Congratulations to Philip Venables for winning the 2019 FEDORA prize in the opera category for his stage work Denis & Katya. As revealed in the award ceremony on 28 June, the opera will receive €150,000 in funding for its world premiere at the Opera Philadelphia in the upcoming 2019 - 2020 season. 

With a libretto by Ted Huffmann, Venables’ Denis & Katya is based on the true story of Russian teenagers Denis Muravyov and Katya Vlasova, who in 2016 live-streamed their last hours in a stand-off with Russian Special Forces. Now Opera Philadelphia and co-commissioners Music Theatre Wales and Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier are preparing for the opera’s world premiere, which, thanks to the prize, has received additional funding for production costs from the FEDORA platform.
 

Denis & Katya (2019)

Opera with a libretto by Ted Huffman
Ms.Bar - 4vc.tape.video
Duration: ca. 70'
World Premiere: 18.09.2019, Philadelphia

About FEDORA

An initiative by the European Circle of Philanthropists of Opera and Ballet and co-funded by the Creative Europe Program of the European Union, FEDORA has three prizes: the FEDORA – GENERALI Prize for Opera, the FEDORA – VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Prize for Ballet and the FEDORA Prize for Education. The organization provides not only funding for artists and co-productions but also an opportunity for greater digital visibility: during the nomination period, nominees are given a digital platform to make their case while collecting further donations through crowd-funding. The goal is to promote and encourage new artists and productions while also opening up their works to greater accessibility.

Watch Opera Philadelphia’s Denis & Katya video here and get a better glimpse into the upcoming opera: