The Mariinsky Theatre’s large-scale tour of China came to a triumphant close today in Xi’an with a concert by the Mariinsky Orchestra under the baton of Valery Gergiev. From 12 to 27 October the acclaimed maestro and orchestra performed in Beijing and Shanghai and, for the first time, in Wuhan, Kunming, Changsha and Xi’an, giving a total of fourteen performances

Today on the stage of the Shanghai Grand Theatre the performance of Le Corsaire by Adolphe Adam marked the festive finale of the company’s vibrant ballet programme in China. The lead roles were danced by the brilliant young soloists Maria Ilyushkina, Even Capitaine, Alisa Barinova, Alexei Orohovsky and Maxim Izmestiev. From 11 to 23 October the ballet troupe toured three cities of the Middle Kingdom – Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai – giving eleven performances in total

From 22 October to 5 November the Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theatre will host the XIII International Organ Festival Mariinsky. The programme offers audiences a kaleidoscope of vivid musical events featuring the renowned organists Pascal Reber, Olga Kotlyarova, Svetlana Berezhnaya, Marina Väisä and Léonid Karev

On 1 October the Mariinsky Orchestra under the baton of Valery Gergiev performed in Yerevan. The soloist was Pavel Milyukov, Honoured Artist of Russia and a prize-winner of major international violin competitions. The performance took place at the city’s main venue, the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall, as part of the 17^th Yerevan International Music Festival

For the first time the Sevastopol State Opera and Ballet Theatre will perform in St Petersburg, presenting two major premieres at the Mariinsky Theatre. The tour programme includes the ballet Polikushka to the music of Rachmaninoff, choreographed by Jonah Paul Cook, and Rachmaninoff’s opera Aleko staged by Ildar Abdrazakov. International stars Ildar Abdrazakov, Dinara Alieva and Maria Alexandrova will take part in the performances. Aleko will be conducted by Valery Gergiev