Mikhailovsky Theatre

The silence of the cultural elite – moral dilemmas of working in dance in today’s Russia

20 September 2023 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Can art, in this case dance, be a protection from politics? Do you become a collaborator if your work is helping to fill the coffers of the regime? Conductors Furtwängler and Toscanini offer a … [Read more...] about The silence of the cultural elite – moral dilemmas of working in dance in today’s Russia

Artistic Director of the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St Petersburg Vladimir Kekhman has named Alevtina Ioffe as the theatre’s new Musical Director. Alexander Vedernikov, the previous Music … [Read more...] about Alevtina Ioffe becomes first woman Musical Director of the Mikhailovsky Theatre

Dancing brothers Julian MacKay and Nicholas MacKay, who many will know through this blog (which started following them and their two sisters in 2013), are trapped in Russia after the government set … [Read more...] about American dancers trapped in Russia after last plane is blocked on the runway

Q&A in italiano When did you start singing? I started as a young girl… for as long as I can remember. Why did you start singing? I started by accident. I was supposed to go to my saxophone … [Read more...] about Maria José Siri answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

Ardani 25 Dance Gala is a must for ballet fans on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th July at the London Coliseum. Natalia Osipova, Edward Watson, Ivan Vasiliev, Marcelo Gomes, Denis Matvienko, Joaquín De … [Read more...] about Ardani’s 25th Anniversary Gala with Osipova, Watson, Vasiliev, Gomes, Matvienko…

31 December 2014 by Gramilano 11 Comments

What a disappointment was La Scala's new Nutcracker. A shimmering front-cloth announced "Lo schiaccianoci" as though written in the stars, Tchaikovsky's bewitching overture started and there was that … [Read more...] about Nutcracker-lite at La Scala – très chic Casse-noisette from Geneva

Last night, Svetlana Zakharova's Gala Ballet without Borders took place on the Bolshoi stage in Moscow. Ballet stars danced in support of young dancers in war-torn Ukraine. This politically sensitive … [Read more...] about Svetlana Zakharova’s Gala brings the Ukraine to the heart of Russia

The applause that greeted Natalia Osipova's return to the Bolshoi stage was enthusiastic. Laura Cappelle wrote in her Financial Times review: The tour marks the Russian superstar’s first … [Read more...] about Osipova is missing Hallberg, but hopes to return to the Bolshoi

Forget the Royal Ballet School or the The School of American Ballet, Nikolai Tsiskaridze says there are only three real ballet schools in the world: the Paris Opera Ballet School, the Bolshoi Ballet … [Read more...] about Tsiskaridze: Real ballet dancers are trained in Paris, Moscow or St Petersburg

Bailiffs in St Petersburg have banned the director of the Mikhailovsky Theatre, Vladimir Kekhman, from leaving Russia, said Lenta. Businessman Kekhman has debts exceeding 285 million rubles (7 million … [Read more...] about Boss of St Petersburg’s Mikhailovsky Theatre is banned from foreign travel

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 … [Read more...] about The Mikhailovsky Theatre opens its new season tonight with Semionova and Gomes in Giselle

The ballet world was surprised when Nacho Duato (ex-director of Spain's Compañía Nacional de Danza) was headhunted by St Petersburg's Mikhailovsky Theatre, maybe enticed by the fat wallet of general … [Read more...] about “Who’s pulling the strings in Russia’s ballet revolution?” asks The Observer’s Luke Jennings

"Russian tycoon Vladimir Kekhman made a fortune selling bananas. Now he has a new mission in life: ballet," says Reuters. The ballet world was rocked a couple of weeks ago when Natalia Osipova and … [Read more...] about After Osipova and Vasiliev, Russian tycoon Vladimir Kekhman sets his eyes on David Hallberg

17 November 2011 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The Bolshoi Theatre told reporters today that Ivan Vasiliev and Natalia Osipova's decision to leave the company and join the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St Petersburg was not helping their last minute … [Read more...] about Mikhailovsky Theatre says Vasiliev and Osipova won’t be allowed to perform at the Bolshoi if it makes accusations against their theatre

Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev have decided to leave their home theatre and move to the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St Petersburg. Mariinsky star Leonid Sarafanov made the move in January 2011. … [Read more...] about Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev leave Bolshoi to team up with Sarafanov and Duato at the Mikhailovsky Theatre