LANDMARK SEASON FOR THE MARIINSKY THEATRE OPENING OF NEW OPERA 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 ballet. The milestone marks the 25 th anniversary of the leadership of Artistic and General Director Maestro Valery Gergiev , 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 Der Ring des Nibelungen . 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 Ildar Abdrazakov 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, The Gambler with dramatic tenor Vladimir Galouzine ; and living Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin’s Dead Souls . Also, the Mariinsky Theatre’s production of Tchaikovsky’s opera Iolanta , featuring Anna Netrebko 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 Russia and worldwide. This autumn the Mariinsky Orchestra and Mariinsky Ballet have already completed a 25-concert tour covering North America followed by performances in Korea, Japan, Taiwan and China. International appearances in 2013 include the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, the Salzburg Festival, La Scala in Milan, Sala Santa Cecilia in Rome, San Carlo in Naples, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Auditorio Nacional in Madrid. Multimedia projects 2013 will also feature a series of multimedia projects captured in the historic Mariinsky Theatre including two Mussorgsky operas co-produced by the Mariinsky and Telmondis; Graham Vick’s production of Boris Godunov , and Leonid Baratov’s production of Khovanshchina , 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 Leonid Lavrovsky , to be captured on 28 February, 2013, Alexei Ratmansky's Cinderella , 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 Moscow 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 The Nutcracker 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 United States 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 Swan Lake 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 .