The Bolshoi Ballet will also stage one of the most iconic works of the classical repertoire, Swan Lake, on the main stage of the Atatürk Cultural Centre (AKM) as part of the same festival.
First performed in 1877, it was Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s first ballet written for the Bolshoi Theatre. With its legendary music — especially the famous “Dance of the Little Swans” and the Black Swan Odile’s 32 fouettés — Swan Lake is one of the most performed ballets in the world. Performances take place on 29 and 30 September at 19:00 in the Türk Telekom Opera Hall at AKM.
Around 350 dancers, musicians and theatre staff will travel to Istanbul for the two performances. The original sets and costumes will be brought from the Bolshoi’s historic stage to recreate the full splendour of these classical productions. The history of Russia’s Bolshoi Theatre dates back to 1776, when the first ballets were staged under French and Italian choreographers.
Today the internationally renowned conductor Valery Gergiev is general director of the Bolshoi Theatre as well as artistic and general director of the Mariinsky Theatre. The Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, Russia’s oldest musical ensemble, is internationally recognised as one of the world’s finest symphony orchestras, made up of musicians who have won international awards and hold titles such as “People’s Artist” and “Honoured Artist of Russia”. In both Romeo and Juliet and Swan Lake, the orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s timeless works under conductor Anton Grishanin.
