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The Mikhailovsky Theatre Staff Meeting before the Opening of the 178th Season
On 13 September 2010 the Mikhailovsky Theatre staff gathered on the threshold of the 178th season. The traditional meeting was visited by Vice-governor of St Petersburg Alla Manilova and the Chairman of the Culture Committee Anton Gubankov.
The themes discussed concerned mostly the reorganization of the theatre that has taken place in the last three years and the future artistic plans.

General Director of the theatre Vladimir Kekhman thanked the company for the self-sacrificing work and stressed that the theatre has gained both popularity and love of public: “The Mikhailovsky Theatre is now mentioned both as an internationally renowned and the leading music theatre in Russia.” He reminded that the famous Intendant of Wiener Staatsoper Ioan Holender, who had directed the Vienna’s Opera House for over 20 years, visited the Mikhailovsky Theatre in July 2010 and later commented his visit to Izvestia newspaper: “In Russia there is Mariinsky and Bolshoi Theatres — like two elephants and there is the Mikhailovsky — like a young daring tiger.”
Vladimir Kekhman also referred to the leading musical critics of Russia. According to the records, published by Culture newspaper, a number of premieres of the Mikhailovsky Theatre of the previous season may be named “the event of the year”. The decision of Nacho Duato to become Artistic Director of the Mikhailovsky Ballet is considered by Russian theatre critics to be a real sensation.

Vladimir Kekhman stressed the fact that the successful development of the theatre owes to the help of the government of the city.

Vice-governor Alla Manilova assured the public in the auditorium that the city government appreciates the Mikhailovsky Theatre and supports its artistic plans. “We’re proud of the success of the theatre. It took an extremely short period of time to transform the theatre. One can compare the impetus to the one of Peter I, who transformed Russia in the 18th century.” Ms Manilova also mentioned that the city government followed the success of the Mikhailovsky foreign tours: “The triumph of the London tour, when the prominent British newspapers rated the production of Giselle with five stars and the public gave a storm of applause, makes us sure that the Mikhailovsky Theatre is on the way to the top of theatre art.” The choreographer, who revived the production for the Mikhailovsky Theatre, Nikita Dolgushin was awarded with a prize the St Petersburg Government Premium in the sphere of literature, arts and architecture “For the Outstanding Contribution into the Development of St Petersburg Culture.”

Alla Manilova acted not only as an official but also as a devoted theatre-goer. “When visiting the productions of the Mikhailovsky Theatre, I see that the theatre has gained its own, very emotional and grateful public,” she shared her impressions. She also admitted that but her working schedule she would visit the theatre much more often.

The staff of the Mikhailovsky Theatre also listened to the speeches of the Chairman of the Culture Committee Anton Gubankov, Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Mikhailovsky Theatre Peter Feranec and Ballet Master in Chief Mikhail Messerer. Every speaker stressed that success of the theatre owes to reasonable mixture of traditional repertory and new experimental productions.

The Mikhailovsky Theatre opens its new season on 15 September with the ballet Laurencia (choreographed by Vakhtang Chabukiani revised by Mikhail Messerer). The forthcoming opera premieres of the theatre are Káťa Kabanová by Leoš Janáček and Carmen by Georges Bizet.