Mariinsky Theater is ready to answer for the “editing” of Handel

The reader contacted the editorial office of Fontanka, who visited the Mariinsky Theater Concert Hall on December 5 at the performance of Handel’s oratorio “Messiah”. According to him, the work was significantly reduced, and one of the solo parts was delegated to another voice.
“For unexplained reasons, the audience was presented with a Handel reader,” he wrote. – Someone unknown decided that playing the whole work is unprofitable and, at its discretion, cut the program of commercials by half. So to speak, selected places from the Bible and Handel that can be played by an inexperienced audience. Well, to have an idea. In general, Handel wrote this and this, and you don’t need to hear the entire third part of the Oratorio, as well as at least 13 numbers excluded from the program. Not to mention the fact that # 34 bass aria psalm 67 verse 19 performed the viola. ”
According to the reader, the audience was not notified that the work will not sound in its entirety. Before the start of the performance, it was only announced that the intermission was canceled.
“Imagine: you came to church, and the priest interrupts the prayer somewhere in the middle and shows you that everything is time to go home! Here’s Christmas for you, here’s Handel, and who are you, actually? ”He was indignant.
At the Mariinsky Theater, where Fontanka asked for comment, it was explained that the oratorio was performed in the “Christmas” version of the chief choirmaster Andrei Petrenko, who was behind the conductor’s console that evening. This edition with the bills of the author’s text was published by the Peters Publishing House, and in this version, the aria really indicated in the appeal is performed by the alt (that evening – Ekaterina Sergeeva).
The abridged version of “Messiah” has been heard at the Mariinsky Theater for several years and has previously caused complaints from listeners who noted in reviews that the work was “mercilessly cut.”
At the same time, Andrei Petrenko expressed his readiness to meet in person with the reader of Fontanka, who had contacted the editorial office, and to answer all his questions in detail.