Published on: 2026-09-09
Source: Moscow Government – The Government of Moscow –
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In Moscow Academic Musical Theater named after K.S. Stanislavsky and Vl. I. Nemirovich-Danchenko, subordinate to the Moscow Department of Culture, has opened its 108th season. Upcoming performances and tours were discussed at the troupe’s traditional meeting.
Chekhov, Shakespeare, Strauss’s music
The first premiere (from October 16 to 19) will be the two-act ballet “The Cherry Orchard. Cherry Orchard” based on Anton Chekhov’s play. Two choreographers will offer their own interpretations of the famous plot and perspectives on the characters. In the first act, Pavel Glukhov will follow the story line, translating Chekhov’s drama into a plastic score. In the second act, the artistic director of the ballet company Maxim Sevagin will depart from the retelling, opening the stage for a dance expression. The decorations are being created by the People’s Artist of Russia Vladimir Arefiev.
The role of Lyubov Ranevskaya will be performed by prima ballerina, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Diana Vishneva, as well as prima ballerinas People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Natalia Somova and Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Erika Mikirticheva. The score is based on works by Alexander Tchaikovsky and music written specifically for the production. The conductor-director is People’s Artist of Russia Felix Korobov.
On October 25, viewers will see the revived ballet “Straußiana” set to music by Johann Strauss Jr. — a vignette about chance encounters and romantic drama in the festive atmosphere of old Vienna. The performance is timed to coincide with the 85th anniversary of the original premiere, which took place in Moscow on the same day in 1941. The show was watched to the sound of sirens — in the Volokolamsk area, battles for Moscow were already underway.
The choreography of Vladimir Burmeister is being restored by instructors-rehearsers Margarita Drozdova, Galina Krapivina, and Mikhail Krapivin. Vladimir Arefyev will also handle the decorations, and Felix Korobov will be the conductor-director.
“We work with a modern language — both in choreography and in visual solutions, but it is important for us to preserve memory and maintain a strong connection with the history of theater. To create something new without forgetting the great predecessors — it seems to me that this is precisely how theater should move forward,” shared Maksim Sevagin.
From November 27 to 29, Charles Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet” will be performed. This will be MAMT’s first foray into French lyrical opera, based on William Shakespeare’s tragedy. The action will take place in modern Verona, and the famous characters will meet their fate among tourist shops. The conductor-director is Timur Zangiev, and the stage director is Alexey Smirnov.
In March 2027, an evening of one-act operas is planned featuring Mieczysław Weinberg’s “Lady Magnesia” and Elena Langer’s “Four Sisters.” The first opera was created in 1975 based on Bernard Shaw’s comedic play: the plot revolves around the jealous Lord George who tries to kill his unfaithful wife but accidentally poisons her lover-servant. The music combines jazz and the sound of electric guitar. The second opera, “Four Sisters,” transposes Chekhov’s plot to present-day New York. The production will be directed by the artistic director of the opera troupe, chief director Alexander Titel.
“Love can be all kinds: sweet, bitter, desperate, parodic — as in the chamber diptych on the small stage with the operas “Lady Magnesia” and “Four Sisters.” Therefore, it can be said that we dedicate the new season to the metamorphoses of love,” he said.
From May 21 to 24, the premiere of the ballet “Don Quixote” by Ludwig Minkus will take place. Maksim Sevagin promises to turn Miguel de Cervantes’ novel into a dynamic choreographic carnival. And in July, to close the season, the theater will delight the audience with Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Turandot” staged by Vladimir Pankov. At the center of the plot is a capricious princess who ordered the execution of unlucky suitors for failing to solve her difficult riddles. Honored artist of Russia Maksim Obrezkov will work on the scenography and costumes, and Felix Korobov will take the conductor’s baton.
“This season I will have the opera ‘Turandot’, which I once staged in Italy at the Puccini festival, and now I am happy that this fantastic music will be heard in my theater,” the conductor said.
Opera in the school classroom: watching “The Magic Flute” at MAMT with “Mosbilet”
Bolshaya Dmitrovka, 17
This season, the theater will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the opera studio of K.S. Stanislavsky and the music studio of Vl. I. Nemirovich-Danchenko in the building where it is currently located, from which it grew. The anniversary program will include performances, exhibition, and educational projects. Audiences will see archival photographs, posters, sketches, and other museum materials.
On September 4, an exhibition about the history, repairs, and reconstructions of the MAMT building opened; the exhibition will change throughout the season. Later, exhibitions dedicated to the revival of the ballet “Straussiana” and the first premieres of the theater studios on Bolshaya Dmitrovka — the opera “The Tsar’s Bride” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and the operetta “The Straw Hat” by Isaak Dunayevsky — will open.
Some projects will be dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the birth of the artist Petr Vilyams, the 100th anniversary of the ballerina Violetta Bovt, and the memory of the opera soloist Roman Ulybin.
Internship program and events for the whole family
With the season opening, the second internship program at MAMT under the leadership of Alexander Titel will begin operating for vocalists, accompanists, and directors. Its goal is to train a versatile opera artist who understands theater traditions and can interpret classics in a modern way. The series of chamber concerts by the interns will continue throughout the entire season and conclude with a final gala concert on the main stage. Participants from last season’s program are now engaged in MAMT’s repertory performances.
From January 13 to 23, the III International Competition for Vocalists and Accompanists named after Hibla Gerzmava will take place. It is held with the support of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives.
“For me, it is especially important that this season, for the third time, the competition will take place in my native theater — the Moscow Academic Musical Theater named after K.S. Stanislavsky and Vl. I. Nemirovich-Danchenko. Once again, it will become a true home for the competition. This is a unique case when, for 10 days, the theater and all its services are fully dedicated to the competition. We are currently accepting applications, and I eagerly look forward to meeting the new participants. I am confident that the competition will once again become a major musical event and, most importantly, will discover new names and new talents who have a great future on the opera stage,” noted Hibla Gerzmava.
Applications are open until October 1. Opera singers aged 21 to 34 and pianist-accompanists aged 20 to 35 can participate.
Deadly Passion or Creative Love: Premiere of the ballet “Anna Karenina” at MAMT
MAMT will continue to familiarize viewers with the theatrical space. For example, a series of master classes for the whole family “Behind the Scenes of the Theater” will be held here. Participants will learn what an opera warm-up and ballet exercises are, as well as have the opportunity to attend workshops on creating theater costumes and participate in quests around the theater building.
In addition, there will be a “Walk with an Artist” — tours of rehearsal rooms and other spaces hidden from the audience, accompanied by opera and ballet performers. They will talk about their profession, stage rituals, and their favorite places in the building.
Tour
On September 30, the MAMT ballet troupe will perform in Istanbul, where they will present the production “In Dark Images” by Maxim Sevagin, along with a ballet gala.
In February 2027, the theater will go to Beijing with “Swan Lake” staged by Vladimir Burmeister. It will be performed six times on the stage of the National Centre for the Performing Arts of China.
A trip to Saint Petersburg is also planned, where a performance of Donizetti’s opera “Anna Bolena” is being prepared in a production by Sergey Novikov and Felix Korobov, with Hibla Gerzmava in the title role.
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