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It is hard to acknowledge this terrible, tragic news about death of Alexander Vedernikov.


It seems that this virus spares no one. Alexander Alexandrovich was young, full of strength and energy person. It is impossible to accept the fact. Eight of his brief, as we understand it now, years he devoted to the Bolshoi Theatre. He came to the Bolshoi without a fear at the age of 37, and he was not deterred to leave it when realized that his own art path took another vector. Period, which was under his direction at Bolshoi, was not easy, but it was joyful. Alexander Vedernikov was close to the theatre from his childhood. XXI сentury was dawned upon. Alexander Alexandrovich was confident that theatre should be changing. It should be open to the world; it should evolve into that direction and start inviting more directors and singers. He staged many productions himself as well. Prokofiev’s The Fiery Angel, Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur and Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman in its first version appeared at the Bolshoi for the first time. He conducted most prominent Russian operas: Boris Godunov, Eugene Onegin, The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya, War and Peace among others. Under him theatre commissioned new opera for the first time in XXI Century – The Children of Rosenthal. This opera by Leonid Desyatnikov became an important milestone for Bolshoi. All that will be included into all books on the history of the Bolshoi. Yet, to a regret, there will not be anything more that Alexander Alexandrovich could have pursued on the various stages in the world; there will not be new engagements with distinguished producers and singers, new scores, new commissions for composers.

How much more is left behind official biography? His humbleness, his joyful spirit, his love for nature, his keen interest for various genres in art, even his inimitable way of speaking. One of his favorite words – “You get it?”

No… we don’t get it. And don’t wish to. It is hard to accept this loss. Too soon…

We express our deepest condolences to the family and relatives of Alexander Alexandrovich Vedernikov.