Interviews

On 7 May a new series of guest performances by the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia will open at the Mariinsky Theatre. This time, the Moscow company will present two ballets in St Petersburg – Spartacus by Khachaturian, staged by Yuri Grigorovich, and Jewels set to music by Fauré, Stravinsky, and Tchaikovsky, staged by George Balanchine. The previous exchange ballet tours between the theaters took place more than twenty years ago, in March 2003.

The first to be presented to the St Petersburg audience will be Khachaturian's Spartacus in a staging by Yuri Grigorovich with set design by Simon Virsaladze – performances will take place on 7, 8, and 9 May at the Mariinsky II. The ballet, which has become a calling card of the Bolshoi Theatre, has toured the best stages of the world – with triumphant success, it was shown in Paris, London, Milan, and Madrid. The St Petersburg stage last saw this Spartacus only in 1998.

The premiere of the ballet Spartacus, in which Grigorovich also acted as the choreographer and librettist (using a scenario by Nikolai Volkov), took place on 9 April, 1968, at the Bolshoi Theatre stage. Yuri Grigorovich focused the audience's attention on the fates and emotions of the main characters, and centered the production around male images – thus, the choreography for Spartacus and his antagonist Crassus, built on the basis of modernized classics, set new standards for heroic male dance. The set designer Simon Virsaladze used the rough texture of stone, stripping the ballet's Rome of its gleaming capital aura.

At the premiere, the four main roles were performed by Vladimir Vasiliev (Spartacus), Maris Liepa (Crassus), Ekaterina Maximova (Phrygia), Nina Timofeeva (Aegina). Other casts included Natalia Bessmertnova, Lyudmila Semenyaka, Maya Plisetskaya, Mikhail Lavrovsky, Alexander Godunov, Irek Mukhamedov, Boris Akimov.

Over the years, a new generation of stars from the Bolshoi Theatre's ballet company has taken over from the legendary first performers. During the tour in St Petersburg, the central roles will be performed on 7 May by Igor Tsvirko, Artemy Belyakov, Elizaveta Kokoreva, Yulia Stepanova; on 8 May by Denis Rodkin, Egor Gerashchenko, Maria Vinogradova, Alena Kovaleva; on 9 May by Alexey Putintsev, Vladislav Lantratov, Evgenia Obraztsova, Ekaterina Krysanova.

Another gem of the tour's program is one of the ballets beloved by the St Petersburg audience in a staging by George Balanchine – Jewels set to music by Fauré, Stravinsky, and Tchaikovsky. A total of five performances of the Bolshoi Theatre's production will take place: on 10 and 11 May (at 12:00 PM and 7:00 PM), and 12 May (at 12:00 PM and 7:00 PM).

Three ballet schools – those of Russia, France, and America – three priceless experiences from the St Petersburg ballet school, Diaghilev's Russian Seasons, and the new school in New York, formed Balanchine's latest style of classical choreography, which found its perfect expression in the triptych-masterpiece Jewels, entered into history as the first "full-length" abstract ballet.

Created by Balanchine for the New York City Ballet in 1967 this performance under the name Precious Stones was shown in the Soviet Union during the New York City Ballet's tour in Moscow, at the Kremlin Palace of Congresses stage in 1972.

At the Bolshoi Theatre, Jewels was first staged in 2012. (Before that, the theater's repertoire only included the ballet Rubies, premiered in December 2010.) The stage design for the production was created by set designer Aliona Pikalova and costume designer Elena Zaitseva.

In the upcoming performances at the Mariinsky, artists from both companies will participate. The artistic director of the Bolshoi Theatre's ballet company is Makhar Vaziev.

On 27 and 30 April the New Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre will present Francesco Cilea’s opera Adriana Lecouvreur. Star of the global opera scene, Hibla Gerzmava, will take on the title role, marking her world debut in this part. Christian Knapp will be conducting.

