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On October 15, 2026, the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra will make its debut at the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre, conducted by its Artistic Director, Ivan Nikiforchin. The soloist for the evening will be Vladimir Vishnevsky.

“A new season is coming. The MSSO and I are heading straight off on a concert tour in the Far East, featuring a programme dedicated to the works by Sergei Rachmaninoff. We will perform his Symphony No. 2 and Piano Concerto No. 3 with the phenomenal soloist Vladimir Vishnevsky, a pianist with whom we worked closely throughout the previous season. I am delighted that the 2026/2027 season begins in such wonderful cities, which the MSSO and I will be visiting for the first time. For me, as the Orchestra’s Artistic Director, it is vital that we expand our creative horizons and perform the greatest masterpieces of 20th-century Russian music”, says Ivan Nikiforchin.

The concert programme includes two masterpieces by Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 and Symphony No. 2.

“Rachmaninoff’s Third Concerto is a true milestone work for any pianist; for me, it is significant in every possible way. It is one of my absolute favorite concertos, though it is also incredibly challenging. I have performed it a mere dozen times in my entire life. The Third Concerto brought me victory in the two most important competitions of my career: the Rachmaninoff International Competition for Pianists, Composers and Conductors, and the Moscow International Vladimir Krainev Piano Competition. Ivan Nikiforchin was the conductor at both of those events; he has truly become my lucky charm.

I feel an immense sense of gratitude toward Sergei Rachmaninoff and a profound reverence for his genius. I am truly looking forward to the evenings in Vladivostok and Yakutsk when I will perform his Third Concerto. It’s not just a blissful anticipation; at times, I find it truly daunting to play the Third Concerto, because it is clearly something superhuman. There are works that transcend human invention; those pieces are, in the truest sense, divine. I am glad that I do not play the Third Concerto too often, taking time between performances. This gives me time to reflect and to reconsider certain aspects; after all, it goes without saying that I will be contemplating this work for the rest of my life. I have a great fondness for the MSSO, and I truly enjoy performing with Ivan Nikiforchin. I am genuinely looking forward to this tour”, says Vladimir Vishnevsky.

The MSSO was founded in 1943 under the auspices of the government of the then-USSR, thus it is one of the oldest symphony orchestras in Russia. In the autumn of 2026, the Orchestra will be launching its 84th concert season.

Lev Steinberg, People’s Artist of the USSR, conductor of the Bolshoi Theatre, was the Orchestra’s first Chief Conductor; he directed the Orchestra until his death in 1945. Successive Chief Conductors of the MSSO have included such renowned Soviet musicians as Leonid Khudoley (1945–1948), Nikolai Anosov (1948–1951), Viktor Smirnov (1951–1953), Leo Ginzburg (1953–1955), Mikhail Terian (1955–1960), Veronica Dudarova (1960–1989), and Pavel Kogan (1989–2022). These prominent figures have made the Orchestra one of the nation’s finest symphonic ensembles. In 2024, Ivan Nikiforchin, a prize-winner at the I Rachmaninoff International Competition for Pianists, Composers and Conductors and a winner of the Presidential Prize for young cultural figures (awarded in 2024 for his contribution to the development of national musical culture), was appointed Artistic Director of the MSSO.

The Orchestra has built a whole recording catalog comprising CDs and DVDs of both studio and live performances, alongside radio and television broadcasts. In 2023, the MSSO participated in recording the Anthology of Rodion Shchedrin’s Choral Music to commemorate the 90th birthday of the composer. In 2024, the Orchestra recorded S.S.Prokofiev’s symphonic fairy tale Peter and the Wolf and excerpts from M.Weinberg’s ballet The Golden Key. To mark the composer’s centenary, in September 2025 an album of symphonic works by Boris Tchaikovsky “Discoveries and Revelations” was released by “Firma Melodiya” Record Company. The album was recorded by the MSSO conducted by Ivan Nikiforchin at “Tonstudiya Mosfilm” Recoding Studio.

