A deep need for musical theater

The author of the concept and soprano Sara Vujošević Jovanović, in an interview with Vijesti, announces tonight's performance of the opera play "The Only Face of Happiness" at the CNP

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From the opera play: Vujošević Jovanović, Photo: Novak Abramović
From the opera play: Vujošević Jovanović, Photo: Novak Abramović
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

The opera play "The One Face of Happiness" not only enriches the Montenegrin cultural scene and brings the spirit of Europe, but also responds to contemporary challenges and needs of artistic expression, the author of the project, an opera artist and doctor of musicology, assessed in an interview for Vijesti. Sara Vujošević Jovanović. She added that the piece's potential to challenge and engage the audience indicates the importance of researching new forms and content, so that the art of opera (p)remains relevant and present on our cultural scene...

After the premiere in the Royal Theater Zetski dom in Cetinje at the end of September, the unique, operatic play "Jedino lice ščeća" will be performed tonight in Podgorica, on the big stage of the Montenegrin National Theater at 20 p.m.

Impressions after the premiere are positive, says the interlocutor of Vijesti and adds that it successfully meets expectations by offering viewers an emotionally engaged and intellectually stimulating experience.

"The upcoming performance of the opera play "The Only Face of Happiness" at the Montenegrin National Theater represents much more than an artistic act - it is a symbol of the academic unity and creative potential of Montenegro. Within the framework of the first Festival of Arts, Science and Culture, which the University of Montenegro organizes in a significant jubilee year, for the first time in history, in a music-stage project, professors, students and alumni of all three art faculties of the only state university in the country join forces: the Faculty of Drama of Arts, the Academy of Music and the Faculty of Fine Arts. This act of togetherness confirms the strength, possibilities and abilities of our academic community in the field of artistic creativity", said Vujošević Jovanović in an interview with Vijesti.

From the opera play: Vujošević Jovanović
From the opera play: Vujošević Jovanovićphoto: Novak Abramović

The performance was created as a kind of tribute to the brothers FJ Hajdn i MJ Hajdn, according to their works in which philosophical questions about human feelings and existential dilemmas are explored through the prism of comedy, creating a unique experience. Vujošević Jovanović did the original concept and musical dramaturgy, and she adapted the play and directed the play. Minja Novaković.

"Exploring the philosophical and emotional aspects of love and happiness through the prism of comic opera, and inspired by the ancient Greek concepts of love: eros, philia, storge, agape and others, the play revives the complexity of those emotions and their universality in human experience. The central musical works of this performance are the comic opera 'The double bass player from Vergl' and the cantata 'Ovation', by the Haydn brothers, which through virtuoso arias explore wisdom, moderation and courage as key elements of happiness, and at the same time represent an innovative approach to classical opera, combining the richness of musical tradition with philosophical topics that are still relevant today", the description states.

The show thus combines comic and sublime elements, and with the quality interpretation of the ensemble, it creates a unique artistic experience, says Vujošević Jovanović.

"It is the concept that makes this performance special, because it reflects contemporary trends in European opera production. "Innovative solutions of the music-theatre form are becoming more and more present in opera houses that strive to attract new audiences, and 'The Only Face of Happiness' fits perfectly into that paradigm," she says.

According to the CNP press release, the tickets are sold out, which makes the team satisfied.

"The interest of the audience, confirmed by sold-out tickets in a very short time, testifies to the deep need of Montenegrin society for musical theater - the most sublime art form that sublimates music, words and movement, providing not only aesthetic pleasure, but also a platform for deeper philosophical reflections on universal issues such as of love, happiness and the meaning of existence. Through the witty narration and the form that projects of this type require, the audience touches upon essential existential questions, questioning their own life circumstances and emotions, at the same time affirming art as a key factor in shaping the perception of the world. I appreciate that a production of this kind gives a strong impulse for the further development of musical theater in Montenegro", stated the opera artist.

