In the early 80s, the play "Juno and Avos" was staged on the Soviet stage . This was an experiment for that time, but the work became unusually popular. And they still haven’t determined: what genre does Juno and Avos belong to? Then words such as "rock" or "musical" were forbidden, so the creators defined the genre as a modern opera. Then she began to be called a rock opera. But many experts believe that this work can be attributed to the musical genre.
Full house! Full house!
Question: "What genre does Juno and Avos belong to?" not resolved so far. At first, the performance was staged as an experiment, but it became a sensation that quickly gained popularity all over the world. Perhaps this was due to the famous names of authors and directors. The poem by Andrei Voznesensky served as the basis for the libretto for the opera. And the music was written by composer Alexei Rybnikov based on Orthodox chants.
On the basis of such material, director Mark Zakharov staged the play "Juno and Avos." The rock opera was so unusual for the Soviet scene, and was so overwhelming success that the hall at the premiere applauded standing. For 30 years, the performance withstood about two thousand productions with the same full house.
The plot of the opera "Juno and Avos"
The poem by Andrei Voznesensky is based on the real love story of Count Nikolai Rezanov and the daughter of
California Governor Conchita. Rezanov was in America with a diplomatic mission. The lovers decided to get married. But, in order to get permission to marry a Catholic, Rezanov was forced to return to Petersburg. And on the way home, he fell ill and died. Conchita had been waiting for him for 35 years, and then went to the monastery and was engaged in charity work.
The poem is deeply lyrical, no one can remain indifferent during the scene of the farewell of lovers. The words of the famous romance "I will never see you, I will never forget you ..." are still heard in many hearts. But in addition, it embodies a rebellious Russian character, seeking the meaning of life and loving his homeland.
Why rock opera?
Most often, the question about which genre Juno and Avos belongs to is answered: to a rock opera. This is connected not only with the dramatic plot of the work. The original production turned A. Voznesensky's poem into a mystery with an emphasis on music and vocals. To understand the meaning of the performance, choreographic numbers are also very important. The composer managed to write a modern work in the genre of rock. This was an innovation not only for the Soviet scene. This rock opera quickly gained popularity abroad.
Everything in the poem was unusual, starting with the plot. The audience also enthusiastically accepted music based on religious songs, Orthodox prayers and the image of the Mother of God with a baby. This is probably why, when answering the question “What genre does Juno and Avos belong to,” most critics believe that this is not a musical, but a rock opera. After all, the musical is an entertaining, light work, and this performance, like A. Ascension, filled with deep content, drama and the search for the meaning of life.
Finally, we note that the performance is very loved by the audience, and most often they are not interested in its genre. "Juno and Avos" collects constant notices when staged on stage and is very popular in the form of a feature film. This unusual work and now attracts the attention of people around the world.