On October 16 and 17, 2026, the Opera Company of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre will present the first premiere of the season: Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème.

One of the world’s most popular operas based on Henri Murger’s novel Scènes de la vie de Bohème will be presented in an exclusive production custom-made for the Primorsky Stage.

One of the most frequently performed operas in the global repertoire, La Bohème has brought together the universal appeal and dynamic pace of the plot, vivid and relatable characters, sensual and instantly recognizable music, and complex vocal parts and arias for the soloists.

The dynamic yet deeply lyrical production is being prepared for the Primorsky Stage by a creative team led by Stage Director Alexander Ponomarev and Production and Costume Designer Pyotr Okunev. While carefully preserving the essence of Puccini’s work, they immerse the audience in the atmosphere of Paris and reveal the characters’ way of life. Spectators will see both the freezing yet cozy attic where the friends burn up sheets of paper with play manuscripts just for a moment’s warmth, and the festive, vibrant Paris.

Irina Soboleva, People’s Artist of Russia, Artistic Director of the Opera Company of the Primorsky Stage, notes that the cast makes this production special. Young artists of the Primorsky Stage often have to portray characters significantly older than themselves. Such parts require serious work on manners, personality, and stage presence to convincingly convey a character’s age and life experience. La Bohème presents a different scenario. The artists feel a close connection to Puccini’s characters, sharing their energy, spontaneity, drive for creative self-realization, and their ability to view life as a space of endless possibilities.

“It turns out that an opera about young people is being performed by the young artists of our wonderful Theatre”, Irina Yurievna Soboleva emphasizes.

The parts are being rehearsed by: Mimì – Samira Galimova, Alena Diyanova, Liliya Kadnikova, Anastasia Kikot, Utarid Mirzamova, Maria Tchaikovskaya; Rodolfo – Mingiyan Odzhaev, Alexei Smirnov, Zhang Hong-Guo; Musetta – Anastasia Gensler, Olga Zharikova, Alina Mikhailik, Irina Novikova, Anzhela Shagarova, Zhang Mengwen; Marcello – Sergey Krylov, César Méndez, Dmitry Migulyov, Alexei Repin, Evgeny Shagarov; Colline – Azamat Malyshov, Yevgeny Plekhanov; Schaunard – César Méndez, Nikita Odalin, Aleksey Yurkovsky; Benoît – Azamat Malyshov, Aygiz Gizatullin, Sergei Pleshivtsev; Alcindoro – Azamat Malyshov, Aygiz Gizatullin, Sergei Pleshivtsev; Parpignol – Ilya Astafurov, Alexander Garshin, Ozodjon Murodov.

Evgeny Khokhlov will take the conductor’s podium.

In October, the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre presents a variety of chamber performances. In the Chamber Hall, the public will be able to enjoy unique concert programmes not included in the permanent repertoire of the Theatre.

On October 10, 2026, the comic opera Mavra by Igor Stravinsky is on the playbill. In the production staged by Vyacheslav Starodubtsev, the originally vaudevillish opera is presented as a little comedy with music – a predecessor of the operetta and the musical. The tasks the little opera sets for the soloists are, by no means, little. Not only should the performer be both a singer and an actor, but one should also be able to cope with difficult vocal parts and to create an impressive, vivid image during a short period of being on stage.

On October 11, 2026, the exclusive concert from the cycle Portrait of a Singer in an Interior will be given, featuring Olga Zharikova and César Méndez. This chamber format provides a rare opportunity to enjoy the powerful operatic voices at close range and take a fresh look at well-known compositions. The concert highlights a panorama of vocal music pieces which belong to two great traditions. The singers will perform arias and duets from the 20th-century European classical operas by Gounod, Massenet, Bizet, Bellini, Verdi, Rachmaninoff, and Tchaikovsky. Part II of the programme focuses on Spanish zarzuelas and includes pearls by Soutullo and Vert, Torroba and Sorozábal. In the solos and duets, the singers will show various facets of their voices and temperaments from lyricism to drama. They will be accompanied on the piano by Marina Repina.

