The concert-play "Dead Souls" combines the powerful music of Alfred Schnittke with the eccentric characters of Gogol. In the program dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Alfred Schnittke's birth, the audience can expect not just a concert, but a large-scale stage statement. It is a living fabric woven from musical intonations and literary genius - the famous "Gogol Suite" and fragments of the immortal poem "Dead Souls" in a new interpretation. A feature of the production is the rejection of familiar heroes. There will be no Nozdryov, Plyushkin, or Chichikov. The focus is on lesser-known, but equally vivid characters, whose fates intertwine in a strange, metaphysical Russia. They are brought to life on stage by Evgeny Mironov and Maria Smolnikova - an acting duo capable of turning each line into a delicate psychological score. Director Marina Brusnikina has rejected traditional theatrical interpretation, offering a poetic and daring view of the Gogol text. This is not an adaptation or staging, but an attempt to build a dialogue between sound and word, between the author and the modern audience. Schnittke becomes a full co-author: his music breathes along with the text, sharpens, suggests, disturbs. Accompanied by an orchestra conducted by Yuri Bashmet, the performance will gain additional depth - each musical chord emphasizes the semantic intonation of the text, creating an unforgettable effect of presence. The finest directing, precise dramaturgy, brilliant acting, and musical power will give birth to a true theatrical revelation.