31.07.2012
Opening of the 180th Season
The 180th commemorative season opens on 13 September with the ballet Giselle, ou Les Wilis. This exquisite, refined ballet invariably captivates audiences with its romantic atmosphere and its blend of naiveté and deep emotions. The production, created by legendary dancer and choreographer Nikita Dolgushin, is instilled with all the vast experience of that connoisseur of the classical ballet heritage, who has managed to preserve the style and nuances of the original.
On the opening night, the title role in Giselle, ou Les Wilis will be performed by Polina Semionova, a dancer with an impeccable artistic style whose talent has been appreciated in the world’s most famous theatres. Her partner will be Marcelo Gomes, appearing on the Mikhailovsky Theatre stage for the first time in his new status as guest principal dancer. This star pairing can also be seen in Giselle, ou Les Wilis on 15 September. On 14 September, the leading roles will be danced by Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev, the Mikhailovsky Theatre’s magnificent soloists, who are so well loved by audiences in Moscow and St. Petersburg alike.
The opera season opens on 20 September with a performance of Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera, one of the top operas in the classical Italian repertoire. The opera’s distinctive characteristics are the beauty of its vocal parts, the expressiveness of its ensembles, the brilliance of its orchestration, and what theatre critics call its ‘Shakespearean power’. The bright, stylish, captivating production will feature the best voices of the Mikhailovsky opera company and guest soloists: on the opening night, Amelia will be sung by Maria Litke, Gustavo by Fyodor Ataskevich, and Renato by Dmitry Darov; the part of Ulrica will be performed by wonderfully refined mezzo-soprano Olesya Petrova. Mikhail Tatarnikov, the theatre’s Musical Director and Principal Conductor, will be on the podium.
On the opening night, the title role in Giselle, ou Les Wilis will be performed by Polina Semionova, a dancer with an impeccable artistic style whose talent has been appreciated in the world’s most famous theatres. Her partner will be Marcelo Gomes, appearing on the Mikhailovsky Theatre stage for the first time in his new status as guest principal dancer. This star pairing can also be seen in Giselle, ou Les Wilis on 15 September. On 14 September, the leading roles will be danced by Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev, the Mikhailovsky Theatre’s magnificent soloists, who are so well loved by audiences in Moscow and St. Petersburg alike.
The opera season opens on 20 September with a performance of Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera, one of the top operas in the classical Italian repertoire. The opera’s distinctive characteristics are the beauty of its vocal parts, the expressiveness of its ensembles, the brilliance of its orchestration, and what theatre critics call its ‘Shakespearean power’. The bright, stylish, captivating production will feature the best voices of the Mikhailovsky opera company and guest soloists: on the opening night, Amelia will be sung by Maria Litke, Gustavo by Fyodor Ataskevich, and Renato by Dmitry Darov; the part of Ulrica will be performed by wonderfully refined mezzo-soprano Olesya Petrova. Mikhail Tatarnikov, the theatre’s Musical Director and Principal Conductor, will be on the podium.