On October 16, 2026, the Far East public will be able to enjoy again the virtuoso pianist Miroslav Kultyshev at the Primorsky Stage. In his recital, the Honoured Artist of Russia will present an exquisite, technically sophisticated programme which embraces rare piano pieces by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, a monumental modernistic composition by Nikolai Myaskovsky and masterly transcriptions for piano of symphonic and ballet classical music.

On October 30, 2026, Sergei Pleshivtsev will give a recital, marking the 30th anniversary of his artistic career, in the Chamber Hall. The Primorsky Stage bass will perform well-known iconic pieces of the Russian and Soviet popular music. Sergei Pleshivtsev fans and lovers of popular music will be given an opportunity not just to enjoy again the singer’s habitual repertoire, but to travel over his vocal career.

The October schedule at the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre is crammed with great concerts and performances. The Far Eastern audiences are already anticipating such unique events as the season’s first premiere, the opera La Bohème, the last season’s major ballet premiere, Romeo and Juliet, recitals by pianist Miroslav Kultyshev and bass Sergei Pleshivtsev, and the popular Portrait of a Singer in an Interior project.

The month opens with a performance as dazzling as fireworks: Johann Strauss II’s operetta Die Fledermaus (October 3, 2026 at 14:00 and 19:00). In October, the Opera Company is set to present a vibrant, unique chamber production of Igor Stravinsky’s Mavra (October 10, 2026), and a concert within the framework of the Portrait of a Singer in an Interior project featuring lyric-coloratura soprano Olga Zharikova and lyric baritone César Méndez (October 11, 2026). The repertoire of the month also includes grand productions such as Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca (October 23, 2026), Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida (October 25, 2026), Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin (October 28, 2026), and Georges Bizet’s Carmen (October 30, 2026).

The premiere of Giacomo Puccini’s opera La Bohème (October 16 and 17, 2026) will come as the highlight of October. This dynamic, emotional, and deeply lyrical opera centered around the artistic youth of Paris holds a special place in the global repertoire. La Bohème is one of the most popular operas, ranking among the top five most frequently performed works worldwide. At the Primorsky Stage, the production is being mounted by a production team led by Stage Director Alexander Ponomarev and Production and Costume Designer Pyotr Okunev.

After a long hiatus, the Ballet Company of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre will present the grand premiere from the previous season: Sergei Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, choreographed by Eldar Aliev (October 8 and 9, 2026). This production marked the grand finale of the 2025/26 season in Vladivostok and successfully launched the 2026/27 season in St Petersburg, where it was cordially welcomed by both the theatre-goers and the critics. The October playbill also features 20th-century productions, Les Noces and Petrouchka (October 4, 2026). Those will be preceded by a lecture as part of the Scenic Introduction project delivered by the Tretyakov Gallery in Vladivostok. The repertoire lineup will continue with such unique productions as Phaedra and Carmen Suite (October 18, 2026), La Bayadère (October 22, 2026), Konyok-Gorbunok (The Little Humpbacked Horse) (October 24, 2026 at 14:00 and 19:00), Le Corsaire (October 29, 2026), and La fille mal gardée (October 31, 2026 at 15:00 and 19:00).

The month’s concert playbill is also packed with events. The Moscow State Symphony Orchestra will make its Vladivostok debut on October 15, 2026. Pianist Vladimir Vishnevsky will join the ensemble on stage, with Ivan Nikiforchin conducting. The programme, titled “Along the borders of our Homeland”, features masterpieces by Sergei Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2 and Piano Concerto No. 3.

On October 16, 2026, renowned pianist Miroslav Kultyshev, a prize-winner at the XIII International Tchaikovsky Competition, will return to the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre for a solo recital. In the Chamber Hall of the Theatre, this vivid representative of the classical St. Petersburg piano tradition will present a unique programme from his repertoire. His performance style is distinguished by a delicate adherence to a composer’s intent and a combination of technical virtuosity with a profound interpretation of the music.

