Replacing the performance on September 11

Important announcement!

It is with great regret that the Mikhailovsky Theatre management must announce that the performance of Swan Lake scheduled for 11 September starring Natalia Osipova and David Hallberg will not now take place. David Hallberg has had to undergo surgery and has cancelled all his performances, and Natalia Osipova has decided not to perform in this ballet with a different partner. “David Hallberg’s appearance in this production was of great importance to me, and I feel that in his absence I need to concentrate on the ballets planned for the Mikhailovsky Theatre’s forthcoming tour to New York”, said the ballerina. “I am sure David and I will have another opportunity to dance Swan Lake at the Mikhailovsky Theatre in the future. All I can do is to wish him a speedy recovery.”

On 11 September Swan Lake will be replaced by an evening of one-act ballets, including Class Concert (a première), La Halte de cavalerie, and White Darkness. The dancers taking part will be Natalia Osipova, Ekaterina Borchenko, Angelina Vorontsova, Anastasiya Soboleva, Ivan Vasiliev, Leonid Sarafanov, Victor Lebedev, and Ivan Zaytsev.

General Director of the Mikhailovsky Theatre Vladimir Kekhman said, “We realize that it is difficult to offer the audience a like-for-like replacement when a production with performers of this standard has to be cancelled. I apologize to all those who are inconvenienced by this decision. At the same time, I hope the audience will not be disappointed by the alternative we are offering. It is a repeat of the season’s opening night programme, featuring all the stars of the company. I have a personal favour to ask of those who wish to return their tickets: please try to do so during the coming week, if possible, so that those who were unable to attend the première on 8 September can take advantage of this opportunity. I hope that all our theatregoers will thoroughly enjoy the new season.”