The Mariinsky and Bolshoi theatres are set to welcome spring with a series of major events, including their most extensive exchange programme in recent years. Wagner’s monumental Der Ring des Nibelungen will travel to Moscow, where it will be presented twice on the Bolshoi Theatre’s Historic Stage. In return the Bolshoi Theatre will bring its acclaimed production of Rossini’s Il viaggio a Reims to St Petersburg, followed by the ballet The Master and Margarita, set to music by Schnittke and Lazar. Later in the month, the two companies will join forces for performances in Tikhvin, the birthplace of Rimsky-Korsakov, and Pskov, where they will honour the legacy of Musorgsky.
The first cycle of Der Ring des Nibelungen will take place at the Bolshoi Theatre from 5 to 9 March, with the second cycle following from 13 to 16 March. Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Theatre forces will present newly revitalised stagings of the operas, featuring striking lighting design and breathtaking sets that match the grandeur of Wagner’s vision. One of the highlights of the March programme will be concerts by a combined symphony orchestra drawn from both theatres, conducted by Valery Gergiev. These concerts will take place on the Bolshoi Theatre’s Historic Stage on 11 and 12 March.
St Petersburg’s March calendar also boasts a wealth of unique events. On 1 March the chamber Prokofiev Hall will host the premiere of Rustam Sagdiev’s opera for children, Ayoga. From 4 to 8 March audiences can experience a new run of performances of Verdi’s Aida, staged by the renowned Italian director Giancarlo del Monaco. This production is a visual feast, featuring monumental ten-metre-high columns, imposing nine-metre statues, four hundred costumes, one hundred shields, one hundred masks and a vast array of props.
From 14 to 16 March St Petersburg audiences will have the opportunity to see the Bolshoi Theatre’s production of Rossini’s Il viaggio a Reims, a co-production with the Dutch National Opera, the Royal Danish Theatre and Opera Australia. This vibrant production, which has graced the Bolshoi Theatre’s stage since 2018, is renowned for its striking and unconventional scenography.
Throughout March various Mariinsky stages will host events celebrating composers born in this month: Bach, Ravel and Rimsky-Korsakov. The Mariinsky Stradivarius Ensemble will also give concerts. On 5 March Alexander Klyuchko, 1st prize and Gold Medal winner at the Rachmaninoff International Competition for Pianists, Composers and Conductors, will perform works by Chopin.
St Petersburg audiences can also look forward to exceptional ballet performances featuring international stars. Highlights include Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, Minkus’ Don Quixote, Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty, Glazunov’s Raymonda, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, Yarullin’s Shurale and Delibes’ Coppélia. Principal roles will be performed by Viktoria Tereshkina, Roman Belyakov, Renata Shakirova, Kimin Kim, Oxana Skorik, Andrei Yermakov, Nadezhda Batoeva, Timur Askerov, Ekaterina Kondaurova and Olesya Novikova. On 5 and 11 March the Mariinsky Theatre will present ballets choreographed by Michel Fokine, featuring a stellar cast of dancers, including Ekaterina Kondaurova, Andrei Yermakov, Philipp Stepin, Diana Vishneva, Oxana Skorik and Timur Askerov.
The Mariinsky Theatre will resonate with some of the finest voices in the world throughout March. Ekaterina Semenchuk will sing the title role in Puccini’s Turandot. On 10 March a concert featuring laureates of the International Glinka Competition of Vocalists will take place, with Albina Shagimuratova among the performers. The following day the brilliant Hibla Gerzmava will star as Desdemona in Verdi’s Otello. The renowned Italian baritone Ambrogio Maestri returns to the Mariinsky Theatre in March to sing the title role in Verdi’s Falstaff on two occasions. A rare treat for opera lovers, Massenet’s Werther, will be presented in concert on 22 March, with Ekaterina Semenchuk and Najmiddin Mavlyanov in the leading roles.
At the end of the month the Mariinsky and Bolshoi theatres will once again join forces. Following tradition, Valery Gergiev will lead artists from both companies on a pilgrimage to Tikhvin, the birthplace of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, and to Pskov, where they will perform works by Modest Musorgsky. These annual concerts and performances, featuring artists from both companies, are always eagerly anticipated and guarantee a warm reception from audiences and performers alike.
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