Moscow - The Bright Stream - 22/23 Nov 2025

 

✨ A Radiant Celebration of Shostakovich: The Bright Stream Returns to the Bolshoi ✨

This November, the Bolshoi Theatre invites us into the vibrant, whimsical, and deeply human world of Dmitri Shostakovich’s ballet The Bright Stream, Op. 39—one of the composer’s most charming and ingenious creations. A ballet filled with humor, heart, lyrical beauty, and symphonic brilliance, The Bright Stream remains a luminous testament to Shostakovich’s gift for storytelling through music.

First premiered in 1935, this ballet continues to captivate audiences with its irresistible blend of comedy and sophistication, its sweeping melodies, and its playful traditions of masquerade, mistaken identity, and theatrical surprise. The choreography—clever, character-driven, and full of joyful invention—showcases the expressive power of classical dance at its finest. Witty, warm, and wonderfully alive, it is a ballet that leaves the audience smiling long after the final curtain falls.

The Bolshoi’s orchestra breathes vibrant life into Shostakovich’s extraordinary score, a tapestry of brilliant colors, dances, lyrical passages, and sparkling orchestral textures. From delightful waltzes and joyous galops to tender adagios and vivid character moments, the music is a masterpiece in its own right—one that elevates every gesture, every step, every moment on stage.

This season’s performances promise to be truly exceptional. With some of the Bolshoi’s most beloved stars alternating in the leading roles—many of them audience favorites across Russia and around the world—each cast brings its own magic, personality, and brilliance to the story. Below is the complete schedule, featuring all casts for this remarkable series of performances:

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🌾 November 22 — Matinée (12:00)

A beautifully balanced and radiant cast opens the run:

Zina: Daria Khokhlova

Pyotr: Igor Tsvirko

Ballerina: Kristina Kretova

Ballet Dancer: Artem Ovcharenko

A matinée full of elegance and charm, highlighted by the refined artistry of Kristina Kretova and the celebrated brilliance of Artem Ovcharenko.

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🌙 November 22 — Evening Performance (19:00)

A stellar, galactic lineup of Russian ballet stars lights up the Bolshoi stage:

Zina: Anna Nikulina

Pyotr: Denis Rodkin

Ballerina: Eleonora Sevenard

Ballet Dancer: Vladislav Lantratov

Anna Nikulina—who recently triumphed in The Firebird—returns to enchant audiences once again, joined by Eleonora Sevenard’s luminous stage presence and the dramatic power of Denis Rodkin and Vladislav Lantratov. An evening performance with all the excitement of a gala.

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🌞 November 23 — Matinée (12:00)

Featuring one of the Bolshoi’s most promising rising stars:

Zina: Yaroslavna Kuprina

Pyotr: Egor Gerashchenko

Ballerina: Maria Koshkaryova

Ballet Dancer: Dmitry Vyskubenko

Maria Koshkaryova, whose elegance and refinement continue to enchant audiences, leads this matinée full of youthful energy and beautiful character interpretation.

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🌟 November 23 — Second Performance

A dazzling performance featuring some of the Bolshoi’s most charismatic artists:

Zina: Anastasia Stashkevich

Pyotr: Ivan Vasilev

Ballerina: Maria Vinogradova

Ballet Dancer: Artem Ovcharenko

The presence of Artem Ovcharenko—one of the Bolshoi’s most admired dancers, beloved for his noble style and impeccable technique—adds brilliance to this performance. Maria Vinogradova and Ivan Vasilev bring fire, musicality, and virtuosity to their roles, while Anastasia Stashkevich’s charm and theatrical clarity promise a truly unforgettable interpretation of Zina.

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Across these performances, audiences will experience the full richness of the ballet:

✨ the delightful ensembles full of energy and character

✨ enchanting pas de deux that combine elegance with comedy

✨ virtuosic variations filled with charm and technical brilliance

✨ and Shostakovich’s insurmountable music, a score overflowing with joy, color, and emotional depth

Celebrated for its triumphant success in Manhattan during the Bolshoi’s New York tour, The Bright Stream returns now to Moscow ready to shine once again—maybe even brighter than before.

This is a ballet of pure entertainment, sparkling artistry, and theatrical delight. A celebration of dance, music, and storytelling that warms the heart and lifts the spirit.

🌟 A masterpiece not to be missed.

Whether it is your first encounter with Shostakovich’s comic ballet or a long-awaited return, these performances promise unforgettable magic.

Moscow - The Firebird - 14/16 Nov 2025

The Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow offers audiences an unforgettable artistic celebration this weekend, presenting a magnificent triple bill that brings together three of Michel Fokine’s historic masterpieces: Schéhérazade, The Firebird, and Petrouchka. These works, which form part of the legendary Ballets Russes legacy, return to the Bolshoi stage with a succession of extraordinary casts, each performance promising brilliance, drama, and true Russian grandeur.

The opening performances have already set the tone. On 15 November, today,  the Bolshoi presented Schéhérazade with the luminous Anna Nikulina, who recently enjoyed a resounding triumph in Aurora , today another triumph in The Firebird. Conducted by none other than Valery Gergiev, the performance was a true event, marrying dramatic orchestral power with the sensuality and opulence of Fokine’s iconic choreography. Evenings such as these confirm the Bolshoi as a house of extraordinary talent and artistic depth.

Tomorrow, on 16 November, the theatre presents two performances of this triple bill — one at 12:00 and one at 18:00 — each with meticulously assembled casts featuring both celebrated stars and radiant rising artists.

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🌟 SCHÉHÉRAZADE – Sensuality and Oriental Splendor

Based on tales from The Arabian Nights, Schéhérazade is one of Fokine’s most evocative creations. With Rimsky-Korsakov’s richly colored score and Léon Bakst’s legendary original designs, the ballet unfolds in an atmosphere of intense drama, seduction, and emotional turmoil.

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⭐ 16 November – Evening Performance (18:00)

A cast full of expressive power and dramatic presence:

Zobeide — Maria Koshkaryova

Already admired for her sensational Kitri on 28 October, Koshkaryova brings passion, fluidity, and theatrical fire to the role of Zobeide. Her performances are vividly memorable and tomorrow’s is highly anticipated.

Golden Slave — Egor Gerashchenko

A dancer of enormous physical charisma with a powerful stage presence.

Shahriyar — Nikita Elikarov

Shahzeman — Ivan Alexeyev

Head Eunuch — Alexei Matrakhov

Odalisques:

• Ekaterina Besedina

• Elizaveta Chertikhina

• Vasilisa Derendyaeva

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⭐ 16 November – Midday Performance (12:00)

A breathtaking cast led by two of the Bolshoi’s most adored stars:

Zobeide — Ekaterina Krysanova

One of the most beloved ballerinas of the company, famously a peerless Aurora and Raymonda, a ballerina of exquisite poise, acting finesse, and technical mastery.

Golden Slave — Vladislav Lantratov

Renowned internationally for his dramatic intensity, noble presence, and extraordinary versatility — a perfect match for the emotional world of Schéhérazade. The first time I saw him was in La Bayadère with Maria Alexandrova, and shortly before or after, I don't remember anymore, with Anna Nikulina and Ekaterina Shipulina and Denis Rodkin in Raymonda, and the great Maria Alexandrova, a galactic cast!!! 

Shahriyar — Yuri Ostrovsky

Shahzeman — Kamil Yangurazov

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🔥 THE FIREBIRD – Magic, Mystery, and Myth

Stravinsky’s The Firebird remains one of Fokine’s greatest triumphs — a ballet steeped in fantasy and Slavic mythology. With its vibrant score and striking imagery, it offers unforgettable roles for dramatic ballerinas and hero-princes.

Already performed:

• 14 November — Elizaveta Kokoreva, the young and fabulous star of the company. 

• 15 November — Anna Nikulina, a beloved Bolshoi principal, with Valery Gergiev conducting

Both performances reaffirmed the timeless allure of this work and highlighted the depth of talent within the company.

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⭐ 16 November – Midday Performance (12:00)

The Firebird — Alyona Kovalyova

A ballerina of pure lyricism, majestic lines, and a remarkable presence — ideal for this magical role.

Ivan Tsarevich — Artemy Belyakov

An elegant, noble dancer with superb classical refinement.

The Beautiful Tsarevna — Vasilisa Derendyaeva

Kashchei — Nikita Elikarov

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⭐ 16 November – Evening Performance (18:00)

The Firebird — Yulia Stepanova

Known for her dramatic artistry and powerful technique, Stepanova brings a darker, more mysterious nuance to the Firebird. A performance to look forward to.

Ivan Tsarevich — Dmitry Vyskubenko

The Beautiful Tsarevna — Ana Turazashvili

Kashchei — Stepan Gusarov

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🎭 PETROUCHKA – Tragedy in the Fairground

Fokine’s Petrouchka is a powerful blend of pathos and folklore, following the heartbreaking tale of a puppet with a human soul. It requires dancers capable of deep dramatic engagement and expressive sensitivity.

On 14 November, the role of Petrouchka was interpreted by the great Vladislav Lantratov, partnered by Maria Vinogradova — a pairing that offered tremendous emotional impact and artistic unity.

On 15 November, Alexei Putintsev stepped into the role, dancing with Anastasia Stashkevich and Anton Savichev. Putintsev’s success was overwhelming. After his brilliant Basilio in Don Quixote on 29 October, with Anastasia Smirnova,  they danced so wonderfully . He partnered fantastically Anastasia Smirnova, that performance of 29th october will be memorable, many described as one of the finest Basilios in the world, not only in Moscow and Smirnova's Kitri was sensational . Today He got another triumph with his performance as Petrouchka conducted by Valery Gergiev . Critics alike now speak of him as the new star of the Bolshoi. His charisma, flawless technique, and dramatic instinct make him a dancer to follow very closely. We look forward to see him in Swan Lake or Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadère and of course, again as Basilio.

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⭐ 16 November – Midday Performance (12:00)

A beautiful performance featuring two gifted young artists:

Petrouchka — Daniil Potaptsev

Ballerina — Elizaveta Kokoreva

A pairing that promises freshness, elegance, and expressive sensitivity.

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⭐ 16 November – Evening Performance (18:00)

To close this extraordinary day:

Petrouchka — Artem Ovcharenko

A dancer of immense refinement and dramatic intelligence — always a pleasure to watch in roles requiring depth and emotional nuance.

Ballerina — Maria Vinogradova

One of the Bolshoi’s most exquisite artists, known for her beauty of line, musicality, and theatrical warmth.

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✨ A Weekend to Remember at the Bolshoi Ballet

This succession of masterpieces by Michel Fokine, brought to life by casts of exceptional calibre, confirms yet again the vitality and brilliance of the Bolshoi Ballet. From the exotic passion of Schéhérazade, to the mythical radiance of The Firebird, and the poetic tragedy of Petrouchka, this weekend’s performances promise emotion, artistry, and unforgettable theatrical magic.

A true celebration of dance — and a gift for every ballet lover.

Paris - Contrasts Trisha Brown / David Dawson / Imre, Marne van Opstal Palais Garnier from 01 to 31 December 2025

 

A magnificent December rises on the horizon, shimmering with the promise of pure ballet enchantment at the Palais Garnier. With the arrival of Contrasts, the Paris Opera Ballet opens the doors to a universe of artistry where brilliance, sensitivity, innovation, and timeless elegance intertwine like threads of gold. What awaits the audience is more than a performance—it is a poetic celebration, a luminous encounter with dance in all its forms, carried by a constellation of artists who elevate the stage into a realm of dreams.