“Valery Abisalovich Gergiev invited me to sing Adriana in a Mariinsky Theatre production several years ago. But it was only now that I have come to this role, and I am thrilled that my debut will take place on the stage of this magnificent theatre. In the career of every opera singer, Adriana Lecouvreur holds a special place, it always signifies a new stage in one’s creative life. I was waiting for this iconic role to appear in my repertoire, but it was important for me to proceed sequentially and sing Norma first, then Adriana. I am currently working on the role, imbuing it, ‘weaving’ Adriana's musical fabric into a cohesive whole. But this role is not just musically interesting – it’s also an acting challenge for me, as the character of Adriana is complex and multifaceted. Soon I will be in St Petersburg and meet with my wonderful colleagues, stage partners. I love the Mariinsky Theatre, its halls, the company, the orchestra. It’s a joy that the Mariinsky has such a rich opera schedule – no other theatre in the world showcases so many magnificent titles, masterpieces of opera art!” Hibla Gerzmava said.

Adriana Lecouvreur tells the story of the great actress and one of the most significant people in the Enlightenment theatre. Nearly all the characters in the opera are real historical figures. The world premiere of the composition took place on 6 November 1902 at Milan’s Teatro Lirico. Critics received the opera coolly, but the audience and artists sincerely loved it. Adriana quickly spread beyond Italy: within the first few years after the premiere, performances appeared in Lisbon, Hamburg, Buenos Aires, Odessa, Paris, London and New York. In St Petersburg Adriana Lecouvreur was first presented in 1906 – at the Conservatory’s Grand Hall. Since the 1930s the opera has been a staple in theatres’ repertoires, not least due to charismatic soloists.

The role of Adriana Lecouvreur is cherished by many performers worldwide, primarily for its tremendous dramatic potential. Over time such great opera singers as Magda Olivero (acknowledged by the composer as the exemplary Adriana), Renata Tebaldi, Leyla Gencer, Renata Scotto, Mirella Freni, Montserrat Caballé, Joan Sutherland, Raina Kabaivanska, Maria Guleghina, Angela Gheorghiu and Anna Netrebko have taken on this role.

Today at the Mariinsky Theatre Adriana Lecouvreur is presented in a production by Isabelle Partiot-Pieri, who served both as director and set designer. The costume designer is Christian Gasc, and the lighting designer is Pierre Dupouey. The premiere of the production took place in 2017, becoming truly iconic: it was the first staging of Adriana Lecouvreur in the history of the Mariinsky Theatre.

From 12 to 14 April the Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Valery Gergiev, will give three performances at Moscow's Zaryadye Concert Hall. The Moscow audience will enjoy appearances by opera stars Ildar Abdrazakov, Tatyana Serzhan, Irina Churilova, Sergey Skorokhodov, and a concert featuring the celebrated pianist Denis Matsuev.

On 12 April at 7:00 PM Beethoven's Missa Solemnis will be performed, marking the 200th anniversary of its world premiere, which took place in St Petersburg. Considered alongside the Ninth Symphony, which Beethoven was composing concurrently, the Missa Solemnis is deemed the composer's most significant work of the 1820s. Beethoven himself described it as his "greatest creation". The Missa Solemnis in Moscow will feature Irina Churilova, Anna Kiknadze, Sergey Skorokhodov, Miroslav Molchanov, the choir and the Symphony Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre, with Valery Gergiev conducting.

On 13 April at 7:00 PM the capital's guests and residents will experience Verdi's musical drama Attila in concert performance, a work as epic in scale as the grand cinematic films of the 20th century. Set in 453 AD, the plot revolves around the Huns' invasion of Italy. The lead roles will be performed by Ildar Abdrazakov, Tatyana Serzhan, and Vladislav Sulimsky.

The final evening of the April tour, 14 April, will feature Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, performed by the Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Valery Gergiev. The soloist will be Denis Matsuev.

The performances are supported by the Moscow City Department of Culture.

The international festival Flute Virtuosos & Northern Lyre will be held for the third time at the Mariinsky Theatre from April 3 to 8, in the Concert Hall and the chamber halls of Prokofiev and Rachmaninov. The audience will be treated to seven concerts featuring musicians from Russia, China, and Turkey. Master classes for students and postgraduates of music educational institutions in Russia will be conducted by leading flutists and harpists from Istanbul, Beijing, Moscow, and St Petersburg.

The initiative to hold Flute Virtuosos & Northern Lyre was put forward by one of the finest flutists, Denis Lupachev, and one of the brightest harpists, Sofia Kiprskaya. Both festivals were launched eight years ago and have been held every spring since then, merging into one large-scale instrumental project in 2021.

The festival offers a unique chance to see talented orchestra artists in a new role: not just as sensitive ensemble players but as solo virtuosos. It also provides a rare opportunity to hear the solo voices of instruments and to meet outstanding artists from around the world.

