Mariinsky Theatre's Tour in Graz, Austria

The capital of the province of Styria, Graz, proclaimed the European cultural capital in 2003 by the European Union, will host a tour of the Mariinsky Theatre from St. Petersburg, a Russian city-partner of Graz.

The Russian festival, headed by chief director of the Mariinsky Theatre Valery Gergiyev, will open with Pyotr Tchaikovsky's "Queen of Spades" in Graz' Opera Theatre on Tuesday. In addition, the Mariinsky Theatre will perform Igor Stravinsky's opera-oratorio "King Oedipus", with the famous Austrian actor Klaus Maria Brandauer playing the leading part, and "Cleopatra" by Domenico Cimarosa, a court musician of the Russian Empress Catherine II (the 18th century).

"Cleopatra" was staged by Valery Gergiyev especially for the festival of Russian art in Graz. After that, it will be shown in St. Petersburg.

Pyotr Tchaikovsky's opera "Mazepa" will be staged as part of the festival. Strauss' opera "Ariadne on Naxos", staged by Matthias Fontheim, will premiere in the Grand Concert Hall in Graz. Chief Conductor of the Graz Opera Philippe Jordan will conduct the premiere.