Chekhov in French style causes mixed reaction in Bolshoi

MOSCOW, December 3 (Itar-Tass) -- The world premier of Anton Chekhov's
Cherry Orchard opera by French composer Philippe Fenelon presented by the
Bolshoi Theater on Thursday night caused a mixed reaction as part of the
audience left after the first act, while others greeted the singers with a
big applause.
The Bolshoi Theater and Paris National Opera co-project was presented
in the framework of Russia-France 2010 cross-year. The house was nearly
full and the opera was presented in a concert form without costumes and
stage scenery. The performance reduced the play mostly to the third act in
which estate owner Ranevskaya gives a farewell dancing party.
In the first-ever Cherry Orchard opera the original cast is reduced
from 16 to 10 characters. Surprisingly, a woman sings mezzo-soprano for
87-year old manservant Firs, while governess Charlotte is performed by a
bass singer.
Two years ago Fenelon told Tass in Moscow he was composing the Cherry
Garden. "If I succeed it will be an historic event as so far none of my
compatriots has ever composed an opera for the main Russian theater," he
said.
Popular Russian theater and cinema actress Alla Demidova said she
attended the Cherry Orchard with great interest. "The music in the second
act is very dramatic. I was excited by the singers who deserve the highest
praise," she told Tass.
After the curtain fell opera singers celebrated the first night with
champagne. Fenelon said he was happy and promised to Bolshoi Theater
Director Anatoly Iksanov to time another composition to the opening of the
main Bolshoi stage after long-time reconstruction.
From the Bolshoi the Cherry Orchard will travel to St. Petersburg.

.Clinton on Russia: we should agree where we can.

WASHINGTON, December 3 (Itar-Tass) -- US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton said on Thursday the United States and Russia shall agree "where
we can agree" and cited the new strategic arms reduction treaty as an
example.
"Russia and the United States have to work hard to overcome a legacy
of mistrust and try to chart a new course," she said at a meeting with
students in the Kirgiz capital of Bishkek according to a transcript
published on the website of the US State Department.
She recalled the administration of President Barack Obama decided to
reset relations with Russia, but said "that doesn't mean we will always
agree, because we will not."
"But it does mean, where we can agree, we should. And we should try to
make the world safer and more secure, fewer conflicts, fewer problems,"
Clinton said.
She cited the New Start Treaty as an example and said "we're working
hard to get our Senate to approve it right now."
Other cooperation areas with Russia include Iran's nuclear program and
Afghanistan.
But "we disagree on Georgia, we disagree on some of the tactics that
we have seen Russians use in their relations with other countries. We
disagree with their human rights record - terrible problems that
journalists have had inside Russia - but we still keep working on having a
positive agenda," Clinton said.
As for the US air base in Kirgizia that transits supplies to foreign
troops in Afghanistan, Clinton made it clear the United States may retain
it after 2014 when NATO plans to withdraw from Afghanistan according to a
decision of the latest summit of the alliance.
"The goal is to have the Afghans in charge of their own security by
the end of 2014. And then we will look to see if there is any continuing
mission that would be of benefit to Kyrgyzstan that would be continued
there (at the base)", Clinton said.