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Home , Mariinsky Theatre, Vladimir Galouzine, White Nights Festival

LANDMARK SEASON FOR THE

OPENING OF NEW HOUSE IN ST. PETERSBURG, THE FIRST RELEASE OF NEW RECORDING OF THE RING CYCLE, MULTIMEDIA AND 3D PRODUCTIONS OF MARIINSKY PERFORMANCES AND EXTENSIVE INTERNATIONAL TOUR

The new Mariinsky theatre (Mariinsky II) scheduled to open Thursday 2 to Saturday 4 May, 2013

The Mariinsky Theatre’s 2012/2013 landmark season, which includes an extraordinary schedule of tours, performances, recordings and events, will see the inauguration of Mariinsky II in St. Petersburg on 2-4 May, 2013 . The new opera house will join the legendary Mariinsky Theatre and the Mariinsky Concert Hall to further the transformation of the Mariinsky’s complex into one of the world’s premier centres for classical music, opera and .

The milestone marks the 25 th anniversary of the leadership of Artistic and General Director Maestro , taking the Mariinsky Theatre from the closing years of the Soviet era, when it had been renamed the Kirov, to a modern 21st- century lyric arts company, enhancing and underlining the Mariinsky as a centre of artistic excellence and innovation and creating one of the largest, most acclaimed and most dynamic performing arts institutions in the world.

Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects in collaboration with acousticians Müller- BBM , Mariinsky II is situated on Dekabristov Street and connected to the historic Theatre by a pedestrian bridge over the Kryukov Canal. Mariinsky II, which is designed to complement St Petersburg’s 19th-century architecture while adding a distinctive element to the region around Theatre Square, will have state-of-the-art facilities that will enable the Mariinsky to present the most ambitious, technically- demanding productions, beyond what is currently possible on the historic stage.

The opening weekend will include a gala concert and ballet and opera performances, followed by Mariinsky’s XXI ‘ Stars of the White Nights’ Festival which will run from 24 May to 14 July with performances in all three venues—the Mariinsky Theatre, Mariinsky II and the Mariinsky Concert Hall.

“These past 24 years have seen a wonderful flourishing of the Mariinsky Theatre in both its artistic programme and its institutional achievements, as we have brought the Opera, Ballet, Orchestra and Chorus—our entire extraordinary Company— into the 21 st century with a more active and outgoing engagement with the world,” stated Valery Gergiev . “We are carrying forward our progress in every way in 2012/2013, including the opening of our magnificent new opera house. Mariinsky II will provide abundant resources for our artists and audiences, and will ensure that the Mariinsky remains one of the most vital performing arts institutions in the world.”

Mariinsky Label

In February 2013, the Mariinsky Label will launch one of its most ambitious projects to date, the full cycle of Wagner’s . The first recording in the series, Die Walküre , will feature Jonas Kaufmann, Nina Stemme, Ekaterina Gubanova, Anja Kampe, Mikhail Petrenko and René Pape with the Mariinsky Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Gergiev. The release of Das Rheingold, featuring Nikolay Putilin, René Pape, Yevgeny Nikitin, Mikhail Petrenko, Ekaterina Gubanova, Stephan Rügamer and Andrei Popov will follow later in 2013, and the full cycle will be completed by the end of 2014. This December, the label released the emotionally charged recording of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7 “ Leningrad ,” the most recent in the Mariinsky Orchestra’s cycle of Shostakovich symphonies conducted by Maestro Gergiev which will be completed in 2013.

The Mariinsky Label will continue to expand its DVD catalogue with highly anticipated opera productions: Verdi’s Attila , starring celebrated Russian bass in the title role; Strauss’s Die Frau ohne Schatten directed by Jonathan Kent and which the Mariinsky recently brought to the Edinburgh International Festival; Prokofiev's first opera, with dramatic tenor ; and living Russian composer ’s Dead Souls . Also, the Mariinsky Theatre’s production of Tchaikovsky’s opera , featuring and directed by Mariusz Trelinski , is due for release in 2013 on DVD on the Mariinsky Label.

International touring

While maintaining a robust performance schedule in its existing complex during the 2012/2013 season, the various Mariinsky companies simultaneously engage in ambitious international tours, giving performances in some 85 cities across and worldwide. This autumn the Mariinsky Orchestra and have already completed a 25-concert tour covering North America followed by performances in Korea, , Taiwan and China. International appearances in 2013 include the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in , the , in Milan, Sala Santa Cecilia in Rome, San Carlo in Naples, Concertgebouw in and the Auditorio Nacional in .

