The February Events Calendar of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre is notable for the premiere of Sergei Prokofiev’s opera The Gambler (9, 12, 17 and 19 February) performed by Mariinsky Theatre leading soloists.
This opera was Sergei Prokofiev’s first serious experience, involving a musical theatre. Besides, the Gambler is the first translation of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s work into opera. Both the plot and music reflect the realities of the 19th century: there are no unambiguous characters or statics typical of traditional opera. Its heroes experience strong and conflicting emotions and passions. The most pronounced changes occur to the main character - Alexei, brilliantly performed by the world’s celebrated dramatic opera tenor Vladimir Galouzine, who has been acclaimed as the best performer of this role in history. At the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre, he will appear in this part on February 9 and 12.
On 17 and 19 February, premiere performances of this Temur Chkheidze’s laconic and accurate production will see on stage another renowned Mariinsky Theatre tenor Sergei Semishkur. The casts of all four performances will also be featuring Mariinsky Opera leading soloists: Larisa Diadkova (9, 12, 17 and 19 February), Gennady Bezzubenkov (9 and 12 February), Nataliya Tymchenko (9 and 12 February), Nikolai Gassiev (9 and 12 February), Oleg Balashov (17 and 19 February), Yekaterina Solovyeva (17 and 19 February), Andrey Serov (17 and 19 February).
Besides, the theatre’s February repertoire includes Eugene Onegin by Pyotr Tchaikovsky (2 February), the Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (4 February), Macbeth by Giuseppe Verdi (23 February), Christmas Eve by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (26 February).
The February ballet events will be opened by the principal dancer of the National Ballet of China Ma Xiaodong, performing in Adolphe Adam’s Le Corsaire (3 February), followed by an evening of classic and contemporary choreography The Firebird on 5 February, the fantasy ballet Giselle by Adolphe Adam on 10 February, ballets for all the family Bambi, In the Jungle - on 11 February; and on 16 February the spectators will have a chance to see Swan Lake by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. These will be continued by the premiere of the season - Carmen Suite (18 February). The ballet written for Maya Plisetskaya has only recently been added to repertoire of Russian leading theatres. This colourful, emotional and innovative performance has become a symbol of freedom and independence. The February ballet events schedule closes with the Nutcracker by Pyotr Tchaikovsky (24 and 25 February).
