The Golden Fund of Theatrical Productions of Russia
Andrey Petrov’s epic opera «Peter the Great» tells the story of the emperor’s transformative early years, from the Streltsy Uprising to the founding of St. Petersburg. In the 2022 production by the Saratov Theatre (directed by Pavel Sorokin and designed by Sergey Novikov), the central element of the set design was a massive four-part head of Peter, which split and transformed, symbolizing the gathering of the Russian Empire. Novikov also used empty icons to emphasize the clash between the old and the new Russia. This visually impressive performance, with its powerful music by Petrov, is characterized by genuine dramatic intensity.
