Tonight the Mikhailovsky Theatre opens its 2012-2013 season with Polina Semionova dancing the eponymous heroine in Giselle.

Semionova left to join the Berlin Staatsoper immediately after graduating from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Coincidentally, earlier this week Daniel Barenboim, the Music Director of the Berlin Staatsoper, gave a press conference at the Mikhailovsky where he announced that on 5–6 September 2013, he will perform there with the Staatskapelle orchestra. This will be his first performance at the theatre, as tonight’s Giselle will be the first time Semionova performs her ‘signature role’ at the Mikhailovsky.

Semionova is now visiting as a guest from the American Ballet Theatre, where she became prima ballerina just a few weeks ago, having left the Staatsoper after a ten-year collaboration. Her Albrecht in tonight’s performance will be the ABT’s magnificent Marcelo Gomes.

Photo: Polina Semionova and Marcelo Gomes in Giselle at the Mikhailovsky Theatre by Nikolai Krusser