The main spring premiere: the production "Russian Seasons. Spring" staged at the National Centre RUSSIA

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The premiere of the multi-genre production "Russian Seasons. Spring" was presented at the National Centre RUSSIA. The performance was timed to coincide with International Women’s Day and celebrates Russian art, music and dance, as well as the women who inspired and shaped an era: Anna Pavlova, Bronislava Nijinska and Matilda Kshesinskaya. Their talent and charisma turned Russian ballet into a global phenomenon and helped spread the fame of Russian art far beyond the country’s borders. "Russian Seasons. Spring" offers a new interpretation of the great cultural legacy of the twentieth century.

"'Russian Seasons. Spring' opens this wonderful time of year at the National Centre RUSSIA. The title was chosen deliberately, because the 'Russian Seasons' once introduced Russian culture to the world. Today’s production has turned out rich and engaging. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it includes dramatic interludes and features artists from the Bolshoi Theatre, the Stanislavsky Theatre, the Vakhtangov Theatre, the Theatre of Nations, opera singers, our Women’s Symphony Orchestra and many others. We are not copying anyone. Instead, we have tried to bring together the most talented performers from different genres and recreate the remarkable images painted by brilliant Russian artists," said the production’s producer, Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation and laureate of the "Soul of Dance" and "National Heritage" awards, Aidar Shaidullin.

The "Russian Seasons" project became a cultural phenomenon of the twentieth century, bringing together composers, artists and choreographers whose work changed Europe’s perception of Russian ballet and theatre. At the centre of the story are the people who created this phenomenon: impresario Sergei Diaghilev, composer Igor Stravinsky, artist Nicholas Roerich, as well as performers and musicians of that era. Their creativity and bold ideas turned the "Russian Seasons" into a symbol of artistic renewal and cultural dialogue between Russia and Europe.

The greatest composers worked on the "Russian Seasons". The production featured works by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Alexander Borodin, Modest Mussorgsky and Igor Stravinsky, and also included compositions by Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Mikhail Glinka. All of them were performed on the stage of the National Centre RUSSIA by the Women’s Symphony Orchestra.

"The production 'Russian Seasons. Spring' is absolutely stunning. We perform magnificent music by Rimsky-Korsakov, Stravinsky and Mussorgsky. These are the greatest orchestrators and composers. The orchestra performing in the production is very multifaceted — just like great Russia, full of talent, happiness and joy. All this is complemented by the visual sequence, which turned out incredibly beautiful, poetic and romantic," said Ksenia Zharko, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Women’s Symphony Orchestra.

The production immerses the audience in the atmosphere of the "Russian Seasons" of the early twentieth century. Viewers at the National Centre RUSSIA saw a synthesis of ballet, opera and multimedia technologies. It is a true journey through time that tells the story of the finest chapters in the history of Russian art. Through multimedia screens, the National Centre RUSSIA brought to life the stage designs and paintings of great artists. The visual concept was based on works by Nicholas Roerich, Alexander Golovin, Leon Bakst and Alexandre Benois.

For example, Nicholas Roerich’s 1912 design for the ballet "The Rite of Spring" depicts the summit of a sacred hill at the centre, where girls in long tunics dance in a circle, calling for the arrival of spring. The dance came to life before the audience exactly as Roerich imagined it. In Alexander Golovin’s designs for the ballet "The Firebird", the scenery resembled a mosaic. The artist was known for his ability to express Russian national traditions through the language of European modernism. It was Alexander Golovin who created the famous costume of Tsar Boris for the opera "Boris Godunov", and later painted the portrait of Fyodor Chaliapin in this role. In the episode "Polovtsian Dances", the backdrop used was Nicholas Roerich’s 1909 design "Polovtsian Camp". Contemporary artists used this unique example of theatrical art as their foundation and expanded it. On the screens the audience could see the wind moving the banners and smoke drifting through the scene, creating the feeling of breathing in rhythm with the music and the performers’ movements. Leon Bakst also appeared before the audience in the full power of his talent: his designs for "Scheherazade" amaze with their vivid oriental motifs. It was he who helped create the image of eastern luxury and mysticism that so impressed European audiences.

