Russian ballet set to enthrall with 'The Nutcracker'

The Russian ballet is set to perform in Manama, two years after it opened the Bahrain National Theatre
“There is no doubt that excellent memories have remained with the Bahraini audience after the amazing Russian ballet opened the Bahrain National Theatre in 2012,” Victor Smirnov, the Russian ambassador to Bahrain, said. “Now once more, the Russian ballet is coming to Bahrain. This time, it is the famous 'The Nutcracker' ballet, performed by artists of the Perm Tchaikovsky Opera and Ballet Theatre and primas Denis and Anastasia Matvienko from the St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre,” he said.
The Perm Tchaikovsky Opera and Ballet Theatre, one of the oldest theatres in Russia, is based in Perm, a major industrial city east of Moscow.
“The theatre was launched in 1874, and it has remained a major musical centre throughout all these decades. The theatre is often referred to as the Tchaikovsky's House. All the stage works of Pyotr Tchaikovsky – 10 ballets and three operas are present in its repertoire, as well as many masterpieces of the most distinguished choreographers of the 20th century,” Smirnov told Bahrain News Agency (BNA). “The theatre has been the launch site for many famous artists. Many stars from Moscow, Saint Petersburg and other well-known theatres of the world began their careers in the Perm Tchaikovsky Opera and Ballet Theatre.”
The Nutcracker was written in 1816 by Ernst Hoffman. The story was adapted into a ballet by Pyotr Tchaikovsky in 1892 and choreographed by the “premier maître de ballet of the St. Petersburg Imperial Theatres” Marius Petipa, one of the world’s most influential ballet masters and choreographers.
“Stars of the Russian ballet Vladimir Vasiliev, Konstantin Sergeev, Galina Ulanova, Ekaterina Maksimova performed in different versions of The Nutcracker,” Smirnov said. “The contemporary version, which will be performed on the stage of the Bahrain National Theatre on September 18-19, was choreographed in 2006 by Vasily Vainonen and stage designed by Natalia Spitsina.”
Commenting on the two primas, Denis and Anastasia Matvienko, Smirnov said that the Matvienko couple was the gem of the Russian ballet.
“Denis Matvienko is a unique dancer, the only person in the world that has four Grand-Prix prizes of international ballet competitions. Denis performs as guest principal dancer in the New National Theatre (Tokyo, Japan), the Bolshoi Theatre (Moscow, Russia), the Teatro alla Scala (Milan, Italy), the Grand Opera (Paris, France) and others. His repertoire counts almost 30 names, among them are Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Three Musketeers and Romeo and Juliet. This October there will be a premiere of his new work ‘The Great Gatsby’. It is a sensation in the ballet world choreographed by Dwight Rhoden. It is going to be an amazing show, which will be staged first in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kiev,” the ambassador said.
“Anastasia Matvienko is also one of the most talented ballet dancers of our time. Since 2009 she has been a first soloist of Mariinsky Theatre, as well as guest principal dancer Arena di Verona and Teatro alla Scala (Italy). She was awarded with international prizes and medals and her repertoire includes almost 15 names, among which are such masterpieces as Swan Lake, Giselle, Don Quixote, the Sleeping Beauty and Romeo and Juliet,” Ambassador Smirnov said.