The Mikhailovsky Theatre is preparing a new opera project that marks a notable step for its artistic leadership. Vladimir Kekhman, serving as the theatre’s artistic director, will direct the stage production for the first time. This development is reported by Fontanka.
The forthcoming work is titled The Lady of the Camellias. Its title nods to the famous drama by Alexandre Dumas and echoes the libretto adaptation by Francesco Maria Piave originally crafted for Verdi’s La Traviata. The project aims to transport audiences to the early twentieth century, a period that shapes the emotional arc and historical texture of the piece.
The narrative centers on Margarita, a Russian-born ballerina who emigrates and faces a crucible between artistry, affection, and financial pressures in the wake of the 1917 revolution. The operatic portrait follows her journey as she navigates a life far from the familiar stage, encountering a cosmopolitan milieu where familiarity is scarce and opportunity is scarce as well.
According to the production notes, Margarita discovers that Europe offers a different stage and a different circle of confidants. A luxurious villa on Capri appears alluring yet ultimately constraining—a gilded cage that time slowly seals. Her love affair with Armand falters as he is revealed to be unreliable, and even her most ardent supporter, Baron Dufol, withdraws to safeguard his own liberty. The question at the heart of the opera asks what choices remain for a woman who loses her stage, her income, and her sense of belonging. The description frames the drama as a personal test of resilience and self-definition in a world that has shifted beneath her feet. (source attribution: Fontanka)
The first performances of the opera are scheduled for February 8, 9, and 10, 2024, marking a cautious but ambitious entry into the theatre’s season lineup. (Fontanka)
News surrounding the broader Russian theatre world also touched the leadership of major institutions. On the eve of recent media coverage, it was noted that Valery Gergiev, a prominent conductor and holder of multiple leadership roles at major Russian ensembles, would be involved with the Bolshoi Theatre in a capacity that ties him to national performance calendars. (source attribution: Fontanka)
Meanwhile, the Russian performing arts scene has faced a string of cancellations and programmatic shifts in the opening hours of the current period. One production, described as a provocative game titled Seryozha is so stupid, was called off in the early hours, underscoring the volatility and sensitivity that can accompany high-profile theatre programming. (Fontanka)