Fragment from the film “Mikhailovsky Theatre. 175 years”
shot at the “Documental Films Studio”, director Sergey Debizhev.
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Theatre today
In 2001, the Mikhailovsky Theatre got its original name back. Year 2007 witnessed the revival of the Mikhailovsky Theatre; its magnificence came back to Arts Square. Nowadays, the Theatre both keeps traditions and introduces innovations.
General Director of the Theatre Vladimir Kekhman initiated and sponsored the repair works in the building. Under Vladimir Kekhman a constellation of famous artists appeared in the theatre: Elena Obraztsova became the head of the Mikhailovsky Opera, Farukh Ruzimatov took the lead of the Mikhailovsky Ballet Company.
In May 2009, Mikhail Messerer, the outstanding ballet repetiteur, took the position of Ballet Mater in Chief. In June 2009, the Mikhailovsky Theatre started its cooperation with Peter Feranec who was later appointed Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Theatre.
Nowadays Farukh Ruzimatov and Elena Obraztsova continue their cooperation with the Mikhailovsky Theatre as Artistic Advisors to General Director of the Mikhailovsky Theatre.
Famous ballet répétiteurs such as Nikita Dolgushin, Alla Osipenko, Evgeny Popov, and Svetlana Efremova among many others are responsible for the quality of the current repertoire.
Leading ballet masters of Europe and America such as Natalia Makarova, Jennifer Goubé, Gilbert Mayer, and Cyril Atanasoff hold master classes at the theatre.
The priorities of the repertoire policy of the Mikhailovsky Theatre are classical masterpieces of Russian and European musical theatre. The Mikhailovsky Theatre maintains the policy of introducing the public to the major opera and ballet works of the 19th and 20th century. Special attention is paid to expanding children repertoire.
During the season the Mikhailovsky Theatre presented three ballet premieres — a romantic story Giselle, ou Les Wilis, a fairy tale for children Cipollino and a heroic epos Spartacus — and two opera premieres — Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni and L’elisir d’amore by Gaetano Donizetti. The stage of the theatre witnessed the performances of Elena Obraztsova, Roberto Alagna, Paco de Lucía, and Renée Fleming. The theatre also hosted the companies of the Moscow State Chamber Choir conducted by Vladimir Minin and the Ballet Company of the Moscow Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Musical Theatre.
The Mikhailovsky Theatre for the first time participated in the Arts Square Festival and the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
The Mikhailovsky Opera Company toured in Japan and presented its two premieres in Moscow at the Bolshoi Theatre and at the Moscow Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Musical Theatre. The Mikhailovsky Ballet Company had its first London season at the Coliseum and was nominated for the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards in two categories: Best Foreign Dance Company 2008 and Best Male Dancer 2008 (Denis Matvyenko).
On October 30, 2008, the Mikhailovsky Theatre witnessed come back of the ballet Romeo and Juliet by Oleg Vinogradov. In November 2008, at La Fenice in Venice the Theatre presented its version of Giselle by Nikita Dolgushin that had become a European sensation after its London debut.
On November 8, the Mikhailovsky Theatre celebrated its 175th anniversary. On November 8, 2008 Nikita Dolgushin turned 70 years and the Mikhailovsky Theatre started the celebration of its 175th jubilee with a ballet evening, devoted to the great personality. Principal dancers of the Bolshoi, Mariinsky and Mikhailovsky Theatres congratulated the famous dancer and teacher and performed extracts from the ballets that became landmarks of Dolgushin’s career. It was for Nikita Dolgushin that Farukh Ruzimatov performed the part of the Moor in the second ballet premiere of the season — The Moor’s Pavane by José Limón.
On November 14, a jubilee gala performance took place both on Arts Square and in the theatre. Especially for the jubilee famous Russian film director Sergey Debizhev with his crew shot a film about the Mikhailovsky Theatre, which was presented during the gala performance. On November 15, a gala performance of the famous Argentinean tenor José Cura took place. A gala performance of Farukh Ruzimatov featuring ballets The Moor’s Pavane and Carmen became the final accord of the jubilee performances.
On November 27, Russian premiere of the staging of Pagliacci by Liliana Cavani took place.On March 13, 2009 the Mikhailovsky Theatre presented the version of the ballet Le Corsaire by Farukh Ruzimatov.
177th season
On September 15, 2009 the Mikhailovsky opened its 177th season with the premiere of the ballet Swan Lake staged by Alexander Gorsky and Asaf Messerer. The author of the revival is the Ballet Master in Chief of the Mikhailovsky Theatre Mikhail Messerer.
In October 2009, Farukh Ruzimatov, who held post of Artistic Director of the Mikhailovsky Ballet from May 2007, disclosed his decision to continue his dancing career as a performer and became Artistic Advisor to General Director of the Mikhailovsky Theatre.
On October 21 and 24, the theatre hosted the concerts of the Grand Prix of the Mikhailovsky Theatre. Young students of the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St Petersburg, Moscow Ballet Academy and Novosibirsk Ballet School demonstrated the results of their and their tutors’ labour.
On October 30, there was presented the first opera premiere of the season — Rusalka by Antonín Dvořák staged by Igor Konyayev.
On February 19, 2010, the Mikhailovsky Theatre presented La Juive by Fromental Halévy staged by Arnaud Bernard.
On June 5, 2010, the Mikhailovsky Ballet Company celebrated the centenary of the birth of Vakhtang Chabukiani by reviving his legendary ballet Laurencia produced by Mikhail Messerer.
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Idea Fix