Date: 06.06.2019
Opening the meeting, the Director of the Russian State Art Library (RSAL) Ada Kolganova reminded the audience that not only is Alexander Titel a People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, the Artistic Director of the Opera of the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre, laureate of the Golden Mask theatre award Casta Diva, but is also a long-time reader and member of the Board of Trustees of RSAL.
Alexander Titel admitted that in childhood he had dreamed of becoming either an archeologist or a librarian. However, after becoming a Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS) Opera Director of the Sverdlovsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre and preparing for new productions, he came specially to Moscow, to RSAL, then the Theatrical Library. To this day, despite the great amount of information that can be found on the Internet, he strives to use the original sources, enjoying the pleasure of physical books. In 1991, Titel became the Artistic Director and Chief Director of the Opera Troupe of the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre.
At the meeting, Alexander Titel talked about how the theatre is celebrating its 100th anniversary in the 2018-2019 season with the resumption of Sergei Prokofiev’s production of War and Peace, with the involvement of 500 people; the world premiere of Alexander Vustin’s opera The Devil in Love; and the Russian premiere of Thomas Morse’s opera Frau Schindler.
At the end of May, a new production of Othello by Giuseppe Verdi will be held, directed by Andrei Konchalovsky. Titel’s plans include the production of Carl Maria von Weber's romantic opera The Marksman. He is continuing work on a book, which he promised to present to RSAL’s readers.
Alexander Titel answered numerous questions from the audience. Theatre fans are especially grateful for the conducting of the educational Studio Theatre project with excursions, open rehearsals, lectures, and meetings. Titel gladly accepted the gift of new books published by RSAL.
