All friends together

The Mikhailovsky Theatre Friends Club has been running for five years. Members have the opportunity to go behind the scenes and get even closer to the world of the theatre. It has become a tradition to invite members to run-throughs before a première, giving them the chance to be the first to judge new productions. On 21 October, members of the Friends Club are invited to the dress rehearsal of the opera Manon Lescaut, directed by Jürgen Flimm.

This time, the Mikhailovsky Theatre Friends Club will be joined at the dress rehearsal by members of another society of theatregoers — the Association of Friends and Supporters of the Ruhrtriennale, the German festival of which Jürgen Flimm was artistic director from 2005 to 2008. Long-time fans of the famous director see it as their duty to come to Russia and support the master as he directs his first production here.

The Ruhrtriennale is an arts festival held between August and October in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It was founded in 2002 by the eminent reformer of European opera, Gerard Mortier. Each festival includes more than a hundred shows and performances. What makes the programme unique is the combination of theatrical events and the latest developments in fine art, popular music, jazz, and live concert performances. Artists who have previously taken part in the festival include Peter Brook, Bill Viola, Patrice Chéreau, Ilya Kabakov, Peter Sellars, and other well-known figures.