Maya Plisetskaya (1925–2015), one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century, was often referred to by her contemporaries as the “First Lady of Dance.” She represented a rare example of extraordinary artistic longevity, performing on stage for nearly sixty years and leaving behind a remarkable legacy in both Russian and world culture. Her work came to define an entire era in the history of ballet.
The evening’s program will feature renowned works from Maya Plisetskaya’s repertoire that have become part of the world ballet heritage, including Carmen Suite, The Dying Swan, and Don Quixote, as well as excerpts from Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Stone Flower, Spartacus, Raymonda, Walpurgis Night, Shurale, Laurencia, and the choreographic miniature Melody from the opera Orpheus and Eurydice.
The gala concert will feature leading soloists from Russia’s most prestigious ballet theatres, including artists from the Bolshoi Theatre, the Mariinsky Theatre, the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre, the Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre, as well as other leading theatres across Russia.
Their artistry, technical excellence, and stage presence embody the finest traditions of Russian ballet.