Mariinsky Theater to conquer Washington

Russian opera singers and ballet dancers of the Mariinsky Theater under the direction of Valery Gergiev successfully finished their remarkable Washington tour last weekend.
Their performance was a part of the Tchaikovsky festival. The festival took place in the biggest concert hall in America's capital—John F. Kennedy Center for the performing Arts. This musical performance concluded the entire program of cultural events, which have been organized last year in American cities nationwide in connection with the St. Petersburg's 300 anniversary.
Mariinsky Theater performed such operas as Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin" and "Mazepa," both of which received raving reviews from Washington's, Virginia's and Maryland's leading newspapers. Valery Gergiev himself was the conductor.
The Theatre's ballet performances did not lack people's attention either. By performing such famous pieces as "The Nutcracker" and "Swan Lake," remarked the Washington Post, Mariinsky Theater has once again displayed all the major tendencies of its current development: its aspiration for creative innovations while adhering to the best artistic traditions.
"The Nutcracker" ballet, choreographed by Mikhail Shemyakin, has caused different reactions from ballet critics worldwide, reports ITAR-TASS. Some of them considered the ballet's choreography to be "too simplistic and not worthy of the high class characteristic of the Russian ballet dancers."
"Swan Lake," on the other hand turned out to be a real hit. Darya Pavlenko and Igor Zelinsky were the lead dancers. Not only was the performance greatly accepted by the general public but by critics as well.          

Source: NewsRu