Leonid Yacobson Ballet Theatre’s Gold Collection
The third iteration of our annual Gold Collection Festival will be hosted at St. Petersburg’s best historical venues from 2 July to 16 August. The Leonid Yacobson Academic Ballet Theatre will introduce the public to classical ballet masterpieces, one-of-a-kind indie productions, and this season’s choreographic premières.
Classical ballet and theatre culture in general are immensely important for uplifting St. Petersburg in the eyes of its many guests. During the high season, the Leonid Yacobson Theatre always follows the tradition of putting the most widely beloved shows on its playbill. These shows include, first and foremost, the legendary Tchaikovsky trio. Lev Ivanov’s and Marius Petipa’s version of Swan Lake (considered the ballet canon) is more than just a dance production: it is a symbol of Russian art, with immense aesthetic and emotional impact. The Sleeping Beauty, in turn, embodies the unbreakable link between the Russian and Western European dance tradition: on the Russian stage, Charles Perrot’s fairy-tale is retold with all the elegance and splendour of Louis XIV’s court. And The Nutcracker has premièred this season in an all-new iteration by Nikolay Tsiskaridze. This winter tale’s gentle warmth and exciting and dreamy coming-of-age adventures remain delightful regardless of time of the year.
The Gold Collection further features Don Quixote: a vivacious sunlit romp, full of humour and adventure, which follows the escapades of two lovers, taken under the wing of the legendary wandering knight from Cervantes' novel. The next show, The Queen of Spades, also comes from a literary background: Argentinian choreographer Iñaki Urlezaga has retold Alexander Pushkin’s tale through body language, inspired both by the great writer’s masterfully vivid prose and by his own Latino sentiments. The set design for this ballet is the work of an Italian artist team, headed by the renowned Ezio Frigerio.
The Gold Collection includes exclusive productions from Yacobson Ballet’s repertoire, which we are particularly proud to showcase. For instance, the Brilliant Divertissement programme celebrates the 120th birth anniversary of our troupe’s founder, the genius 20th century choreographer Leonid Yacobson, and is essentially his Best Of. Yacobson’s unique discoveries in the realm of body language have revolutionised the perception of what can be achieved through classical dance. His full-length shows and miniatures still amaze with their innovative spirit and serve as a source of inspiration for the next generation of choreographers. One of such choreographers is Vyacheslav Samodurov, whom we have been successfully collaborating with over the course of the past two seasons. His two one-act ballets, Cheeky Chastushki and 598 Beats, beautifully complemented our repertoire in 2022 and 2024 respectively, joining the ranks of the most widely discussed choreographic innovations.
We will perform these shows at the Alexandrinsky Theatre and Bolshoi Drama Theatre. These locations’ elegant historical interiors and highly revered stages will be sure to emphasize the aesthetic value of these colourful and diverse choreographic canvases, presented to the interested and discerning public.
