Konstantin Khabensky: “I am very closely connected with Kazan personally and professionally”

The capital of Tatarstan has become the first city of a new tour of the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater.

A new tour of the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater opens in the capital of Tatarstan today. Famous artists will perform the “Cyrano de Bergerac” and “Lies, or the Will of Baron Munchausen” shows in Kazan. Konstantin Khabensky, Artistic Director of the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater, People's Artist of Russia, shared the details of the performances at a press conference at the Kazan City Hall.

This year the theater marks its 125th anniversary. And the anniversary tour begins in Kazan – a city closely connected with the activities of K. Khabensky. In 2009, on the initiative of the People's Artist of Russia, the first Operenie creative studio opened in the city. Later the studios were opened throughout the country. The first performances of the Mowgli Generation charity project were also shown in the capital of the republic of Tatarstan.

A few years ago, Konstantin Khabensky's ARTKHAB creative residence opened in Kazan, later this project was moved to the Moscow Art Theater. “I am very closely connected with Kazan personally and professionally and I have only positive memories about the people who live in this city”, - he shared.

The tour of the Moscow Art Theater will be held in Kazan with the support of the Mayor of the city Ilsur Metshin. The spectators will see two performances. Today, the “Cyrano de Bergerac” performance, directed by Yegor Peregudov, will be presented on the stage of the Galiasgar Kamal Tatar State Academic Theater. Such famous actors as Yuri Chursin, Paulina Andreeva and Igor Zolotovitsky will hit on the stage. The “Cyrano de Bergerac” performance will be shown tomorrow, October 12.

“Lies, or the Will of Baron Munchausen” will be presented on 16-17 October at the Musa Jalil Tatar Academic State Opera and Ballet Theater. Konstantin Khabensky will play the major role there, he is also one of the authors of the play, written together with director Viktor Kramer.

As V.Vernik noted, this is the first performance with the participation of Konstantin Khabensky after an 8-year break, which is quite a long period for the actor.

Not only the spectators will be able to see famous artists, but also those who are taking their first steps in the acting profession. So, for senior students of the Kazan Theater School and the Kazan State Institute of Culture, master classes were held at the Smena theater. On October 12, the rector of the Moscow Art Theater School, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Igor Zolotovitsky, will hold a meeting with students, and Konstantin Khabensky will join on October 17.

In addition to the capital of the republic of Tatarstan, performances of the Moscow Art Theater will also be shown in Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Petrozavodsk, Saratov and Yelets.

In the coming days, Kazan residents will be able to become part of the charity event. According to V. Vernik, this month the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater is helping the Artist Foundation. Residents of the capital of the republic of Tatarstan will be able to make their donations using a QR code that can be obtained during performances.

For reference, on July 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Moscow Public Art Theater by V.Nemirovich-Danchenko and K.Stanislavsky. The program of festive events is scheduled for October 2023.