The production features many vivid details and striking visual images. In one of the scenes of the performance "Russian Seasons. Spring", ballet dancers descended into the audience and invited spectators to join a large round dance (khorovod). This interactive moment is not simply part of the staging but one of the central symbols of the Year of the Unity of the Peoples of Russia at the National Centre RUSSIA. A round dance has neither beginning nor end — no first and no last participants — and everyone in the circle creates a shared energy that connects the present with the future.

The audience of the performance "Russian Seasons. Spring" also saw the famous "Russian Dance", a fragment from Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s ballet "Swan Lake", written in 1877. The composer created the piece at the request of ballerina Polina Karpakova, the first performer of the role of Odette. The dance is rooted in Russian folk tradition and reflects the height of national artistic expression.

Particular attention in the production is given to outstanding Russian women. Their depth and inner strength have the power to unite people, elevate Russian culture and resonate with audiences. In February 2026 the 145th anniversary of the great ballerina Anna Pavlova was celebrated. Her performances on the world’s leading stages brought international fame to Russian ballet. The performance also highlights the cultural contribution of Bronislava Nijinska, who became the first female choreographer of the twentieth century, and Matilda Kshesinskaya — one of the brightest stars of the "Russian Seasons", who was the first Russian ballerina to perform 32 fouettes.

One of the central scenes of the performance, "Stravinsky and His Muse", was created especially for the National Centre RUSSIA to music from the ballet "The Rite of Spring". It tells the story of how the idea for the ballet came to composer Igor Stravinsky in a dream. The audience also sees what was happening behind the scenes of the historic "Russian Seasons". The production features artists from Russia’s leading theatres, as the works included in the performance require exceptional artistic skill. The role of Igor Stravinsky was performed by Honoured Artist of Russia and principal dancer of the Kremlin Ballet Theatre, Mikhail Yevgenov. The role of the composer’s muse, Matilda Kshesinskaya, was performed by Bolshoi Theatre prima ballerina Kristina Kretova, for whom this marked her debut in a dramatic role.

"This is my first dramatic role. We are at the National Centre RUSSIA, where dreams come true. I have long wanted to try myself in this role. It is exciting, but I worked with professionals who supported me in everything. With them you are not afraid of anything," said Kristina Kretova.

The famous piece "The Dying Swan" in the production "Russian Seasons. Spring" is performed in an intimate chamber format accompanied by harp and cello. The sound of these instruments evokes the graceful movement of a swan gliding across the surface of the water.

"Time does not stand still, and that is encouraging. That is why it is so fascinating to see the works of our Russian painters and the creations of choreographers and performers, where everyone, joining hands, represents a single Russian people — a people of strength, courage, unity and happiness. It is a great honour for me to take part in such a performance, because it presents the full palette of our culture — opera, ballet, music and, of course, painting," said Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation, Mariinsky Theatre soloist and Artistic Director of the Bashkir State Opera and Ballet Theatre Askar Abdrazakov, who performed the role of Boris Godunov.

The revival of the "Russian Seasons" by the National Centre RUSSIA is aimed at preserving the country’s great cultural heritage and passing it on to future generations. The production pays tribute to an era and to the people who shaped Russia’s image in global culture.

"The production 'Russian Seasons. Spring' is masterfully made. The multimedia scenery is remarkable, and the orchestra performed at the highest level. It would be hard to call such a performance a product — it is a true work of cultural and educational significance that reveals the depth of the Russian spirit and dramatic tradition. We saw genuine emotion, the influence of the Stanislavsky school and, of course, the highest level of ballet. After the Russians, this art began spreading across the world and today it is considered our national treasure, not to mention such symbols as 'The Dying Swan' and 'Swan Lake'," said Vladimir Moiseyev, First Soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre Ballet, choreographer, Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation, People’s Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania and Honoured Artist of Kabardino-Balkaria.

Another performance of the multi-genre production "Russian Seasons. Spring" will take place on 8 March. On International Women’s Day the production will be livestreamed on the website of the National Centre RUSSIA. If viewers miss the live broadcast, the recording will later be available in the "Livestreams and Videos" section as well as on the National Centre RUSSIA social media pages.

A special guide to the performance has also been prepared for the main premiere of this spring. It includes short descriptions of the scenes, information about the main characters, performers and music, as well as details about the unique artworks used in the multimedia design of the production and the history of the "Russian Seasons". The guide to the performance is available via the link, and spectators can also obtain it in the foyer of the Grand Concert Hall before the performance begins.