The Mariinsky Opera and Ballet toured the world for many years under the name of the Kirov. Now Sadler's Wells is delighted to host this world famous company for the first time in the theatre's history.
Opera
To mark the centenary this year of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908), Artistic Director Valery Gergiev presents The Mariinsky (Kirov) Opera's exquisite production of Rimsky's fairytale opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan.
The Tale of Tsar Saltan, based on a poem by Alexander Pushkin, was composed in 1900 as a centenary tribute to Russia's great poet. It was the first opera to be performed in Moscow in the 20th Century and, appropriately enough, Sadler’s Wells presented its UK premiere in 1933.
This production was created in 2005, using opulent costumes and lavish sets based on the original fairytale sketches of Ivan Bilibin designed for the Russian premiere.
The opera, featuring many of the company’s most outstanding young artists, includes characters such as the Swan Princess and the evil sorcerer Chernomor, plus the famous orchestral highlight Flight of the Bumblebee.
This visit of the Mariinsky Opera and Ballet is presented in association with The Mariinsky Theatre Trust (UK).