✨ A Constellation of Radiant Étoiles

What a privilege to witness such resplendent stars, each one magnificent, each one unique, each one a treasure of the Paris Opera:

Bleuenn Battistoni, with her crystalline clarity, dances as if woven from starlight—pure, luminous, and impossibly refined. Her movements paint the air with an effortless grace that feels almost supernatural.

Guillaume Diop, noble and magnetic, possesses a stage presence that commands attention with a quiet, majestic intensity. Every gesture, every elevation, every glance carries brilliance and heart.

Léonore Baulac, the epitome of lyrical delicacy, reveals worlds of sensitivity through the tiniest articulation of her hands. She dances like a whisper of poetry suspended in time.

Paul Marque, dazzling and impeccable, blends precision with radiant musicality, sculpting movement with a virtuosity that seems without limit.

Valentine Colasante, regal, powerful, and profoundly expressive, brings a queenly weight and emotional richness that anchor the stage with irresistible allure.

Marc Moreau, refined and elegant, carries a sculptural quality in his phrasing, transforming every step into a line of exquisite beauty.

Hannah O’Neill, ethereal and sublime, shines with an otherworldly softness, her fluidity so breathtaking it feels like a dream made flesh.

Germain Louvet, poetic and noble, merges refinement and emotion with astonishing naturalness, turning dance into an intimate confession.

To witness these Étoiles dance together is to witness a galaxy in motion—a cosmic dance of artistry, passion, and brilliance.

🌟 The Radiant Première Danseuses and Premiers Danseurs

Surrounding the Étoiles, the ensemble of leading artists forms a glittering constellation of talent, each one bringing individuality and depth:

Inès McIntosh, delicate yet vibrant, dances with a glowing sincerity that lights the stage from within.

Hohyun Kang, elegant and precise, offers movement of pure silk and steel.

Jack Gasztowtt, expressive and beautifully grounded, shapes his presence with warm, magnetic artistry.

Silvia Saint-Martin, vibrant and dazzling, radiates an infectious energy that electrifies the space.

Andrea Sarri, noble and sculpted, blends strength with lyrical sensitivity.

Antoine Kirscher, bold, charismatic, and fearless, ignites the stage with a compelling artistic fire.

Together, these artists form a living jewel box, exquisitely faceted, endlessly captivating.

🩰 The Programme: A Journey Through Contrasts and Wonder

Contrasts begins with the fascinating world of Trisha Brown, the emblematic figure of post-modern dance who forever transformed the language of movement.

O złożony / O composite, created for the Paris Opera Ballet, is a delicate web of gestures, a meditation on breath, balance, and the purity of motion.

With If you couldn’t see me, that haunting solo danced with the back to the audience, the Opera deepens its connection to Brown’s visionary universe—a world where restraint becomes revelation, and silence becomes eloquence.

The evening unfolds with David Dawson’s Anima Animus, a feast of contrasting energies: masculine versus feminine, vitality versus tenderness, explosive attack versus lyrical suspension. Dawson sculpts classical vocabulary into forms that shimmer with intensity—athletic yet poetic, powerful yet fragile. It is a ballet that seems to breathe fire and music at the same time.

Finally, the sibling duo Imre and Marne van Opstal invites us into the hypnotic realm of Drift Wood, a creation that evokes the poetry of time, transformation, and resilience. Like driftwood shaped by the sea, the dancers embody the tenderness and force of nature—its unpredictability, its quiet strength, its haunting beauty. The music, the scenography, the choreography merge to create a mysterious, mesmerizing world where the human body becomes a landscape in motion.

🎩 An Unforgettable Soirée in the Temple of Dance

To experience all of this live, inside the golden reverie of the Palais Garnier, is to receive a gift of rare splendor. The architecture glows, the curtain rises, and the stage becomes a sanctuary where emotion, beauty, and time suspend themselves.

With such magnificent stars—Étoiles, Premières Danseuses, Premiers Danseurs, and the glorious Corps de Ballet—December promises to be a month of artistic ecstasy.

A month of wonder.

A month of beauty.

A soirée de ballet truly unforgettable, etched forever in the heart.

