Just over a month remains before the close of the Mariinsky Theatre’s 243^rd season. By tradition, this is the moment when the theatrical year reaches its culmination. Rare, major and exclusive events – often unavailable during the regular season – appear across the theatre’s stages in a dazzling abundance. At the height of summer the concentration of stars from the world opera stage is especially remarkable. In July and early August Mariinsky Theatre productions will feature Hibla Gerzmava, Vladislav Sulimsky, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Yulia Matochkina, Alexey Markov, Elena Stikhina, Mikhail Petrenko, Olga Borodina, Tatiana Serjan, Irina Churilova and Sergei Skorokhodov

On 3 and 4 July, with performances at 13:00 and 19:00, Mariinsky II will present the premiere performances of a new production of Amilcare Ponchielli’s opera La Gioconda as part of the XXXIV Music Festival Stars of the White Nights. The production has been created by celebrated Bulgarian artists: stage director Orlin Anastassov and designer Denis Ivanov. Their creative partnership is already well known to St Petersburg audiences: their Mariinsky productions of Verdi’s Ernani and Musorgsky’s Boris Godunov have both enjoyed great success. This time Anastassov and Ivanov return to the Italian classics, taking on one of the most popular operas of its age. Valery Gergiev will conduct all premiere performances

On 24 and 26 June, as part of the XXXIV Music Festival Stars of the White Nights, Chinese conductor Daye Lin will appear with the Mariinsky Orchestra at the Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theatre. Audiences will hear a vivid symphonic programme and a performance of Puccini’s Turandot

On 29 May St Petersburg will host the ceremonial opening of the Mariinsky Theatre’s largest and most eagerly awaited festival – Stars of the White Nights. Each year the festival becomes a powerful centre of attraction for connoisseurs of music and theatre. Its programme brings together the season’s major premieres, a wealth of musical rarities, exclusive concert programmes, outstanding guest performances, and, of course, appearances by the brightest stars of the international stage

On 22 May the Chengdu Grand Theatre hosted the premiere of a new production of Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot, marking the centenary of the opera’s world premiere, which took place at Milan’s Teatro alla Scala in 1926