Valery Gergiev’s planned concert at the Royal Palace of Caserta, near Naples, has been cancelled after more than 16,000 people (including politicians worldwide, Nobel laureates, and activists) signed … [Read more...] about Putin’s conductor, Valery Gergiev, sees his return concert cancelled
Mariinsky Theatre
Interview: Cecilia Bartoli – I’m more gifted with vocal cords than with my feet!
Cecilia Bartoli is the director of the Salzburg Whitsun Festival (since 2012) and Monte-Carlo Opera (since 2023). She was the first woman to hold these positions. True empowerment will occur when … [Read more...] about Interview: Cecilia Bartoli – I’m more gifted with vocal cords than with my feet!
Review: The Nutcracker with Rome Opera Ballet showing choreographer Paul Chalmer’s “wisdom, passion and finesse”
Donatella Bertozzi sees The Nutcracker in Rome and finds in Paul Chalmer “a strong narrator and an expert dance maker”. TitleThe NutcrackerCompanyRome Opera Ballet VenueTeatro dell'Opera, RomeDate15 … [Read more...] about Review: The Nutcracker with Rome Opera Ballet showing choreographer Paul Chalmer’s “wisdom, passion and finesse”
The Bolshoi Theatre has more than doubled its ticket prices
The Bolshoi Theatre’s newly raised ticket prices are causing some anger among its regular patrons. One comment on the theatre's Telegram channel reads: Six months ago, performances could be seen … [Read more...] about The Bolshoi Theatre has more than doubled its ticket prices
Rudolf Nureyev’s Bayadère returns to La Scala with Kimin Kim guesting
Rudolf Nureyev's production of La Bayadère returns to La Scala for 10 performances from 26 May to 21 June, with Kimin Kim making a guest appearance. The company’s new étoile, Nicoletta Manni, will … [Read more...] about Rudolf Nureyev’s Bayadère returns to La Scala with Kimin Kim guesting
Valery Gergiev becomes head of both Bolshoi and Mariinsky theatres
Russia’s two ‘rival’ theatres – The Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg and The Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow – will both be headed by Vladimir Putin’s favourite conductor, Valery Gergiev. Izvestiya … [Read more...] about Valery Gergiev becomes head of both Bolshoi and Mariinsky theatres
Putin’s conductor stole millions from his own charity
Valery Gergiev has embezzled millions of euros from his own charity, the Valery Gergiev Charity Foundation, to build an extensive property portfolio, according to the Moscow-based Anti-Corruption … [Read more...] about Putin’s conductor stole millions from his own charity
Olga Smirnova leaves the Bolshoi Company for Amsterdam
The Russian principal dancer Olga Smirnova, an outspoken critic of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has decided to leave the Bolshoi Ballet Company where she is one of its most popular and admired … [Read more...] about Olga Smirnova leaves the Bolshoi Company for Amsterdam
Bolshoi Ballet director on injury, race, harassment and a new theatre
Makhar Vaziev, artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet company, talks about some of the most discussed problems in ballet today, as well as wanting a third theatre in Moscow for the Bolshoi opera and … [Read more...] about Bolshoi Ballet director on injury, race, harassment and a new theatre
Dancing in the museum: Diana Vishneva’s cross-media project ‘Imprint in Motion’
Diana Vishneva’s latest project - Imprint in Motion - is a cross-media project fusing the fine arts, contemporary dance, music, and film making, and focuses on the human body in a variety of … [Read more...] about Dancing in the museum: Diana Vishneva’s cross-media project ‘Imprint in Motion’
Russian Ballet: Quarantine, death, and the reality of performing during a pandemic
Many ballet lovers – both online fans and offline friends – have been voicing their resentment that ballet in Europe and America is either not permitted, or has to comply with social distancing … [Read more...] about Russian Ballet: Quarantine, death, and the reality of performing during a pandemic
Pierina Legnani – more than 32 fouettés
Pierina Legnani was born in Milan on 30 September 1868. She spent ten years at La Scala’s ballet school, graduating in 1888, but then continued working on her technique at the private school of … [Read more...] about Pierina Legnani – more than 32 fouettés
Bolshoi and Mariinsky dancers in quarantine
Russian media outlet RBC is reporting that some artists of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres in Moscow and St Petersburg have been quarantined after testing positive for … [Read more...] about Bolshoi and Mariinsky dancers in quarantine