The festival will open on April 3 in the Mariinsky Theatre's Concert Hall, featuring works by Bach, Franz Benda, Sinisalo, Kikta, Reinecke, Briccialdi, and Sarasate. Performers will include flutists Bülent Evcil, Dan Men, Denis Lupachev, Fedor Kalashnov, and harpists Elizaveta Alexandrova, Artemy Izmaylov, Sofia Kiprskaya, Anastasia Mozol, Nika Ryabchinenko, Maria Fedorova, conducted by Haoran Li, a bronze medalist of the Rachmaninoff International Competition for Pianists, Composers, and Conductors.

The concert on April 5 will feature masterpieces of the global repertoire for harp and flute by Mozart, Tishchenko, Tchaikovsky, Ravel, and will premiere the Flute Concerto by Alexey Pozin and the Flute Concerto by Fazıl Say. Performers include flutists Bülent Evcil, Sofia Viland, Denis Lupachev, Irina Stachinskaya, Anna Komarova, and harpists Irina Donskaya-Tishchenko, Sofia Kiprskaya, Yankelika Sushkova-Irina, conducted by Arseny Shuplyakov, a gold medalist of the Valery Khalilov International Conducting Competition.

The festival will conclude on April 8 with a gala concert featuring works by Chenwei, Joachim Andersen, Pietro Morlacchi, Theobald Boehm, Ginastera, Reinecke, Evgeny Magalif, Kemal Günüç. Performers include flutists Bülent Evcil, Sofia Viland, Anastasia Kaneyeva, Diana Krivenko, Denis Lupachev, Irina Stachinskaya, Aglaya Shuplyakova, Stanislav Yaroshevsky, Murat Salim Tokaç (ney, Persian flute), and harpists Sofia Kiprskaya and Çağatay Akyol, who will bring a unique lyre first seen in Sumerian civilization 5000 years ago and perform a concert by Turkish composer Kemal Günüç dedicated to Göbekli Tepe. The concert will be accompanied by the Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Cemi'i Can Deliorman, chief conductor of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra (Ankara).

Additionally, the festival will feature chamber evenings. On April 4, there will be a concert by Irina Stachinskaya (flute) and Elena Serova (piano); on April 6, a program From Türkiye with Love by Bülent Evcil (flute) and Çağatay Akyol (harp); and on April 6, a performance by soloists of the St Petersburg House of Music, followed by a showcase of world repertoire gems for flute and harp on April 7.

Open master classes by flutists and harpists are also part of the festival. On April 4, sessions will be conducted by Bülent Evcil (Istanbul) and Dan Men (Beijing); on April 5 by Irina Stachinskaya (Moscow) and Diana Krivenko (Moscow), Yankeleka Sushkova-Irina (Moscow) and Çağatay Akyol (Ankara, Istanbul); on April 6 by Nikolay Mokhov (St Petersburg) and Stanislav Yaroshevsky (Moscow); and on April 7 by Sofia Kiprskaya (St Petersburg). All are welcome to join as listeners, and those wishing to participate as students must submit an application, with forms and submission deadlines available on the page of each master class.

In anticipation of the festival, a concert “Spring Ripples” featuring young talents from Russian musical educational institutions will take place on March 31 at 14:00 in the Rachmaninov Hall.

From 20 to 24 March the tour, organised by the ROSCONCERT Federal State Budgetary Institution according to the All-Russian touring and concert plan of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, commemorates the 75^th anniversary of the signing of the Economic Cooperation Agreement between Russia and the DPRK. The performances will be held at the Mansudae Art Theatre and will include Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty and Stravinsky’s The Firebird, as well as the concert programme Evening of Antique and Modern Choreography. This marks the first time the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre will perform in the DPRK, contributing significantly to strengthening the friendship between the two nations and expanding bilateral cultural cooperation.

On 20 and 21 March the series will begin with Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty, showcasing the fairy-tale ballet in the classic choreography of Marius Petipa, revised by Konstantin Sergeyev and Eldar Aliev, with a visually stunning design by People’s Artist of Russia Vyacheslav Okunev.