What joy, what privilege, what pure magic awaits you this December at the Palais Garnier.

Paris - Notre-Dame de Paris - 06 / 31 December 2025

 ✨ Roland Petit’s Notre-Dame de Paris: A December to Remember at the Opéra Bastille ✨

This December, the immense stage of the Opéra Bastille will once again glow with the vivid colors, dramatic tension, and irresistible theatricality of Roland Petit’s Notre-Dame de Paris. Created in 1965 for the Paris Opera Ballet, this masterpiece remains one of Petit’s most iconic works, blending neoclassical precision with the irresistible flair of music-hall — a signature only he could invent.

Inspired by Victor Hugo’s monumental novel, Petit transforms the medieval world of Paris into a living fresco: Esmeralda’s radiant innocence, Quasimodo’s heartbreaking devotion, Frollo’s torment, and Phoebus’s seduction unfold against a chorus of crowds that shift from joy to cruelty in a heartbeat. With Maurice Jarre’s powerful score, René Allio’s evocative sets, and Yves Saint Laurent’s legendary costumes — shimmering like the stained-glass windows of a cathedral — this ballet is a feast for both heart and eyes.

But what makes this revival truly thrilling are the exceptional étoiles bringing these characters to life.

✨ Amandine Albisson, with her luminous presence and impeccable French classical line, will bring a deeply poetic and noble Esmeralda.

✨ Roxane Stojanov, so expressive and magnetic, promises an Esmeralda of fire, vulnerability, and emotional truth — a role she embodies with rare sincerity.

✨ Sae Eun Park, ethereal yet powerfully grounded, will offer a breathtaking interpretation full of purity, refinement, and dramatic nuance.

Three extraordinary ballerinas. Three unforgettable interpretations.

Alongside them, stars such as Hugo Marchand, Francesco Mura, Jérémy-Loup Quer, Florent Melac, Pablo Legasa, Milo Avêque and many others will shape a series of performances that are sure to become part of the ballet’s living history. And with the December 17 performance featuring yet another dazzling cast — plus the mystery still surrounding the Esmeraldas for December 25 and 30 — anticipation grows even more.

The Opéra Bastille is expected to be completely full, as it is for every ballet presented in this grand theatre. And rightly so: Notre-Dame de Paris is not just a ballet — it is an event, a celebration of Roland Petit’s genius, and a testament to the incomparable artistry of today’s Paris Opera dancers.

If you are traveling to Paris this December, you are in for an unforgettable journey.

A ballet, a masterpiece, and a constellation of stars — all under one roof. ✨🩰🇫🇷

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✨ Roland Petit’s Notre-Dame de Paris: A December of Pure Ballet Magic at the Opéra Bastille ✨

A celebration of genius, beauty, and the extraordinary étoiles who will bring Paris to life.

This December, Paris prepares for one of the most anticipated ballet events of the season: the return of Roland Petit’s Notre-Dame de Paris to the stage of the Opéra Bastille. More than a revival, it is a tribute — to a choreographer whose imagination reshaped 20th-century ballet, to a literary masterpiece that continues to move us, and to the modern stars of the Paris Opera Ballet who inherit this legacy with brilliance and depth.

🌟 The Genius of Roland Petit

Roland Petit was never just a choreographer — he was a storyteller, a sculptor of emotion, a master of theatrical instinct. His creations defied convention: sensual yet refined, dramatic yet balanced, always infused with a cinematic sense of beauty. Works such as Carmen, Le Jeune Homme et la Mort, La Rose Malade, and Notre-Dame de Paris have become pillars of the international ballet repertoire.

In Notre-Dame de Paris, premiered in 1965 at the Paris Opera, Petit achieves a rare alchemy:

• Neoclassical lines that honor tradition

• Expressionistic drama that heightens emotion

• Music-hall flair that gives the ballet its unmistakable color

Every movement reveals his signature: sharp épaulements, sculptural poses, breathtaking lifts, and storytelling that grips the viewer from the first step to the last.

