Denis Azarov is a rare director who works successfully both in
theatre and opera and finds his own particular way in between
these two genres. He made his first professional debut in musical
theatre, but lately he is drawn more and more towards Drama.
Nevertheless, all of his productions, regardless of the kind of
artistic genre they belong to, exist in an ideal form which
contains expression and striking effects with deep meaning, where
the author’s message is clear.
Azarov started his professional work in 2005 at the theatre “New
Opera“, but he quickly changed direction and started working at
the Badisches Staatstheater of Karlsruhe, where Azarov completed
an internship as a director. In 2007, Azarov founded an opera
studio under the name “The Moscow Youth Opera House”, where he
directed “The Journey to Reims” by Rossini, “The Triptich” based
on the works of Schumann, Brahms and Klara Wieck, “Lensky” based
on Pushkin’s works and ballads by Russian composers, “Aleko” by
Rakhmaninov, and others. Since 2010, he has been the permanent
director for the Moscow Chamber Musical Theatre (Pokrovsky
Opera).
At the same time, Azarov is finishing his theatre director
classes at the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts, where during his
studies he directed “Eugene Onegin” and “Iolanta” by Tchaikovsky
in Kislovodsk, “Il Campanello” by Donizetti in Kavminvody, “The
Fair at Sorochinsi” by Mussorgsky at the theatre “Russian Opera”
in Moscow, “The Village of Stepanchikovo” by Dostoevsky in Sarov.
Azarov also worked as a director’s assistant on “The Golden
Cockerel” at the Bolshoy Theatre and “American Lulu” by O.
Neuwert in Berlin. Kirill Serebrennikov was the director of the
both productions.
Denis Azarov’s works were shown at the festivals: “Caracters”,
organized by the Moscow theatre “The School of Contemporary
Play”, “Transformation” (Yaroslavl), “December evenings” (Sarov),
“ Oldenburger Promenade” (Oldenburg, Germany), “Durence Luberon
Festival” (France).
In 2012 he directed the "Christmas at Ivanovs" by Alexei
Vvevedensky at the Gogol Center - it was the first full version
of this famous absurdist play shown in Moscow.
Among his other works are "Viy" at the Playwright and Directing
Center and "Public readings" in the project "The Open Stage".