Multimedia projects

2013 will also feature a series of multimedia projects captured in the historic Mariinsky Theatre including two Mussorgsky co-produced by the Mariinsky and Telmondis; Graham Vick’s production of , and Leonid Baratov’s production of , filmed in May 2012 and September 2012 respectively. Both programmes are scheduled for international distribution in partnership with audiovisual producer Telmondis, and Russian television channel Kultura in January 2013. Additional programmes include the Mariinsky Ballet performing Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet , with choreography by , to be captured on 28 February, 2013, 's , to be captured in May 2013; and the Mariinsky Orchestra performing the first installment of Shostakovich’s complete symphonies, to be captured at La Salle Pleyel in Paris, on 7 and 8 January 2013.

During the Easter Festival in April-May 2012, the Mariinsky, EuroArts Music and Kultura TV filmed a series “ Absolute Prokofiev ” featuring live performances of all Prokofiev symphonies, 5 piano concerti, and two violin concerti. The series was recorded in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory and the Mariinsky Concert Hall by the Mariinsky Orchestra, conducted by Valery Gergiev with pianists Daniil Trifonov, Alexander Toradze, Denis Matsuev, Alexei Volodin and Sergei Babayan, and violinist Leonidas Kavakos.

Among the performance highlights of the current season is the Mariinsky Ballet‘s celebration of the 120 th anniversary of the premiere of Tchaikovsky’s and Petipa’s at the Mariinsky Theatre in 1892. Commemorating this occasion, the Mariinsky in coproduction with EuroArts Music, have created the film The Nutcracker in 3D , bringing its deep historical tradition together with cutting-edge technology. The Nutcracker in 3D was released in time for Christmas in Europe, in the UK, Asia and the in December, where it is being shown in more than 400 theatres in the United States and more than 800 theatres worldwide.

In a partnership with 3D movie makers Cameron Pace Group, RealD 3D and Glass Slipper Live Events, the Mariinsky Ballet's performance of will be broadcast live from St Petersburg in 3D and simultaneously in 2D to cinemas around the world on 14 February, and details will be announced in early 2013.

Mariinsky II

Joining the historic Mariinsky Theatre, which dates from 1860, and the Mariinsky Concert Hall, which was inaugurated in 2006, the Mariinsky II will expand the Mariinsky’s cultural complex on legendary Theatre Square and enable the institution to offer the public a greatly increased schedule of presentations. Mariinsky II, funded by the Russian Government, is designed by the Toronto-based firm of Diamond Schmitt Architects in conjunction with the Russian firm KB ViPS . The 851,580-square-foot Mariinsky II will be one of the largest lyric arts facilities in the world.

Jack Diamond, Principal Architect of Diamond Schmitt Architects , stated, “When I was approached by Valery Gergiev to enter the international competition to design the new Mariinsky Theatre, he presented the opportunity to work in one of the world’s most magical architectural settings, not to mention with a Maestro who is justifiably renowned as one the world’s most respected leaders in the performing arts. I am very proud of Mariinsky II and trust it will achieve our design intent, which is to channel the immense creative spirit that is at the heart of the Mariinsky Theatre and its Maestro.”

Mariinsky II is designed to complement St. Petersburg’s beloved 19th century architecture while adding a distinctive new element to the landscape of Theatre Square. Dramatically large glass facades and bay windows set in the masonry exterior will provide panoramic views of the city and the adjacent historic Mariinsky Theatre, while fulfilling the traditional role of colonnaded porticos. A gently curved metal roof will be enlivened by a glass canopy, giving the building a contemporary identity that is nevertheless rooted in St. Petersburg’s architectural heritage.

The auditorium, designed in the tradition of 18th and 19 th century opera houses, features a horseshoe configuration with three balconies, offering optimum acoustics and sightlines for approximately 2,000 opera goers. Capacious backstage facilities and advanced technological capabilities, and acoustical design by Müller- BBM, will allow for the production of the most elaborate and demanding works. An additional orchestra shell on stage and an orchestra pit with platforms that can be raised and lowered will enable Mariinsky II to function as an ideal hall for symphonic concerts as well as opera productions. Other facilities of Mariinsky II include a rooftop amphitheatre (soon to be a principal space of the ‘Stars of the White Nights’ Festival), a lobby amphitheatre, multiple rehearsal rooms and backstage space that allows multiple productions to be performed in repertoire.

The details of the events and festivities that will surround the 2 to 4 May opening of Mariinsky II will be announced in early 2013.

