Anita Rachvelishvili in Opera Bastille role for 'Prince Igor' classic

Georgian mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili will be cast in a month-long bill of the classic Prince Igor at Opera Bastille in Paris starting next week, starring as Kontchakovna in the show.

In a production by Barrie Kosky, the singer will feature in 11 shows of the two-act staging that first premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1890.

Rachvelishvili will be part of a cast involving bass Ildar Abdrazakov, soprano Elena Stikhina and tenor Pavel Černoch in performances involving the major theatre venue's orchestra and choir.

The production comes courtesy of Kosky, winner of the 2014 Best Director Award at the International Opera Awards and director of productions at venues including the Royal Opera House and the Sydney Opera House.

Borodin’s only opera, this great Russian epic, best known for its Polovtsian Dances, questions the responsibilities of a leader with regard to his people [...] By divesting the work of folklore of the most elementary kind, Barrie Kosky’s production highlights a universal need for ethics - Opera Bastille

The staging team for Prince Igori, based on a score by Alexander Borodin, also involved set designer Rufus Didwiszus, costume designer Klaus Bruns and lighting designer Franck Evin. Choreography for the show has been created by Otto Pichler, while José Luis Basso worked as chorus master and Philippe Jordan will lead the orchestra for the bill.

For Rachvelishvili, the part in the three-hour, 45-minute opera will come within a demanding performing calendar, with the star singer being in demand of major international venues for new productions.

The mezzo has been praised by critics throughout the year for her performances including the Cavalleria rusticana/Pagliacci double bill at the Dutch National Opera, Carmen at Opera Bastille and a Chicago Symphony Orchestra show of Aida.

The Prince Igor bill will run at Opera Bastille, the principal venue of Opera National de Paris, between November 25-December 25.