The idea for the ballet belongs to St. Petersburg businessman and philanthropist, Doctor of Sciences Vyacheslav Zarenkov. A man of diverse interests, Zarenkov has made a name for himself not only in academia but also in the cultural sphere. The socio‑cultural project "Creating World" he founded, together with the charitable foundation of the same name and the Kilize Theatre, support large‑scale cultural initiatives. Zarenkov is also the author of literary works and ballet librettos, one of which served as the basis for The Three Masks of the King.

Smekalov endowed the original fairy‑tale libretto with philosophical depth, emphasising that people are forced to put on various "masks" according to the circumstances of life. Essentially, this is a given – something that accompanies each of us throughout our lives and without which human existence in society is inconceivable. Thus the genre of the future performance took shape: a ballet‑parable without any specific temporal or geographical reference.

The production offers audiences plenty of surprises. The dominant element of its set design is a huge mask. Throughout the action, it constantly transforms, changing its configuration, breaking apart, and essentially shaping the characters' environment. The characters, with their makeup and costumes, resemble either inhabitants of ancient Egypt or extraterrestrial beings.

Thanks to the harmonious combination of the lighting score (lighting designer Irina Vtornikova) and the meticulously crafted video content – 3D projections (artist Victoria Zlotnikova) – the stage action turned out vivid and spectacular.

The orchestra's sound is also unusual, as a layer of computer music (sound producer Vlad Zhukov) is superimposed on the live playing. The orchestration was done by young composer Daniil Pilchen, a postgraduate student at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. At the same time, Maestro Evgeny Khokhlov managed to achieve an exceptionally balanced and synchronous blend of live orchestral sound and the computer soundtrack.

We all wear masks. When we wake up, we put on the mask of a child or a parent, a husband or a wife. We want to appear kind, angry, funny, serious, beautiful, pitiful, smart, ignorant, independent, or enslaved. Hiding our true thoughts and feelings becomes the norm for us. We do not acknowledge lies, although we constantly deceive not only others but also ourselves. What is sincerity and open virtue? Is not this form of behaviour also a mask?

"Three Masks of the King" — a ballet‑parable that blends classical orchestra with contemporary electronics. In November 2019, the Samara Opera and Ballet Theatre (SATOB) presented the production at the Mariinsky Theatre — one of the world's most prestigious venues.

Idea and co‑libretto: Vyacheslav Zarenkov
Director and co‑libretto: Yuri Smekalov
Music: Mikhail Krylov
Conductor: Evgeny Khokhlov
Orchestration: Daniil Pilchen
Costumes and set design: Vyacheslav Okunev

Sound producer and composer of the electronic score, including the key track "Shamans" — Vlad Zhukov.
The track was inspired by the war cries of the Māori warriors of New Zealand.

The electronic score is built on a fusion of modern electronic textures, ethnic motifs and rhythms, combined with live orchestral sound.

"Shamans" appears twice during the ballet:
— at the end of the first act, in one version, establishing a mystical, tense atmosphere;
— at the climax of the performance, in a different arrangement, heightening the drive and emotional intensity to the maximum.

Video footage by: Sergey Kolobov, Mikhail Antykov, Yana Tkachuk, and Vlad Zhukov.
Editing by: Vlad Zhukov
2020

Mar 21, 2021

OST "Three Masks of the King" – "Shamans" (music by Vlad Zhukov)

Idea and co‑libretto of the ballet: Vyacheslav Zarenkov

Choreographer and co‑libretto: Yuri Smekalov

Sound producer, composer of the electronic score and the track "Shamans": Vlad Zhukov

This audio version of "Shamans" features musicians of the Samara Opera and Ballet Theatre (SATOB):

quartet (Tatyana Kazakova, Denis Utkin, Yulia Fevraleva, Tatyana Gaivoronskaya),

Angelina Kokoreva, Sergey Chebotarenko, Galina Kuznetsova, Elena Kharkova, Stanislav Tselikh

written, performed & mixed by Vlad Zhukov

mastered by Yury Shcherbakov

The video features footage from the ballet by Sergey Kolobov, as well as Inna and Yana Tkachuk.

Editing, CGI, VFX, and post‑production: Vlad Zhukov

"Three Masks of the King" – "Shamans" (backstage & live)
music by Vlad Zhukov

Behind the scenes and live performance of the track "Shamans" from the ballet‑parable "Three Masks of the King".
The video features rehearsals, stage fragments, and backstage atmosphere.

Idea and co‑libretto: Vyacheslav Zarenkov
Director: Yuri Smekalov
Composer (ballet music): Mikhail Krylov
Sound producer, composer of the electronic score and the track "Shamans": Vlad Zhukov
Conductor: Evgeny Khokhlov
Orchestration: Daniil Pilchen
Costumes and set design: Vyacheslav Okunev

Video footage by: Sergey Kolobov, Vlad Zhukov
Editing by: Vlad Zhukov