have defined them in recent years: British-Ukrainian Pavlo Hunka, and Russian stars Venera Gimadieva and Andrei Popov. Their voices will spine-chillingly soar over the magnificent Adelaide Symphony Orchestra re-united with their former Music Director, Arvo Volmer.

Kosky’s extraordinary dreamscape of a production has already been rapturously received in France. Grab this exclusive opportunity and be among the first Australians to experience this masterwork. You’ll never forget it.

Credits

A co-production with Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Adelaide Festival, Opéra National de Lyon and Komische Oper Berlin in association with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

Composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Libretto Vladimir I. Bielski
Based on the tale in verse by Alexander Pushkin

CAST

Tsar Dodon Pavlo Hunka
Queen of Chemakha Venera Gimadieva
Astrologer Andrei Popov
Tsarevich Aphron Samuel Dundas
Tsarevich Gvidon Nicholas Jones
Polkan Mischa Schelomianski
Amelfa Alexandra Durseneva
Golden Cockerel's Voice Samantha Clarke
On-Stage Cockerel Matthew Whittet

Dancers Sam Hall, Chris Mills, Rowan Rossi, Loci Walmsley

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra & Adelaide Festival Chorus

See the daybill for full credits.

Production

Conductor Arvo Volmer
Director Barrie Kosky
Associate Director Denni Sayers
Assistant Director Eugene Lynch
Stage Designer Rufus Didwiszus
Costume Designer Victoria Behr
Lighting Designer Franck Evin
Choreographer Otto Pichler
Assistant Costume Designer Nathalie Pallandre
Assistant Choreographer Joseph Gebrael
Makeup & Wigs Assistant Marie Jardine
Assistant Lighting Designer Laurent Quain
Technical Director Fred Amiel
Head of Stage Mado Cogne
Language Coach Maria Timofeeva
Russian Translator Nadejda Levings

For Adelaide Festival
Producer Tess Appleby (until Dec 2021)
Producer Janelle McKenzie (from Jan 2022)
Program Assistant Amanda Ashley
Production Manager David McLean
Stage Manager Jess Nash
Assistant Stage Managers Emily Barraclough, Jess Wolfendale
AC Arts Secondment Dylan McBurney
Head of Wardrobe Kathleen Szabo
Fittings, Alterations and Maintenance Ashleigh Thomas
Costume Cutters / Maintenance Enken Hagge, Martine Micklem
Dressers Nadejda Levings, Sally-Jayne Chapman, Anna Perry, Nick de-Rohan, Kent Green, David Adams, Wendy Todd, Chris Rektsinis

Head of Wigs and Make Up Jana DeBiasi
Wigs and Make Up Matthew Ping, Teresa Scriva, Beverly Freeman, Dina Giaccio, Natasha Stone, Danielle Veltmyer, Charlotte Wilson, Kat-Arena Lean, Natasha Keneally, Jennifer Rossiter, Megan O’Mahoney, Sam Dawe, Marie-lyn Morant, Sharon Hage, Dominique Keeley
Head of Props Ashley Ng
Surtitles Catriona Herriott

Adelaide Festival would like to give special thanks to:
Theatre Safe Australia
State Theatre Company South Australia

The presentation of The Golden Cockerel has been made possible by the Adelaide Festival Chairman's Circle, the Adelaide Festival Opera Donor Circle (Leading Patrons Peter McKee and Pamela McKee), MM Electrical and Foundation Adelaide Festival.

Partners

Buy tickets

Youth & Education

Subsidised tickets are available for disadvantaged schools.

WHEN

Fri 04 Mar, 7:00pm
Sun 06 Mar, 5:00pm
Tue 08 Mar, 6:00pm
Wed 09 Mar, 6:00pm

WHERE

Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
King William Street

TICKETS

Adult
Premium $319, A Reserve $249, B Reserve $199, C Reserve $149
Festival Friends
Premium $271, A Reserve $212, B Reserve $169, C Reserve $127
Concession (Pensioner, Health Care Card holder, MEAA member)
A Reserve $199, B Reserve $159, C Reserve $120
Under 30 years old (ID required)
B Reserve $100, C Reserve $75
Full time Student (ID required)
B Reserve $90, C Reserve $65
D Reserve (only available from 28-Sep)
$69

Bookings attract an $8.95 transaction fee.

DURATION

2hrs, no interval

NOTE

Performed in Russian with English surtitles.

COVID MANAGEMENT

Please note Adelaide Festival’s COVID-19 Management Policy requires all patrons to be double vaccinated.

Patrons will be required to wear masks for the duration of the show.

This event is currently being sold at 75% capacity.

READ THE DAYBILL

ACCESS

Wheelchair accessible
For access seating info for this show, please call Ticketek on 131 246.
Hearing loop available
To secure access to a hearing loop pack, please call Ticketek on 131 246.
Fully surtitled or minimal dialogue

Youth & Education

Subsidised tickets are available for disadvantaged schools.

The Golden Cockerel

Event actions

Fall in love with this richly melodic, kaleidoscopic work, seemingly tailor-designed for Kosky's inimitable aesthetic. This dreamscape production, rapturously received in France, is an Australian premiere you'll never forget.