The chamber playbill will be highlighted by a solo recital of Sergei Pleshivtsev, a soloist of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre, marking the thirtieth anniversary of his artistic career (October 31, 2026). The programme includes works by Revaux, Pakhmutova, Tariverdiev, Tukhmanov, Zatsepin, and other popular music composers of the 20th century.

In October, the Chamber Hall invites younger audiences and their parents to attend beloved productions, such as Town Musicians of Bremen (October 4, 2026 at 12:00 and 14:00), Murych the Cat (October 18, 2026 at 12:00 and 14:00), The Turnip (October 24, 2026 at 11:00 and 12:30), and The Little Prince (October 31, 2026 at 11:00 and 13:00).

On September 24, 2026, the Public Space of the Tretyakov Gallery in Vladivostok will host the first open meeting of the joint autumn workshop held by the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre and the Tretyakov Gallery in Vladivostok. Chorus accompanists Elena Nikiforova and Ekaterina Rogozina will tell about their profession, their artistic careers, and their work at the Theatre. This meeting will come as the next step in a far-reaching joint project of the two cultural centers, timed to mark the 10th anniversary of the Primorsky Stage and the 170th anniversary of the Tretyakov Gallery.

Two more events involving the Primorsky Stage are scheduled for the autumn of 2026 at the Tretyakov Gallery’s Public Space in Vladivostok: public meetings with the Theatre’s make-up artists and set designers.

The Tretyakov Gallery has also scheduled some events for the Primorsky Stage audience. On October 4, 2026, Sofya Boyko will deliver a lecture as part of the Scenic Introduction project taking place before the performances.

The methodist from the Tretyakov Gallery branch in Vladivostok will address the audience, discussing the set design for the premieres of Igor Stravinsky’s ballets Les Noces and Petrouchka that took place in the early 20th century, during the era of the great success of Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. The original set sketches for these ballets preserved in the Tretyakov Gallery’s collection will be showcased.

It is worth noting that the series of public encounters with artists and workers of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre has been going on at the Tretyakov Gallery’s Public Space in Vladivostok since March. The public has already met with opera soloists Yevgeny Plekhanov and Dmitry Nelasov, principal ballet dancers Irina Sapozhnikova and Denis Klepikov, conductor Vitaly Shevelev, and photographer Ilya Korotkov. Besides, the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre was for the first time involved in the All-Russian Night of Museums event at the Tretyakov Gallery in Vladivostok. There, Zhanna Suvorova, Head of the Costume Department, unveiled costumes for the Romeo and Juliet ballet, which was scheduled to premiere on May 29, 2026.

Throughout June and July, visitors to the Public Space of the Tretyakov Gallery in Vladivostok could enjoy a photography exhibition marking the Primorsky Stage’s 10th anniversary. Leading Theatre soloists Irina Sapozhnikova and Alexei Kostyuk attended the opening of the presentation.

In September, the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre presents a lavish chamber programme. The Chamber Hall has vibrant, colorful events in store for connoisseurs of repertoire rarities and enthusiasts of performances for the whole family.

On September 10 and 24, 2026, Mavra, a one-act joke opera by Igor Stravinsky will be performed. The 20th-century composer and reformer considered Mavra one of his finest works. This casual vaudeville is filled with irony, grotesque, the intonations of authentic Russian everyday speech, and features an elegant musical stylization. Despite the comic and lighthearted plot, this opera poses challenges for singers, which makes it a rarity in the musical theatre repertoire.

