St. Petersburg to Present the Future Opera Trezzini

On April 24, a closed presentation of a large-scale musical project—the opera Trezzini—will take place in St. Petersburg. This will not merely be an announcement, but the inaugural evening of the Trezzini Artistic Salon, where selected fragments of the future production will be presented for the first time.

The opera is dedicated to Domenico Trezzini, the first architect of St. Petersburg and the creator of the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the Twelve Collegia building, and other landmarks of Petrine Baroque. The plot connects two eras: a contemporary figure, a young Chinese architect Li Wei, arrives in St. Petersburg to receive an architectural award named after Trezzini, but is mysteriously transported to 1724, where he meets the architect himself.

The musical concept is intentionally hybrid: Baroque idioms intersect with contemporary minimalism and electronic textures, while linguistic polyphony reflects the city’s international character—the opera will feature Russian, Italian, German, and Chinese.

The evening’s program on April 24 includes an introduction to the creators: composer Ekaterina Ivanova-Blinova and librettist Pavel Chernyakov. It will also feature the first staged reading of the synopsis and the premiere performance of the opening arias, performed by Mariinsky Theatre soloist Boris Stepanov and guest soloist of the Shostakovich Philharmonia, Katerina Kovanzhi. Guests will also see an exhibition of costume sketches for the opera’s characters, created by students of the Higher School of Art and Technology (VKhUTEIN).

During the same evening, a Public Council for the production will be established, bringing together cultural figures and prospective project partners. The creators are seeking collaborators: theatres interested in staging the work, as well as directors, producers, and patrons willing to support the development of a new musical work.

The organizers are keeping the exact venue confidential: the address and time will be disclosed only to invited guests and partners.