Dear friends,
I welcome you to Saint Petersburg and congratulate you on the opening of the XXV Stars of the White Nights music festival. Such a marvelous creative forum is always a bright and remarkable event, a true celebration of music and virtuoso performance.
Owing to the insatiable energy of its creator, maestro Valery Gergiev, the festival is known for its unique spiritual ambiance, its major premieres and the performances of big-stage supernovas. I am sure that this year’s festival, which marks two anniversaries – 135 years since the birth of Igor Stravinsky and 85 years since the birth of Rodion Shchedrin – is bound to meet the expectations of the most demanding theatre-goers as it presents a wonderful opportunity to enjoy classical opera and ballet masterpieces as well as modern productions.
I wish to all the participants of the Stars of the White Nightsfestival a lot of inspiration and successful performances. I wish to all the guests of the festival to enjoy the mastership of most eminent Russian and foreign musicians.
V. Putin

The Mariinsky Theatre is dedicating the XXV Stars of the White Nights music festival to Igor Stravinsky’s 135^th anniversary

May 26 will see the opening of the XXV anniversary Stars of the White Nights music festival at three venues of the Mariinsky Theatre. The festival will run until July 23 and will feature more than 190 performances and concerts starring world-famous performers

The Atkins Young Artists Program is an international Mariinsky Theatre-based educational project. The project now accepts applications from professional vocalists between 18 and 32 years of age

Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra are giving several concerts in Europe in the run-up to the Stars of the White Nights Festival

Festival will run from 26 May to 23 July

On his birthday on 2 May, Valery Gergiev will give two performances at the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire with the Mariinsky Orchestra