On 23 and 24 March audiences will enjoy Stravinsky’s The Firebird and Evening of Antique and Modern Choreography. The Firebird presents a modern ballet art interpretation by Eldar Aliev, who combined several popular fairy-tale plots with neoclassical choreography. The vibrant staging was created by St Petersburg theatre artists Semyon Pastukh and Galina Solovyova. The second part of the evening will feature exemplary pieces from the ballets Raymonda and Satanella, the legendary The Swan miniature by Michel Fokine and the choreographic piece Inspiration by Eldar Aliev.

On 18 March which marks the anniversary of Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov's birth, promises a captivating concert by the Russian National Youth Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Valery Gergiev. This musical homage in the composer's native town is set to be the highlight of a spectacular festival initiated by the exchange tours between the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia and the Mariinsky Theatre, commemorating Rimsky-Korsakov's 180^th birth anniversary.

Having celebrated its first five-year milestone last November, the Russian National Youth Symphony Orchestra has rapidly gained recognition as one of the nation's premier symphonic groups. With its rich repertoire and collaborations with top conductors and performers, the orchestra has left a significant mark. Valery Gergiev has previously led this talented ensemble at the prestigious Mariinsky Theatre and on other major concert stages, showcasing the exceptional abilities of more than 120 young musicians.

Additionally, on 22 and 23 March Tikhvin is set to welcome the inaugural events of the Genius of the Place festival. This unique event aims to celebrate the musical contributions of Russia's great composers in their hometowns. The Tikhvin audience will be treated to performances of The Tsar's Bride opera alongside symphonic and chamber concerts. The lineup includes soloists from both the Mariinsky and Bolshoi Theatres, along with a joint symphonic orchestra and choir, all under the skilled leadership of Valery Gergiev. Supported by the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives, the Genius of the Place festival is a testament to the enduring legacy of Russian classical music.

On March 24 and 25 in Pskov, the homeland of Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky, festive events will take place as part of the grand musical festival "Genius of the Place," commemorating the 185^th anniversary of the composer's birth. The program will feature Khovanshchina performed by the soloists of the Mariinsky and Bolshoi Theatres, the choir, and the joint symphony orchestra of both theatres, with Valery Gergiev conducting.

The "Genius of the Place" festival, supported by the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives, brings together musical tributes from the homelands of great Russian composers. These events will be highlights in the wide-ranging celebration of Mussorgsky's 185^th birthday by the Mariinsky and Bolshoi Theatres throughout the season.

On March 24 at 13:00, the combined symphony orchestra of the Mariinsky and Bolshoi Theatres, conducted by Valery Gergiev, will perform in the Great Concert Hall of the Pskov Regional Philharmonic. The program includes compositions by Modest Mussorgsky.

That same evening, at 18:00, maestro Gergiev will take the podium again – Khovanshchina by Mussorgsky, the composer's last opera, will be performed by the soloists of the Mariinsky and Bolshoi Theatres, the choir, and the combined symphony orchestra of both theatres. The opera's plot weaves together events that historically spanned seven years: two Streltsy uprisings (the second led by Ivan Khovansky, who supported the Old Believers) and the rise to power of Peter I. Besides historical figures, the opera also features fictional characters introduced by the composer (Marfa). Khovanshchina will be presented in a production by the distinguished Soviet opera director Leonid Baratov. The performance of this opera will ceremoniously conclude the jubilee 50^th Festival of Russian Music named after M.P. Mussorgsky and N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov.

The third event of the "Genius of the Place" festival program in Pskov on March 24 will be a chamber concert at 15:00 in the Pskov Academic Drama Theatre named after A.S. Pushkin. The capital's theatres' visit will conclude on March 25 – at 19:00, their combined symphony orchestra, conducted by Valery Gergiev, will perform another program in the Great Concert Hall of the Pskov Regional Philharmonic.

Performances by the Mariinsky artists in Pskov have already become a regular occurrence, always met with great interest from the audience. For instance, in the autumn of 2023, Mussorgsky's opera Boris Godunov was performed in the Pskov Kremlin, and the ballet artists, vocalists, and soloists of the Mariinsky Theatre regularly participate in various concert programs of the Pskov Regional Philharmonic.

Overall, the "Genius of the Place" festival encompasses five cities: Tikhvin, Pskov, Votkinsk, Smolensk, and Lomonosov. The festival is supported by the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives.