Highlights of 2013 in St Petersburg

At the end of December there will be a new production of Massenet's Don Quichotte directed by Yannis Kokkos . In April, Vasily Barkhatov will stage a new production of Alexander Dargomyshsky’s Rusalka and Isabella Bywater returns to the Mariinsky following her critically-acclaimed designs for Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to make her directorial debut with Gounod’s Faust .

Between 28 February and 10 March the Mariinsky will host its XIII International Ballet Festival, opening with a performance of Romeo and Juliet conducted by Valery Gergiev with as Juliet. The Festival will also present the Mariinsky premiere of Serge Lifar's Suite en Blanc . The Mariinsky Ballet will be joined by the William Forsythe Dance Company to perform an evening of the choreographer's work.

On 14 May, the Mariinsky Theatre stages the Russian premiere of Sacha Waltz’s ballet marking the centenary of the premiere of Stravinsky’s . This is followed by the Paris premiere on 29th May at the Theatre des Champs- Elysées, scene of the original riotous premiere, in a programme which also includes ’s Le Sacre and another famous ballet of Diaghilev’s Saison Russes, ’s Prodigal Son .

XXI 'Stars of the White Nights' Festival – 24th May to 14th July 2013

The full Festival programme will be announced in due course but expected highlights include the premieres of a new opera by Shchedrin commissioned by the Mariinsky to mark the composer’s 80th birthday, and a new ballet Concert DSCH by choreographer Alexei Ratmansky based on music by Shostakovich. Guest ensembles will include the LSO, Dance Theatre and Batsheva Dance Company and Mariinsky stars will be joined by Leonidas Kavakos performing the complete Beethoven violin sonatas, Rudolf Buchbinder performing and directing all five Beethoven piano concerti and guest artists including Paavo Järvi, Marc Minkowski, Denis Matsuev and many more. The Mariinsky's 'New Horizons' music festival, set within White Nights, will be dedicated to the centenary of Witold Lutoslawski's birth.

The Mariinsky UK Tour 2011-2014

The Mariinsky is particularly grateful to BP for its important four-year commitment to Mariinsky touring in the UK. Already this support has facilitated over 35 Mariinsky performances at the Edinburgh International Festival, BBC Proms, Covent Garden, Wales Millennium Centre, Barbican Centre and Symphony Hall, Birmingham. To date the UK Tour has involved more than 500 artists of the Mariinsky Opera, Ballet and Orchestra. This UK support builds on the strong long-term relationship established between BP Russia and the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg and forms part of BP's cultural programme in the UK.

Media Contacts:

Opening of Mariinsky II: Mariinsky Theatre Trust: Jane Quinn/Dennis Chang Nicky Thomas Bolton & Quinn Nicky Thomas Media + 44 (0)207 221 5000 + 44 (0)207 207 7810 [email protected] / [email protected] [email protected]

Mariinsky Theatre: Oksana Tokranova +7 812 714 4164 tokranova@mariinsky.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Valery Gergiev: 25 Years

Valery Gergiev joined the Mariinsky as Music Director in 1988, when he was 35 years old. His tenure has brought universal acclaim to the already legendary Mariinsky Theatre by showcasing the talent of the Mariinsky Opera, Orchestra, Ballet and Chorus in more than 45 countries. Maestro Gergiev has worked tirelessly to bring previously neglected parts of the Russian canon to the West, as an ambassador for early- and late-career works by Prokofiev such as The Gambler and , which have since been welcomed into the standard repertoire. Throughout his career, Maestro Gergiev has helped young artists and developed rising talents, including world-renowned singers Anna Netrebko, , Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Mikhail Petrenko, instrumentalists Maxim Vengerov, Vadim Repin, Evgeny Kissin and Daniil Trifonov and dancers and Diana Vishneva. Most recently he served as President of the 2011 Tchaikovsky Competition, which was lauded internationally for the high level of performance, judging and transparency that it set. Among the milestones of Maestro Gergiev’s leadership of the Mariinsky have been the inception of the ‘ Stars of the White Nights’ Festival in 1993, the opening of the Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theatre in 2006, and the inauguration of the Mariinsky Label in 2009.

About the Mariinsky Orchestra

The Mariinsky Orchestra enjoys a long and distinguished history as one of the oldest musical institutions in Russia. Founded in the 18th century and housed in St. Petersburg’s famed Mariinsky Theatre since 1860, the Orchestra entered its “golden age” in the second half of the 19 th -century under the musical direction of Eduard Napravnik , whose leadership for more than a half century (1863-1916) secured its reputation as one of the finest in Europe. Legendary artists who conducted the Mariinsky Orchestra and praised its outstanding musicianship included Berlioz, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Nikisch and Rachmaninoff .