On September 18, 19, and 20, 2026, the Chamber Hall will present the “Ballet Divertissement” programme for the first time. The concert will embrace complex pieces from such classical ballets as The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, La Bayadère, and Don Quixote. The 20th-century choreography will be represented by ensembles from unique Primorsky Stage productions: Romeo and Juliet, La fille mal gardée, Le Corsaire, Carmen Suite, and Vladislav Rzhevsky’s choreographic piece QuintAv, which received recognition at the All-Russian Competition of Ballet Dancers and Choreographers (2025) with a Special Prize for Best Choreography.

Well-loved musical stories for children will be presented in Town Musicians of Bremen (September 12, 2026, 11:00 and 13:00) and The Little Prince (September 26, 2026, 11:00 and 13:00).

These productions have been created specifically to introduce children to musical theatre; they follow the literary sources, vividly bringing to life the characters and their fairytale worlds.

The audiences of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre are in for a busy September. The first month of autumn is ready to yield a variety of genres and events, from the Cultural program of the Eastern Economic Forum to the premiere of a ballet concert.

The EEF cultural program will be starting with the traditional performance of People’s Artist of Russia Denis Matsuev, accompanied by the Russian National Youth Symphony Orchestra (September 3). The series of events will continue with a concert from the White Steamship Children’s Music Festival accompanied by the Russian National Youth Symphony Orchestra (September 4), Fikret Amirov’s ballet A Thousand and One Nights (September 5 at 15:00 and 19:00), and a grand production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida (September 6).

The second week of September will contain Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci (September 9) directed by Golden Mask winner Marat Gatsalov; the Mariinsky Theatre’s iconic production of Adolphe Adam’s Giselle (September 10); Stravinsky’s chamber opera Mavra (September 10); Prokofiev’s joyful opera buffa The Love for Three Oranges (September 11). On September 12 at 14:00 and 19:00, The Firebird ballet will make its comeback to the program after a long hiatus. On September 13, the viewers will enjoy the beloved family opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan.

A highlight of the month's program will be the premiere of the Ballet Divertissement concert program, which will be performed three times in the Small Hall of the Theatre (September 18, 19, and 20). In a cozy atmosphere, the troupe will present brightly shining ballet numbers from various eras and styles, from classical heritage to 20th-century works and 21st-century choreography. Duets and ensembles will be performed by leading soloists.

In mid-September, Vladivostok will be hosting the International Pacific Theatre Festival. The Primorsky Stage will be one of its main venues, featuring performances by teams from Mongolia, South Africa, India, and Russia. The first performance in the Great Hall of the Primorsky Stage will take place on September 19. It will be Khan of the Mongols, the first Mongolian production to conquer London’s West End venues.

In the second half of the month, the Far East connoisseurs will see the large-scale romantic ballet Raymonda by Alexander Glazunov (September 24), chamber comic opera Mavra by Stravinsky (September 24), the universally loved lyrical opera Eugene Onegin by Pyotr Tchaikovsky (September 25), the colorful, original production of Fikret Amirov’s ballet A Thousand and One Nights (September 26 at 15:00 and 19:00), and the opera buffa Don Pasquale by Gaetano Donizetti (September 27).

The Eastern Economic Forum will be held in Vladivostok from September 1 to September 4. The entertainment program will be held on the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre, featuring a performance by People’s Artist of Russia Denis Matsuev and a concert from the White Steamship Children’s Music Festival, along with large-scale repertoire performances.

On September 3, in the Great Hall of the Primorsky Stage, renowned Russian pianist Denis Matsuev will perform for residents and guests of the Far Eastern capital, accompanied by the Russian National Youth Orchestra. Artem Baskakov, Ekaterina Mochalova, David Tkebuchava, Sofia Tyurina, and Vladimir Syanov will also perform in the concert, conducted by Yuri Medyanik.

On September 4, a concert by the White Steamship Children’s Music Festival, accompanied by the Russian National Youth Orchestra will become a highlight of the EEF 2026 cultural program. The White Steamship Children’s Music Festival is a unique social project embracing 174 talented children of thorny destiny, selected competitively from across Russia. The festival participants prepared the concert program under the guidance of experienced teachers and mentors; these classes set the stage for an extensive tour: the combined children’s choir will perform at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, and will be rounding up the concert series at the Primorsky Stage in Vladivostok.