On 22 and 23 March the Tikhvin audience will be presented with the opera The Tsar's Bride, symphonic and chamber concerts. The program will feature soloists from the opera companies of the Mariinsky and Bolshoi Theatres, the choir, and a combined orchestra from both theatres, all under the baton of Valery Gergiev.

The festival brings together musical tributes at the birthplaces of great Russian composers. The events within "Genius Loci" will be highlights of the broader celebration of Rimsky-Korsakov's 180^th birthday by the Mariinsky and Bolshoi Theatres throughout the season.

On 22 March at the N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov Cultural Palace in Tikhvin The Tsar's Bride will be performed. This ninth opera by Rimsky-Korsakov and his third venture into historical drama based on Lev Mey's work is grounded in the real-life story of Ivan the Terrible's third wife, Marfa Sobakina, who died two weeks after their wedding. However, the opera does not claim historical accuracy. The dramatist and composer create vivid characters, offering their own motivations for the protagonists' actions. The performance will involve soloists, the choir, and a combined orchestra from the Mariinsky and Bolshoi Theatres, conducted by Valery Gergiev.

On 23 March the Tikhvin audience can look forward to two more events related to the great composer's music: a concert by the combined orchestra of the Mariinsky and Bolshoi Theatres under Valery Gergiev's direction, and a chamber concert by soloists from both theatres.

"I find it interesting to give the opportunity for the orchestral musicians, as well as the choir artists and opera troupe soloists, and eventually ballet troupes, of the two main theatres of Russia to perform together. The possibilities for this exist. In the city of Tikhvin, Rimsky-Korsakov's birthplace, where we will continue to honor the great composer, the forces of the Mariinsky and the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia will perform together for the first time. It's likely that the Bolshoi ensemble has never performed in Tikhvin before," notes Valery Gergiev, General Director of the Bolshoi Theatre and Artistic Director of the Mariinsky Theatre.

Pskov, close to the birthplace of Modest Mussorgsky, will be the next destination for the musical tribute, with events scheduled for 24 and 25 March. In total, the "Genius Loci" festival musical tribute program includes five cities: Tikhvin, Pskov, Votkinsk, Smolensk, and Lomonosov. The festival is supported by the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives.

From 11 to 13 March, the Mariinsky Theatre will embarkon a three-day tour at the Moscow Concert Hall "Zaryadye," where audiences can anticipate performances by opera and ballet stars: Diana Vishneva, Kimin Kim, Mikhail Petrenko, and Ekaterina Sergeeva, along with the Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Valery Gergiev.

On 11 and 12 March at 19:00, the Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra will deliver two concerts, with Valery Gergiev conductingon both evenings.

On 13 March at 19:00, the capital's audience will experience two performances, which premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre in the previous season. The "Zaryadye" stage will feature one-act compositions by Béla Bartók – the ballet A Csodálatos Mandarin and the opera A Kékszakállú Herceg Vára. Yuri Possokhov tookon the roles of director and choreographer for these productions.

Béla Bartók is renowned primarily for his symphonic and piano compositions – his single opera and two ballets, one of which is A Csodálatos Mandarin, seldom grace Russian stages. The upcoming program purposefully pairs these one-act compositions by the Hungarian composer, a pairing Bartók himself considered fortunate.

A Csodálatos Mandarin made its world premiere in 1926 at the Cologne Municipal Theatre. Melchior Lengyel's libretto, basedon the tale of an enchanted Chinese mandarin (an official) whose passion for a street girl renders him immortal, serves as its foundation. The radical musical innovation and dark narrative shocked the conservative public – the performance was removed from the repertoire immediately after its second showing due to its "immorality." Public recognition came posthumously for the composer: A Csodálatos Mandarin has been staged numerous timeson leading European and American platforms, yet it remains a rarityon the Russian scene. Yuri Possokhov choreographed the current production. On 13 March, Diana Vishneva and Kimin Kim will perform the leading roles.

The evening's second revelation will be A Kékszakállú Herceg Vára, Béla Bartók's only opera. This piece premiered in 1918 at the Hungarian Royal Opera House in Budapest. Hungarian writer Béla Balázs served as the librettist. In his rendition of the famous French fairy tale, the four wives of the Duke symbolize the life stages of Bluebeard: morning, day, evening, and night. The last, the main character Judith, demands her husband to open all doors, behind which lie horrifying secrets. Seven doors lead to seven expressive symphonic pictures, immersing the audience in a grim and tense atmosphere. The opera is performed in Hungarian. Mikhail Petrenko and Ekaterina Sergeeva will takeon the leading roles at the "Zaryadye" hall.

