This production, directed by Maxim Didenko, music composed by Ivan Kushnir, is grounded on a metaphorical square basement, with four major underlying cultural streams: Hebrew music and rituals, military marches, Ukrainian folk music, catholic choral music. "Red Cavalry" is a ballet-oratorio, an amalgam of electronic sound, vocal ensembles, revived pictures and drama episodes. The performance is based on a story cycle by Isaac Babel, with Russian Civil War as its cementing topic. The "red flow" of First Cavalry Army under the command of Semyon Budyonny is marching towards Warsaw through Ukrainian and Polish territories. What is revolution and war in the core? The world and surrounding we are accustomed to is devastated, the values of generations fail and fade, all that seemed firm and solid perishes at the face of civil revolt.
Dmitry Brusnikin, since 1982 – a member of Moscow Art Theatre company, right after graduating Studio School of Moscow Academic Art Theatre, course of Oleg Efremov; theatre pedagogue, professor, performer, director, script writer. Awarded a title ‘Honored Artist of Russia’ and ‘Honorary Arts Worker of Russia’.
Premiered on October 3, 2014 at The Meyerhold Theatre Centre (Moscow)
Media about the
Workshop of D. Brusnikin ranks as high in theatrical Moscow, as previously were Pyotr Fomenko Workshop Theatre, The Theatre Art Studio of Sergey Zhenovach and Studio Seven by Kirill Serebrennikov. It is a rare occasion when a theatrical course continues as a studio. Every time it happens, new troupe is in the limelight. Throughout last seasons it happened with Studio School of D. Brusnikin, formed of his Studio School of Moscow Academic Art Theatre graduates. They ripened into a mature troupe, capable to challenge whatever scenic experiment
Elena Smorodinova
It takes only few minutes to shatter the biblical harmony, so that not only people, but chairs and tables are forced into a float of dance. An invisible power suddenly mixed and twisted bodies and objects, sent them (and spectators) to a long journey. Together with artist Pavel Semchenko, composer Ivan Kushnir and a team of choreographers, director Maxim Didenko, who is also a librettist, set ‘Red Cavalry’ as a musical and choreographic drama. It reminds of various theatrical styles of the bygone years, from theatrical experiment of the revolutionary years to most recent student projects like “visualized songs”. This production restores our comprehension of theatrical performance as a joint action of artistic “bulk”, not only as an interaction between individuals. This “bulk” is hugely able to switch its physical shape quickly and pleasingly.
Roman Dolzhansky