Creation of the World. Chamber Opera by Alexander Manotskov

As the poet said: “Only God can make a tree,” probably because it’s so hard to figure out how to get the bark on.” — Woody Allen “Based on true events,” — Alexander Manotskov, Composer 💬 The world somehow came into being —a fact universally recognized by believers, scientists, and children. But how does one answer a child’s question about where and how exactly it all began? The biblical story of six days of creation and the seventh day of rest has been reimagined as the libretto for a chamber opera. The musical score is based on principles that, according to Kabbalah, the Creator used to form the universe from letters and numbers. 🕎 Audiences are invited to witness an experience where the world is created, a table is set for the Sabbath feast, and the perfection of creation is celebrated. The opera features Western classical instruments alongside traditional Eastern ones, such as the Indian harmonium and flute, as well as the Persian santur. The Divine Presence — a key Kabbalistic concept—is embodied by artist Venera Kazarova, who performs live and is also the designer of the opera’s fantastical costumes. The performance included composer Alexander Manotskov and director Emilia Kivelevich, who portrayed the role of Sabbath/Bride. Visuals were created by Oleg Mikhailov, with choreography by Lara Treichel. "The Creation of the World, or Kabbalat Shabbat" is an attempt at unity in an age of divisions, an open invitation to come together. 🗣️ The opera is performed in Hebrew with English subtitles. 🕐 Duration: 30 minutes (audience entry, please arrive in advance), 60 minutes (performance) Creative Team: 🎶 Composer: Alexander Manotskov is the creator of chamber and symphonic works, as well as over 20 operas performed in the USA, Norway, Ukraine, Russia, and Kazakhstan. His compositions span a variety of languages and cultures, including Latin, Hebrew, Kazakh, Japanese, Georgian, and even ancient Tatar. A recipient of numerous awards in music and theater, his scores are published by Donemus Publishing in the Netherlands, and his recordings are released by Fancymusic (Russia) and LAWO Classics (Norway). 🎥 Director: Emilia Kivelevich is a theater director with a master’s degree in cultural studies, with over a decade of experience in research and directing. Her works have been realized in Russia, Israel, and Germany. She is known for blending academic research with art, incorporating documentary material to deliver authentic stories. 🎩 Costume Designer: Venera Kazarova has designed costumes for numerous events and projects, including the Cartier collection presentation and Les jardins d'Étretat in Normandy. Her portfolio includes costumes for surreal gala dinners, Moscow Fashion Week, and television projects. Her work reaches an international audience of over 70,000 Instagram followers. 🩰 Choreographer: Lara Treichel (Larisa Alexandrovna) is a choreographer and director specializing in interdisciplinary productions across drama, music, and dance theater. Her works have been featured at international festivals and received major awards, including the Golden Mask. She is currently based in Berlin. 🎞️ Video and Lighting Designer: Oleg Mikhailov is a multimedia artist specializing in video art, animation, and interactive installations since the late 1990s. His work bridges media technology and theater, exploring new forms of visual storytelling. Musicians and Performers: 🎶 Anton Tsirin (vocals, harmonium) — First Day 🎶 Alexander Manotskov (vocals, cello) — Second Day 🎶 Ivano Onavi (vocals, bansuri) — Third Day 🎶 Jim Galakti (vocals, flugelhorn) — Fourth Day 🎶 Anushaant Naayinaay Vijayan (vocals, ghatam, mridangam) — Fifth Day 🎶 Benjamin Stein (vocals, santur) — Sixth Day 🎶 Emilia Kivelevich (vocals) — Sabbath 🎶 Venera Kazarova — Divine Presence Team: 🎩 Artist Assistant: Anastasiia Lobanova 🎩 Technical Director: Aaron Kats 🎩 Lighting: Oleg Mikhailov 🎩 Video: Niklas Überschär 🎩 Designer: Iuliia Manotskova 🎩 Executive producer: Grigory Sazankov