Perm Opera and Ballet Theater held a farewell ceremony for Kirill Shmorgoner, an Honored Artist of Russia known for his prolific work as a choreographer. The event, reported by ura.ru, reflected a deep sense of national loss as the arts community said goodbye to a man whose humor and readiness to help touched many lives. Through his career, Shmorgoner left an indelible mark on the Permian stage, shaping performances with a distinctive blend of technical precision and expressive storytelling that resonated with audiences far beyond the theater walls.
During the mourning gathering, colleagues spoke with warmth about his character and his artistic generosity. Daria Sosnina, who leads the Perm State Choreographic College, noted that Shmorgoner was not only a brilliant choreographer and a skilled dancer but also a person whose kindness and willingness to support others stood out. Her reflections underscored the sense of loss felt across the Russian cultural landscape as people remembered his humor and his ready smile that could lift the room even in sorrowful times.
Shmorgoner’s legacy extended beyond the Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre. He choreographed pieces that enriched performances for figure skaters, bringing the same discipline and artistry from the stage to the ice. Colleagues recalled that he created numbers for skaters that were not merely technically sound but visually compelling, with a cadence and grace that elevated the sport. The ensemble noted that the athletes from their circle frequently delivered performances that rivaled prominent groups from Moscow and Leningrad, a testament to the collaborative spirit fostered by Shmorgoner across arenas of performance.
Following the farewell, the artist was laid to rest in Perm at the Northern Cemetery, where colleagues and family laid to rest a creator whose career spanned decades of theatre lore. His passing marks the end of an era for a company that trained generations to approach dance with both ambition and compassion, qualities he embodied and imparted to those who followed in his footsteps.
Choreographer Kirill Shmorgoner died on June 21 at the age of 83. Between 1961 and 1983, he embodied the character of Spartak in Perm’s theatre scenes, delivering performances that remain part of the company’s remembered repertoire. His interpretations of Desire in Sleeping Beauty, Alberta in Giselle, and Basil in Don Quixote are cited among his most memorable creations. He also appeared in productions by Nikolai Boyarchikov, including roles such as D’Artagnan in The Three Musketeers and German in The Hill, as well as a lady character in other repertoire. His work drew upon classical frameworks like Boris Godunov, where his portrayal of Tsar Boris reflected a breadth of expression that resonated with audiences and critics alike. These performances, alongside a repertoire of improvised and collaborative pieces, highlighted a career that bridged traditional ballet with contemporary choreographic ideas, enriching the Perm dance community and inviting engagement from the broader Russian theatre world. In reflecting on his career, peers emphasized a dedication to craft and a pedagogical spirit that inspired younger dancers to explore their own artistic voices, echoing the belief that great performers also become mentors. The body of work left behind, in both stage and ice-adapted pieces, is remembered as a testament to an artist who contributed to the cultural fabric of Perm and Russia through a life entirely devoted to movement, storytelling, and the shared joy of performance.