The Mariinsky Theatre opens its door to opera and ballet performances
After last night’s socially distanced concert by Denis Matsuev at the Mariinsky Theatre – which was streamed live on the theatre’s YouTube channel – the mini-season for the Stars of the White … [Read more...] about The Mariinsky Theatre opens its door to opera and ballet performances
Introducing 19-year-old Canadian dancer Shale Wagman: from Lausanne to ENB to the Mariinsky
Canadian dancer Shale Wagman turned 19 last May. Soon after he was guesting at the Mariinsky Theatre. What’s more, it was his first time dancing a principal role. Ever. Last season – his first as a … [Read more...] about Introducing 19-year-old Canadian dancer Shale Wagman: from Lausanne to ENB to the Mariinsky
Ballet dancer Sergei Vikharev died in his dentist’s chair
Sergei Vikharev, the former Russian dancer renowned for his reconstruction of ballets and who died last Friday at 55, will be celebrated in the foyer of the Mariinsky Theatre today, before being … [Read more...] about Ballet dancer Sergei Vikharev died in his dentist’s chair
Children banned from the Bolshoi Ballet
A week ago, a group of parents with their young children – 5-11 years-old – were refused entrance to a performance of Swan Lake, and without a refund being offered. The Bolshoi’s General Director, … [Read more...] about Children banned from the Bolshoi Ballet
The 7th Vaganova-PRIX takes place in October… and now’s the time to apply
The Vaganova Ballet Academy is reviving the International Ballet Competition Vaganova-PRIX. This year will be the seventh time that the competition has been held and it will take place in St … [Read more...] about The 7th Vaganova-PRIX takes place in October… and now’s the time to apply
Vaganova Ballet Academy to open a new school in Vladivostok – 10,000 km from St Petersburg
by guest blogger Elizaveta Dilanyan On 18 June it was announced that Vaganova Ballet Academy will open a second campus in Vladivostok, the capital of the Primorsky Krai province, in far eastern … [Read more...] about Vaganova Ballet Academy to open a new school in Vladivostok – 10,000 km from St Petersburg
Maya Plisetskaya’s 90th birthday celebrated in concerts and exhibitions
20 November 2015 would have been Maya Plisetskaya's 90th birthday. The great Russian ballerina, who died on 2 May this year, will be remembered in a series of events in Moscow and St Petersburg. On … [Read more...] about Maya Plisetskaya’s 90th birthday celebrated in concerts and exhibitions
Cecilia Bartoli: “Contemporary composers can’t write for opera singers like me”
I've been following this project for eight years and I've been to St Petersburg many times in train or by ship, because I don't like flying; one of the most beautiful trips was on the icebreaker from … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli: “Contemporary composers can’t write for opera singers like me”
Tsiskaridze’s reputation is not as high as state officials’ wives would have you believe
Earlier today, teachers at the Vaganova Ballet Academy published an open letter, written in four languages, to President Vladimir Putin asking him to reconsider the appointment of Nikolay … [Read more...] about Tsiskaridze’s reputation is not as high as state officials’ wives would have you believe
Tsiskaridze is Principal and Lopatkina the new Artistic Director of the Vaganova Academy
Nikolay Tsiskaridze has been appointed Principal of the Vaganova Ballet Academy, and Ulyana Lopatkina will be its new Artistic Director. Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky told Izvestia: Tsiskaridze … [Read more...] about Tsiskaridze is Principal and Lopatkina the new Artistic Director of the Vaganova Academy
Being groomed for stardom: Italian ballerina Petra Conti
23 year-old Petra Conti is a dancer at La Scala in Milan, who is being slowly brought before the public by director (ex-director of the Mariinsky) Makhar Vaziev. He first saw her when she spent a … [Read more...] about Being groomed for stardom: Italian ballerina Petra Conti
Diana Vishneva celebrates her 15 years on stage with a ballet gala and exhibition in St Petersburg
Diana Vishneva will celebrate the 15th anniversary of her dancing career later this week with an exhibition and a ballet gala. The exhibition, featuring photography and video material of Vishneva’s … [Read more...] about Diana Vishneva celebrates her 15 years on stage with a ballet gala and exhibition in St Petersburg