25.02.2011
A Review of the Mikhailovsky Theatre's 2009-10 Season
The Mikhailovsky’s 177th season has drawn to a close, having seen six new productions enter the theatre’s repertoire, new performers join the Mikhailovsky’s ballet and opera troupes, and an injection of new blood into the theatre’s orchestra, which has reached new heights under the leadership of Principal Conductor and Musical Director Peter Feranec.
For the first time ever, the theatre showcased three new large-scale opera productions and three ballet premières in a single season. Antonin Dvořak’s Rusalka (‘The Mermaid’), Jacques Fromental Halévi’s La Juive (‘The Jewess’), and Guiseppe Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera (‘A Masked Ball’), all staples of Western-European theatre repertoires, were performed at the Mikhailovsky in their original languages. The season also saw the launch of three very different operatic productions: Asaf Messerer’s surprising adaptation of Alexander Gorsky’s choreogaphy for the classical Russian masterpiece Swan Lake; the treasure of Soviet dramatic ballet Laurencia, revived by Mikhailovsky head choreographer Mikhail Messerer to pay tribute to the great choreographer Vakhtang Chabukiani in the year of the centenary of his birth; and the world première of Slava Samodurov’s Sonatas in Minor, bringing a new name in contemporary choreography to the Russian audience.
The Mikhailovsky Theatre has affirmed its status as a fully-fledged member of the international theatrical community by inviting leading international opera names to work on its productions. La Juive, which opened the theatrical programme of the Year of France in Russia, was performed in French director Arnaud Bernard’s original production. The opera season closed with renowned Latvian director Andrejs Žagars’ adaptation of Un ballo in maschera. The Mikhailovsky theatre’s own soloists participated in all of the productions, along with stars of the international opera and ballet stages. Of particular note were the appearances of celebrated American tenor Neil Shicoff as Eleazar in La Juive, and of outstanding London Royal Ballet prima Tamara Rojo as Odette-Odile in Swan Lake.
The Mikhailovsky continues to be actively involved in charitable projects, acting as a driving force for social programmes. These include the Mikhailovsky Theatre Grand Prix, a competition aimed at supporting Russia’s classical ballet schools, and the charity performance of the ballet version of The Little Prince in collaboration with the Give a Life Foundation. Over the past year, the Mikhailovsky Theatre has also played host to the large-scale Kings of the Dance project and the modern ballet troupe Complexions.
The past year also saw the Mikhailovsky opera and ballet companies touring to Japan and Venice, while the ballet company’s London season has just come to a close. This second London guest run drew five-star reviews from Britain’s exacting critics for Swan Lake, and the troupe were awarded four stars for Laurencia. The company has plans to expand its touring calendar in forthcoming seasons.
The Mikhailovsky Theatre’s 178th season is set to open with the final showings of two premières: the ballet Laurencia on September 15 and 17, and the opera Un ballo in maschera on September 16 and 18. Opera legend Leo Nucci will appear in the performance on September 16. The forthcoming season promises lively new productions and a packed programme of major events.
For the first time ever, the theatre showcased three new large-scale opera productions and three ballet premières in a single season. Antonin Dvořak’s Rusalka (‘The Mermaid’), Jacques Fromental Halévi’s La Juive (‘The Jewess’), and Guiseppe Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera (‘A Masked Ball’), all staples of Western-European theatre repertoires, were performed at the Mikhailovsky in their original languages. The season also saw the launch of three very different operatic productions: Asaf Messerer’s surprising adaptation of Alexander Gorsky’s choreogaphy for the classical Russian masterpiece Swan Lake; the treasure of Soviet dramatic ballet Laurencia, revived by Mikhailovsky head choreographer Mikhail Messerer to pay tribute to the great choreographer Vakhtang Chabukiani in the year of the centenary of his birth; and the world première of Slava Samodurov’s Sonatas in Minor, bringing a new name in contemporary choreography to the Russian audience.
The Mikhailovsky Theatre has affirmed its status as a fully-fledged member of the international theatrical community by inviting leading international opera names to work on its productions. La Juive, which opened the theatrical programme of the Year of France in Russia, was performed in French director Arnaud Bernard’s original production. The opera season closed with renowned Latvian director Andrejs Žagars’ adaptation of Un ballo in maschera. The Mikhailovsky theatre’s own soloists participated in all of the productions, along with stars of the international opera and ballet stages. Of particular note were the appearances of celebrated American tenor Neil Shicoff as Eleazar in La Juive, and of outstanding London Royal Ballet prima Tamara Rojo as Odette-Odile in Swan Lake.
The Mikhailovsky continues to be actively involved in charitable projects, acting as a driving force for social programmes. These include the Mikhailovsky Theatre Grand Prix, a competition aimed at supporting Russia’s classical ballet schools, and the charity performance of the ballet version of The Little Prince in collaboration with the Give a Life Foundation. Over the past year, the Mikhailovsky Theatre has also played host to the large-scale Kings of the Dance project and the modern ballet troupe Complexions.
The past year also saw the Mikhailovsky opera and ballet companies touring to Japan and Venice, while the ballet company’s London season has just come to a close. This second London guest run drew five-star reviews from Britain’s exacting critics for Swan Lake, and the troupe were awarded four stars for Laurencia. The company has plans to expand its touring calendar in forthcoming seasons.
The Mikhailovsky Theatre’s 178th season is set to open with the final showings of two premières: the ballet Laurencia on September 15 and 17, and the opera Un ballo in maschera on September 16 and 18. Opera legend Leo Nucci will appear in the performance on September 16. The forthcoming season promises lively new productions and a packed programme of major events.
