Today, on 22 May, the Mariinsky Theatre opens the XXXIII Music Festival Stars of the White Nights with a grand celebration. Year after year the festival draws the attention of audiences from around the world who cherish musical and theatrical art. Stars of the White Nights remains one of the most prominent and anticipated cultural events of the Mariinsky Theatre – the culmination of its entire season. This year’s festival runs from 22 May to 3 August, with events scheduled across all of the theatre’s St Petersburg stages.
The operatic programme opens with one of the most anticipated premieres of recent years – Vincenzo Bellini’s bel canto masterpiece Norma, which finally receives a new full-scale stage production. The production is directed by Sergei Novikov, with Valery Gergiev as musical director. Premieres will take place on 22, 23 and 24 May, at 13:00 and 19:00, in Mariinsky II. The title role will be sung on opening night by the magnificent Albina Shagimuratova. Also performing in the leading roles are Ekaterina Lukash, Igor Morozov, Miroslav Molchanov, Varvara Solovyova and Savva Khastaev.
The ballet programme opens on the Historic Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre with one of the most celebrated orientalist ballets in the classical repertoire – La Bayadère by Ludwig Minkus. The principal roles will be danced by a stellar cast: Victoria Tereshkina, Renata Shakirova and Kimin Kim.
The first concert of the festival at the Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theatre will feature the acclaimed Stradivarius Ensemble of the Mariinsky Theatre under the baton of Lorenz Nasturica-Herschcowici, performing the Concerto in D for string orchestra (Basel Concerto), the suite from Stravinsky’s Pulcinella and Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.
May and June will also see performances of the season’s recent premieres in opera and ballet. On 27 and 28 May Mariinsky II will present Dance Scenes by Vyacheslav Samodurov to music by Stravinsky. The first evening’s programme includes Pulcinella and Concert Dances; the second – Pulcinella and Jeu de cartes.
Among the recent operatic premieres on the festival bill is Verdi’s Aida, directed by Giancarlo del Monaco, with performances on 13, 14 and 15 June. Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, staged by Konstantin Balakin and Alexei Stepanyuk, will be performed on 29 June.
The Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theatre will offer audiences a rich programme of operatic masterpieces. Throughout June the stage will host productions of Puccini’s La bohème, Suor Angelica, Gianni Schicchi and Turandot, Verdi’s Falstaff and Rigoletto, Prokofiev’s War and Peace, Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta, Mozart’s Idomeneo, rè di Creta and Le nozze di Figaro, Shchedrin’s The Enchanted Wanderer and Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde.
One of the most anticipated ballet events of the festival will be a guest appearance by the Bolshoi Ballet. From 27 to 29 June the company will perform the compelling production of The Master and Margarita, set to music by Alfred Schnittke and Milko Lazar, choreographed by Edward Clug.
A highlight of the June concert calendar will be the performance by audience favourite Denis Matsuev together with the Mariinsky Orchestra under Valery Gergiev. On 2 June Mariinsky II will resound with Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 and Prokofiev’s Symphonies Nos. 1 and 5.
The Stars of the White Nights festival brings together the best and the newest achievements of the season. It promises audiences landmark premieres, world-class performers, dazzling guest appearances, rare repertoire gems and timeless classics performed by exceptional casts. Full details are available on the Mariinsky Theatre’s official website.
The festival is held with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. The festival’s Artistic Director is Valery Gergiev.
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