The events are supported by the Moscow City Department of Culture.

In the city of Aleksin, where the distinguished contemporary composer Rodion Shchedrin grew up, the Shchedrins' House-Museum will be established. This announcement was made at a joint press conference on 25 February by Valery Gergiev, General Director of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia and Artistic Director of the Mariinsky Theatre, and Alexey Dyumin, Governor of the Tula Region.

"It's impossible to imagine the Mariinsky's repertoire today without the works of Rodion Shchedrin. We are approaching the anniversary of Maya Mikhailovna Plisetskaya, the legendary ballerina of the Bolshoi Theatre of the then USSR. We had known and been friends for many decades. It seems symbolic that we, her friends and the friends of the composer, are filled with the desire not only to preserve but to eternally engrain in the region and in Russia the name of the great Russian classic, Rodion Konstantinovich Shchedrin. At least five years ago, we thought about how this region would be enriched. Various circumstances did not allow it to fully unfold, but now, I am confident, this significant step binds us for a long time," said Valery Gergiev.

The creation of the house-museum is a joint project of the Valery Gergiev Foundation and the Government of the Tula Region. The Foundation purchased the house where Rodion Shchedrin spent his childhood and to which he often returned. His parents and grandfather lived there. Shchedrin often mentioned that it was in Aleksin that he absorbed the spirit of the Russian hinterland, the folk spirit. This is reflected in his works: the operas Not Love Alone, The Lefthander, the Russian liturgy The Sealed Angel, which first resounded in 2022 in Aleksin, in the Assumption Church where the composer's grandfather once served. The string orchestra cycle Russian Photographs also begins with the part Old City of Aleksin, in memory of the dear place to the composer.

"We hope that this will be more than just a museum, that the project will live and develop. We would like music to resound in the Shchedrins' estate, and creative events involving artists from the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres to take place," said Governor Alexey Dyumin.

The house-museum will collect and display unique materials about the life and work of Rodion Shchedrin. In turn, the museum will become another attraction for residents and visitors of the region and will promote the work of the great contemporary from Tula, whose name stands alongside such globally renowned composers as Rimsky-Korsakov, Prokofiev, and Tchaikovsky.

The Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres are proud of their longstanding collaboration with Rodion Konstantinovich Shchedrin. The Bolshoi Theatre commissioned many of the composer's works, including the ballet The Little Humpbacked Horse and the opera Dead Souls. For his wife, the outstanding ballerina Maya Plisetskaya, Rodion Shchedrin created Carmen Suite and composed three more ballets based on famous literary plots – Anna Karenina, The Lady with the Dog, and The Seagull, with premieres held on the Bolshoi stage. Today, his operas and ballets, symphonic and choral works are regularly performed on the stages of the Mariinsky in St Petersburg, Vladivostok, and Vladikavkaz, and sound during the Mariinsky troupe's tours.

Shchedrin first appeared on the bill of the then Kirov Theatre in 1978. Director Boris Pokrovsky and conductor Yuri Temirkanov brought the staging of Dead Souls from the Bolshoi Theatre to St Petersburg. In 1983, choreographer Dmitry Bryantsev created his version of The Little Humpbacked Horse for the Kirov troupe. These performances ran until the mid-1980s, and the next wave of Shchedrin's stagings began under Valery Gergiev, with The Enchanted Wanderer (2007), and continues to this day. Over the years, Rodion Shchedrin has found remarkable interpreters of his music at the Mariinsky Theatre. First and foremost is Maestro Gergiev, to whom the composer entrusts all new scores, but also opera and ballet soloists, artists and directors, orchestra and choir artists, chorus masters, concertmasters, and coaches, who have become true "Shchedrin specialists". In 2013, the world premiere of the opera The Lefthander took place at the Mariinsky Theatre, in 2015 – the world premiere of A Christmas Tale, and in 2017 Not Only Love was staged for the first time. In December, the Mariinsky traditionally honors Rodion Shchedrin on his birthday. In 2022, to celebrate the composer's jubilee, a grand festival "Shchedrin – 90" was held – for nearly a whole month, the music of the distinguished composer resounded in the historic and new stages and in the Concert Hall.