The string of high-profile events of the Eastern Economic Forum cultural program will continue with spectacular performances from the Primorsky Stage repertoire, which have already been successfully presented in Russia and abroad.

On September 5, Fikret Amirov’s ballet A Thousand and One Nights will be performed twice. The production is a “signature card” of the Primorsky Stage, and it has enjoyed successful performances in the capitals of China, Oman, Qatar, and Belarus, and in Russia, earning acclaim from audiences at the Mariinsky and Bolshoi Theatres.

On September 6, the Great Hall of the Primorsky Stage will present Giuseppe Verdi’s grand opera Aida, directed by Honored Artist of Russia Alexei Stepanyuk. In addition to its home stage, the production has also been performed twice at the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia, where it was highly praised by audiences and music critics.

Eldar Aliev, Ballet Artistic Director of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre, has received the Liaoning Friendship Award. It is the highest regional honor given by the People’s Government of Liaoning Province, China.

The commemorative award, created in 2002, honors international specialists for exceptional contributions to the province’s economic development, technological innovation, and international cooperation. 

Eldar Aliev’s creative activity is long and tightly linked to the ballet community of the People’s Republic of China.

Since 2006, the Ballet Artistic Director of the Primorsky Stage has worked as a guest coach and choreographer with Chinese leading companies and at the Beijing Dance Academy. He has often acted as a judge at prestigious ballet competitions in Beijing, Shenyang and other big cities in China. In June 2016, Eldar Aliev was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of the Shenyang Conservatory of Music (China) in the field of dance. 

The company of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre congratulates Eldar Agabalaevich on his international recognition and wishes him further creative achievements.

This week, the Ballet Company of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre opened its season in Vladivostok, following a triumphant tour in St Petersburg. The company is going to present the already loved and rarely performed repertoire to audiences on their home stage. The highlight of the repertoire will be a premiere of a new concert programme, Ballet Divertissement.

In the 2026/27 season, Far Eastern audiences will enjoy the original, vibrant productions of the 20^th century, avant-garde ballets from the Diaghilev era, gems of world classics, and the new concert programme.

The dancers commenced the 2026/27 season in the Great Hall of the Theatre, presenting the original, colorful productions that showcase the diversity of the choreographic language of the 20^th century. Straight after the tour, the Ballet Company returned to the crown jewel of its repertoire, A Thousand and One Nights to the music by Amirov, the production of Konyok-Gorbunok (The Little Humpbacked Horse) to the music by Shchedrin, designed in the avant-garde style by Set and Costume Designer Maxim Isaev, and Bizet – Shchedrin’s legendary Carmen Suite, paired with the exclusive production of Phaedra to the music by Philip Glass, which can only be seen in Russia in Vladivostok.

The August repertoire will continue with Marius Petipa’s academical interpretations of Don Quixote (August 20, 2026) and Swan Lake (August 27 and 29, 2026), while the 20^th-century choreography will be represented by Diaghilev’s masterpieces Les Noces and Petrouchka (August 22, 2026).

In September, the Ballet Company will once again present the iconic A Thousand and One Nights (four performances on September 5 and 26, 2026), and the classical legacy in Giselle (September 10, 2026) and Raymonda (September 24, 2026). Ballet Evening. The Firebird will also return to the playbill on September 12, 2026 (14:00 and 19:00), encompassing the most striking pieces from the various ballet eras.

The premiere of the new concert programme, Ballet Divertissement (September 18, 19, and 20, 2026), will come as the highlight of September. The programme will be featuring the company’s leading soloists Irina Sapozhnikova, Anna Samostrelova, Lilia Berezhnova, Lada Sartakova, Razmik Marukyan, Shizuru Kato, Sergei Umanetc, Denis Klepikov, and Sergei Amanbaev.