Bolshoi with big plans for next season

The Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre is opening its 228th season, September 4. It is preparing six or seven premieres-of its own making and co-productions with the Munich Opera, says Anatoli Iksanov, company Director General.

Prima Svetlana Zakharova, one of Russia's foremost ballerinas, is going over to the Bolshoi from St. Petersburg's Mariinsky, a ballet of equal renown. Alexei Ratmansky, major dancer and choreographer, will lead the Bolshoi ballet since January next.

Alexander Vedernikov, Bolshoi artistic director, informed RIA Novosti about the season's operatic endeavours-Verdi's "Macbeth", Prokofieff's "The Flaming Angel", Wagner's "The Flying Dutchman" and, last but not least, "Mazeppa", which Tchaikovsky wrote specially for the Bolshoi. The ballet will premiere a new version of Prokofieff's "Romeo and Juliet" and a programme of George Balanchine's miniatures.