Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
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IN Lenkom Mark Zakharov the premiere took place Orchestra Rehearsals, Vladimir Pankov's first production as artistic director. Inspired by the screenplay of Federico Fellini's film of the same name, the production featured over 100 performers on stage simultaneously, along with a full orchestra.
Conductor without love
The ancient chapel, long since converted into a concert hall, is quiet for now—just for a moment. A television director (Ivan Agapov) quietly explains that filming is about to begin on a documentary about the orchestra's behind-the-scenes life. He wants to talk to the musicians and the conductor and find out what art means to them.
Very soon, the room fills with noise, hubbub, conversations, and stomping—the musicians take their places, discussing various matters as they go. Filming begins (video clips are displayed on two large screens), and the director discerns the contradictions lurking beneath the orchestra's apparent harmony.
For some, music is a craft and discipline; for others, it's an outlet, a haven of peace. Yet for others, it's a true passion. The pianist (Anna Yakunina) is ready to talk at length about herself and her instrument, and then, when words run out, she obsessively strikes the keys, then breaks into a dance, not forgetting to toss her hair for added effect. "It's something from my early repertoire," she says, breathless. But for the harpist (Alexandra Zakharov), her instrument is a dream come true, something from childhood. "I first saw a harp in a dream," she confesses. Her romantic mood is accentuated by a delicate white dress.
The discord gives way to complete silence—the conductor appears, a stern, almost demonic figure. He raises his baton, but his movements—sometimes smooth, sometimes jerky—create a nervous atmosphere. Then he loses his temper, yells at the musicians, accusing them of not trying hard enough. According to actor Dmitry Pevtsov, his character, despite his exacting standards, has lost his love for his work and yearns for it.
"One of the messages in this story is that it's hard to create without love. If you lose the love and passion for what you do, nothing will work. You need to be honest in any profession," says Dmitry Pevtsov.
Soundrama and many actors
The production features several casts. In addition to Dmitry Pevtsov, the conductor is Andrey Sokolov and Igor Mirkurbanov. Also appearing on stage are Alexander Zbruev, Tatyana Kravchenko, Olesya Zheleznyak, Maxim Averin, Andrey Leonov, Anna Bolshova, and many others. In total, there are over 100 performers, including 20 musicians from the symphony orchestra and the Lenkom Theatre choir.
"I'm glad that artists of all generations are here, everyone's gathered together and finally getting to know each other," Ivan Agapov joked. "Everything is very peaceful here; no one has argued during rehearsals. I'd like to believe that this isn't just a coincidence, but because we're united by a great idea."
The genre of "Orchestra Rehearsal," Vladimir Pankov's first production as artistic director, can be described as soundrama. It's a synthetic genre he devised himself, blurring the boundaries between different art forms: soundrama unites drama, contemporary music, and performance.
Incidentally, the performance features not only music written especially for it, but also compositions by Nino Rota and Jacques Offenbach.
Fellini's painting
The performance is inspired by the 1978 film of the same name by Italian director Federico Fellini. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was received very warmly. Vladimir Pankov admitted that he had long pondered this material, rich in metaphors and allusions.
But the Lenkom production features more than just Fellini's masterpiece. It also subtly, almost imperceptibly, incorporates encrypted memories of Mark Zakharov, who passed away in 2019. According to Vladimir Pankov, the idea arose during the Lenkom concert "Backyards"—a revived format of informal concerts conceived by Alexander Abdulov back in the 1980s.
"At the concert, we talked about Mark Anatolyevich and his biography," Vladimir Pankov recounted. "And all of this came to mind when we began preparing 'Orchestra Rehearsal.' It seemed to us that there were many associations with him here. Those who know the Lenkom well will recognize the allusions."
These echoes do not undermine the story's core narrative—the performance follows Fellini's plot, where the orchestra reflects society: every person is essential to creating something meaningful.
"With Vladimir Pankov, the actors perform performances, not roles," said Dmitry Pevtsov. "That's how a team is formed. This performance is precisely aimed at uniting the team."
Artificial intelligence
Towards the end, the conflict escalates: the orchestra musicians, angry at the rude treatment, stop feeling awe towards the conductor, and he becomes disillusioned with them, believing that they do not need music.
The rehearsal descends into chaos. The ensemble becomes an enraged, hateful mob. Chairs are broken, the chapel wall is destroyed, blood is spilled (though unseen by the audience). Sheet music, previously carefully guarded, flies into the auditorium. The conductor, nostalgic for art past and present, is forced to resign.
Vladimir Pankov slightly altered the ending, incorporating contemporary realities. Toward the end, a robot appears on stage, clutching a conductor's baton. Such a conductor no longer needs the emotions that could cause discord between creators of beauty. The director seems to hint that perhaps a future will soon arrive when people no longer need to seek emotional connections with each other.
"There are as many opinions as there are people, and everyone will have their own truth. But how wonderful it would be if we all struck the same note, the same chord, and found resonance. What is this story about? We ask this question ourselves in the play: 'Where does the music go when you stop playing?'" the director added.
The next performance will be on December 27 and 28, and January 13 and 14. Tickets can be purchased through the service Mosbilet.
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