MOSCOW, May 18, Roman Kharrasov. The head of the Shchukin Higher Theater School, People's Artist of Russia Yevgeny Knyazev, in an interview spoke about the next film adaptation of The Master and Margarita, explained why mysticism is now popular, recalled the atmosphere on the set of Messing, and shared information about new projects of the Vakhtangov Theater. width=»600″ data-crop-height=»403″ data-source-sid=»rian_photo» class=»lazyload» width=»1920″ height=»1290″ decoding=»async» />
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«The Master and Margarita»: mysticism attracts people
— A new adaptation of Bulgakov's «Master and Margarita» will be released soon, where you play Berlioz. Why do directors refer to this novel so often?
— First of all, this is a great work. Secondly, not a verbatim film adaptation, but the original script, which includes parts from The Master and Margarita. The film is a story about Bulgakov himself, about the complex events of his life that were projected in his work.
— How did you make Mikhail Berlioz?
— I don't know, let the audience decide. Chairman of MASSOLIT, who tries not to believe in God in the spirit of the times, but he is told that nothing will come of it.
I am often asked about Messing, whom I also played: that he was a mystic and brought us so much bad, including on the set. There was nothing like that! On the contrary, the film was made in a wonderful atmosphere.
— The theme of mysticism is very popular now. Why do you think?
“You always want to predict the future. But that's the worst thing. We all want to know when the NWO will end and how soon our victory will be. Various visionaries, including Vanga, said that our country is the best and we need to hold on to it. So I repeat: Russia is the best, we need to hold on to it.
Pandemic and NWO: how the viewer has changed
— Pandemic in 2020 , in 2022, a special operation began. Has the viewer somehow changed because of these events?
The audience doesn't change. You know, I spoke in Chelyabinsk, and the Minister of Culture of the region told me that due to the coronavirus restrictions and the SVO, people have shifted their focus to theaters, began to visit museums more.
People want something more culturally valuable, not they want to be stupidly amused: two stomps, three slaps. Everyone has their own experiences about what is happening in the world, many have relatives or close ones who serve. Because of them, we have to talk about serious, real things.
— Your theater also opened the Yevgeny Vakhtangov House in Vladikavkaz, a new large cultural object…
—Yes, and people there expressed their gratitude for this.
Criticism of artists: is it necessary to spend money on entertainment
— Today, artists are often reproached for the fact that because of them money goes to the wrong place: for entertainment, and not for the needs of the SVO. What can you say to this?
—Our theater, for example, regularly collects aid and sends it to the NWO zone. But you can not leave people without spirituality. In Vladikavkaz, thousands of spectators came to the opening concert of the Vakhtangov House despite the rain. -ratio=»0.674571805006588″ data-crop-width=»600″ data-crop-height=»405″ data-source-sid=»rian_photo» class=»lazyload» width=»1920″ height=»1295″ decoding= «async» />
With our speeches, we told them: «Guys, life goes on.» You can't talk to the public in the language of endless tears.
On the contrary, we denote Russian cultural values that unite us. We have the village of Mikhailovskoye in the Pskov region, connected with Pushkin; Yasnaya Polyana — in Tulskaya, Tolstoy's family estate; and now the Vakhtangov House is in his homeland in Vladikavkaz. The opening of this museum is a federal event.
— You also opened an art cafe there with the play «The Queen of Spades». The material is difficult. How are serious productions perceived in the regions in general?
— Whatever the material, it will always be perceived if you play with your heart and soul.
As for the whole issue of going to the theater, for example, our teachers said: you need to surround yourself with works of art, then they will transmit your positive energy. In addition, culture, like education, needs to be planted — after all, you need to explain to a person how kitsch differs from the real one.
For example, it is strange if a person looks at Raphael's «Madonna» and says that he did not like her. She delighted people all over the world — if this masterpiece did not touch you, then you need to pay attention to yourself and understand what is wrong with you.
If you conduct a dialogue with the audience from the stage, it is to talk to them , without edification, then people will follow you.
— You are Rector of the Shchukin Theater Institute. Satisfied with the younger generation?
— Quite. As Vakhtangov said, young people need to be educated, not taught. We work according to the methodology of our teachers, and they were students of Evgeny Bagrationovich.