From the opera play: Vujošević Jovanović
From the opera play: Vujošević Jovanovićphoto: Novak Abramović

"The Only Face of Happiness" brought together students, alumni and professors of three art academies from Cetinje for the first time, and was realized in the co-production of the Royal Theater "Zetski dom" and the University of Montenegro (UCG) in cooperation with the Opera House and the "Petrucelli" Foundation from Italy . The performance of the play at the CNP is part of the program of the Festival of Art, Science and Culture - FUNK, organized by the UCG on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its existence.

A special aspect of this performance is the composition of the ensemble, points out Vujošević Jovanović and believes that with this project UCG and Zetski dom affirm domestic knowledge, capacity, skills, that is, united academic forces in the realization of a complex production, such as an opera performance.

He is a conductor Oleksij Molčanov, and she is in charge of leading the instrumental ensemble Tanja Bogdanović. She created the choreography and stage movement Tamara Vujošević Mandić, scenography Željko Reljić i Adin Rastoder, with assistance Milan Marković, while she designed the costumes Jelena Roganović. Lighting effects Christmas Stramaglia i Mladen Đurković.

The main vocal roles are played by soprano Sara Vujošević Jovanović and baritone Dimitrije Grinih, while the cast consists of Luka Stanković, Aleksa Balević, Kristina Mrkić, Iskra Zeković, Marija Vujović i Darija Pravilović. They are concertmasters Anja Abramović Vujović and Oleksij Molčanov, supported by a violinist Marija Lazuka and Tanje Bogdanović, violist Gleba Bednjakova, cellist Vladimir Stoljetov, Teodora Uskoković i Maje Antić Kalezić, as well as double bass players Aleksandre Trifunović. She is a flautist Dijana Orlandic, oboist Mikola Gorbenko, hornista Nikola Kovacevic and trumpet instrumentalist Anica Bulatović. On the harpsichords are Oleksij Molčanov and Anja Abramović Vujović.

The production of scenography is entrusted to the team Milutin Kasom, Evgenija Popović, Iva Tripković, Vasilije Andušić i Boban Vlahovic, the costumes are made under supervision Mirjana Perišić, Olivera Bulatović and fashion house "Moda per te" from Cetinje. She provided the translation of the Zingspiel libretto Gabriela Strugar Schneider, and she is in charge of subtitles Dorothea Bušković. Notographic work was performed by them Georgij Solomatin i Vasilije Vujadinović. The executive producers of the play are Ognjen Savić i Luka Radović.

A scene from a play
A scene from a playphoto: Novak Abramović

When creating the play, the author's team took into account the size of the ensemble and the specificity of the Zetski dom scene, and they also had in mind the further life of the work.

"When determining the concept, we had in mind the available capacities of the Royal Theatre, since the oldest Montenegrin theater is one of the co-producers. Here, above all, I am referring to the stage characteristics and other potentials, which in the context of the participation of students, alumni and professors of all three art faculties (with the participation of retired local and foreign artists), directed by Minja Novaković, gave birth to a project of this level and importance. It is important to point out that when planning the project, we also had life in post-production in mind, so that the opera play "The Only Face of Happiness" has the potential to be performed on most stages in Montenegro. With this, we have ensured that each setting contributes to the formation of a dynamic and visually attractive environment, which not only supports the performance itself, but also enriches the entire experience of the spectators", Vujošević Jovanović proudly points out.

In the context of the Montenegrin cultural scene, she reminds, opera performances are a rare occurrence, even though it is a genre that plays a key role in shaping musical theater and general cultural identity.

"Through this kind of theatrical form, we aim to lay the foundation for the future development of musical theater in Montenegro, emphasizing the possibilities of revitalizing traditional forms through an innovative concept. In this way, 'The only face of happiness' contributes to the enrichment of our cultural space. It is a frame of reference that enables the synthesis of traditional and contemporary, thus opening new perspectives for future creativity in this field", says Vujošević Jovanović.

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