About the Mariinsky Ballet

Founded in the 18th century, the Mariinsky Ballet is recognized as one of the world’s leading companies. Most commonly known as the Kirov Ballet (its former Soviet name), the company has been home to many of the world’s most notable dancers, including , Vaslav Nijinsky, and . The Mariinsky Ballet performs worldwide under Maestro Gergiev’s direction at cultural institutions such as Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts and the Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in the United States, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, the Baltic Festival in Stockholm and the Salzburg Festival in .

About the Mariinsky Opera

With a history dating back to 1783, the Mariinsky Opera has performed in the world’s most celebrated opera houses and has produced some of opera’s most important artists, including Fyodor Chaliapin, Sophia Preobrazhenskaya, and Anna Netrebko . Since its inception, the Mariinsky Opera, formerly known as the Kirov Opera, has placed an emphasis on by showcasing works from great Russian composers such as Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich and Prokofiev. Today, the Opera blends the Russian canon with European and Romantic classics and works from vital contemporary composers.

About the Mariinsky Label

The Mariinsky Label , launched in May 2009, draws on the Mariinsky's rich legacy and historic ties to the great Russian composers. It showcases the extraordinary talent within the Theatre and Orchestra, presenting new recordings of both celebrated works and those that deserve wider recognition. Each performance is recorded with high-definition technology in the new Mariinsky Concert Hall, which has been widely acclaimed for its exceptional acoustics. Recordings began in July 2008 during the annual and are available on SACD from the Mariinsky Label website and selected retailers. Notable releases on the Label include performances of Shostakovich’s early opera The Nose (which was nominated for two Grammy Awards ) and Wagner’s , named as one of the “CDs of the Year” by the New York Times.

About Mariinsky Foundation of America

The Mariinsky Foundation of America (formerly known as White Nights Foundation of America) was formed in 1999 to support the activities of the Mariinsky Theatre’s constituent institutions: the Mariinsky Opera, Ballet, Orchestra and the Academy for Young Singers and the Young Musicians’ Orchestra. The Mariinsky Foundation of America’s mission includes a commitment to strengthening and expanding the cultural, educational and business relationships between Russia and the United States, and to be a positive, apolitical force for peace.

The Mariinsky Theatre Trust Chairman: Lady Solti

The Mariinsky Theatre Trust has been ground-breaking in the world of arts support organisations. Created in 1993 by Valery Gergiev, the Trust combines practical assistance for the Mariinsky Theatre’s work in Russia with active promotion of its most innovative programming in the UK. Over the last 19 years these performances have given audiences in this country a richer and deeper understanding of Russian culture. The Trust has presented the Mariinsky Opera, Ballet, Orchestra and Chorus in most of London's leading cultural venues including the Royal Opera House, London Coliseum, , Barbican Centre and the Theatre Royal Drury Lane as well as major cultural centres throughout the UK. Future UK events will include major Mariinsky projects within the framework of the 2014 Year of UK-Russia cultural collaboration.

About Diamond Schmitt Architects

Based in Toronto with a practice that is worldwide. The company has an international reputation for design excellence through unremitting attention to user needs and innovative and sustainable design solutions. Diamond Schmitt Architects has received more than 200 regional, national and international awards for design. In the last five years, over 10 million square metres of academic buildings, libraries, performing arts centres, sports facilities, master plans, residential and commercial buildings, and healthcare facilities including life science facilities, research laboratories and hospitals have been completed. Recently opened cultural projects include La Maison Symphonique in Montreal, the Regent Park Arts & Culture Centre and Ryerson Image Centre in Toronto. Current projects include the St. Catharines Performing Arts Centre and the Cambridge Performing Arts Centre. Diamond Schmitt is shortlisted for the Xiqu Centre, a performing arts complex in Hong Kong.

For More Information please visit: Mariinsky Theatre: www.mariinsky.ru Mariinsky Foundation of America: www.mariinsky.us Mariinsky Theatre Trust: www.mariinskytrust.org.uk

Media Contacts:

Opening of Mariinsky II: Mariinsky Theatre Trust: Jane Quinn/Dennis Chang Nicky Thomas Bolton & Quinn Nicky Thomas Media + 44 (0)207 221 5000 + 44 (0)207 207 7810 [email protected] / [email protected] [email protected]

Mariinsky Theatre: Oksana Tokranova +7 812 714 4164 [email protected]