History

The Perm State P.I. Tchaikovsky Opera and Ballet Theatre is one of the oldest theatres in Russia. Throughout its history, which dates back over a century, the Tchaikovsky theatre has managed to remain one of the most important cultural centres of Russia. Artistic events of major significance continue to take place on its stage.

In the theatre, which is often called "The House of Tchaikovsky", were staged all the operas and ballets of the great composer. Among the artistic treasures of the repertoire are carefully preserved the classical works of Borodin, Moussorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov. The theatre has brought to life a number of unfairly forgotten operatic masterpieces. Denisov's Pena Dneii, Massnet's Cleopatra, Schedrin's Lolita (based on the Nabokov's novel), Handel's Alcina, Monteverdi's L'Orfeo and Rubinstein's Christus were staged in the Perm Opera for the first time in Russia.

Perm is called the third (after Moscow and Saint Petersburg) Mecca for ballet-lovers, where along with the ballet troupe functions the famous ballet academy. Since the 1970s Perm ballet has been a magnet for public attention. The concordance of the performing manner of the soloists and the corps-de-ballet is the "specialty" of the company. Perm ballet troupe is probably the only one in Russia that consists entirely of the graduates of the same academy.

For many decades the Perm stage has been a "launching site"¹ for many artists, whose fame now stretches beyond the boarders of Russia. In the Perm theatre started the artistic journey of many stars of the theatres of Moscow, Saint-Petersburg and other ballet companies of the world. Among those artists are: Galina Ragozina-Panova, Lubov Kunakova, Nadegda Pavlova, Olga Chenchikova, Marata Daukaeva, Yuri Petuhov, Galina Shalyapina, Svetlana Smirnova. They are truly the pride of the Perm region.

Deserved fame was brought to the Perm theatre with the participation of its artists in various international festivals. The theatre itself has initiated and organised the Open Competition for Russian ballet artists "Arabesque" and the International Festival of Arts "Diaghilev Seasons: Perm-St.Petersburg-Paris".

Opera and ballet productions of the Perm theatre have often been nominated for and have won the awards of the National Theatre Festival "The Golden Mask"

The leading soloists of the Perm theatre have visited different continents, performing in various productions and concerts. Since 1973 the entire company of the Perm Theatre has toured Australia, Italy, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand, Japan and South Korea, England, Ireland, Holland, Spain, China and the USA. In France and on Cuba, in Cambodia and in Canada, in Thailand and in Egypt, in Nicaragua, in India and in the United States - everywhere the artists performed they were warmly received by both the critics and the public and have found true friends among those ho appreciate the art of the Perm Opera and Ballet company.

While continuing the theatrical traditions of the past, the The Perm P.I. Tchaikovsky Opera and Ballet Theatre is and always has been longing to make its productions up-to-date and full of life.