🎨 A Masterpiece of Collaboration

Petit surrounded himself with an extraordinary creative team — artists whose names are now legendary.

• Maurice Jarre’s powerful, haunting score propels the drama with rhythmic urgency and lyrical tenderness.

• René Allio’s sets evoke the weight and mystery of medieval Paris, with shadows echoing across towering cathedral arches.

• Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic costumes shimmer like the stained-glass windows that inspired them, full of vivid color, elegance, and theatrical poetry.

The ballet is a moving fresco, a living painting, a story that feels at once medieval and timeless.

❤️ A Story of Passion, Darkness, and Humanity

Victor Hugo’s novel is, above all, a story about desire, difference, cruelty, and compassion. Petit distilled these themes masterfully into choreography:

• Esmeralda, radiant and free-spirited

• Quasimodo, tormented yet full of pure love

• Frollo, consumed by forbidden obsession

• Phoebus, emblem of charm, seduction, and fate

The crowd becomes a character in itself — a turbulent chorus shifting from joy to violence, echoing the contradictions of humanity.

⭐ A December Full of Stars: The Dancers Who Will Bring Paris to Life

One of the great joys of this production is the brilliant succession of étoiles who will embody these unforgettable characters.

Amandine Albisson — A luminous and noble Esmeralda

Amandine brings grace, purity, and a classical refinement that enhances every role she dances. Her Esmeralda promises to be deeply musical and beautifully sculpted, blending fragility and inner fire.

Roxane Stojanov — Expressive, magnetic, unforgettable

Few dancers possess Roxane’s emotional honesty on stage. With her radiant presence and dramatic instinct, she gives Esmeralda a humanity that resonates long after the curtain falls. Her December 7 performance will surely be a highlight of the entire run.

Sae Eun Park — Ethereal strength and absolute artistry

The first Korean étoile in the company’s history, Sae Eun Park dances with a purity that feels almost supernatural. Light as a sigh yet anchored by formidable technique, she will bring an Esmeralda of poetry, delicacy, and quiet power.

Three interpretations, three worlds — each a gift for the audience.

And around them, an extraordinary ensemble of partners and stars:

Hugo Marchand, Jérémy-Loup Quer, Francesco Mura, Florent Melac, Pablo Legasa, Milo Avêque, among others. Their dramatic presence and physical artistry will sculpt Quasimodo, Frollo, and Phoebus in ways both powerful and heartbreaking.

🔍 Dates of Special Anticipation

• December 6 — Opening performance with Albisson & Marchand

• December 7 — The poetic combination of Stojanov & Quer

• December 17 — A brilliant cast led by Sae Eun Park & Francesco Mura

• December 25 & 30 — Cast mystery! Who will be Esmeralda? Paris waits in suspense…

And on December 12 & 16, the ballet will be recorded for a 2027 worldwide cinema release — proof of its enduring artistic weight.

🎭 The Opéra Bastille: A Stage Worthy of Legend

Vast, modern, and commanding, the Opéra Bastille is the perfect setting for such a monumental ballet. Every December performance is expected to be sold out, as always when ballet takes over this immense Parisian stage. The atmosphere will be electric, with audiences from all over the world gathering for an unforgettable artistic experience.

✨ A December to Remember

Roland Petit’s Notre-Dame de Paris is more than a ballet — it is a celebration of imagination, passion, and the power of dance to convey the deepest of human truths.

This 2025 revival, danced by the Paris Opera Ballet’s finest artists — including my beloved stars with color, drama, beauty, and emotion.

If you are lucky enough to be in Paris this December, prepare for a magical journey.

The cathedral bells will ring, the stage will blaze with color, and Roland Petit’s genius will live again in every step, every note, every heartbeat.

✨🩰 Paris awaits you.  And if you can't come to Paris, don't worry, it will be recorded and shown in cinemas worldwide, so that the ballet reaches all audiences and every corner of the planet, so that no one misses out on seeing this work of art.