Solo for Two

On 30 July, for the first time in St. Petersburg, the Mikhailovsky Theatre will present a programme showcasing the unique talents of two star dancers, Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev, in a new light. The first performances in this series took place last summer, in California and later in Moscow. Now a new version has been put together for the St. Petersburg première: Solo for Two. Volume 2.

Choreographer Alastair Marriott, invited to contribute by producer Sergei Danilian, has created Zeitgeist for Natalia and Ivan, set to Philip Glass’s Violin Concerto No. 1. The Russian première will see performances by Marcelino Sambé, Tomas Mock and Donald Thom, rising stars of the Royal Ballet in London. Alastair Marriott has previously worked with Natalia Osipova in London, where he created Connectome at the Royal Ballet for her and her partner Edward Watson.

Ivan Vasiliev, in turn, introduced the young Russian choreographer and dancer Vladimir Varnava to the project. Varnava has chosen the theme of Mozart and Salieri for his production. The St. Petersburg performance will be the world première. The director says he was inspired by the cantata Per la ricuperata salute di Ofelia, co-written by Mozart and Salieri in 1785. Ivan Vasiliev will perform the role of Mozart, while Varnava himself will play the part of his antagonist.

The third composition in the programme is unchanged: Facada, produced by Arthur Pita to music by Frank Moon, is considered the most striking and engaging part of the original project. When Natalia Osipova was named Best Female Dancer at the British National Dance Awards in January 2015, her role in this ballet was listed among her most outstanding works. Partnering Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev in this work is another artist from the Royal Ballet, Elizabeth McGorian, as the Lady in Black. The role of the musician is played, as at its première, by the composer Frank Moon himself.

Rehearsals are currently taking place in London, St. Petersburg and Moscow.