"Russian Seasons. Spring": a multi-genre performance to be presented at the National Centre RUSSIA in honour of 8 March

The original multi-genre performance "Russian Seasons.Spring" will be staged at the National Centre RUSSIA on 7 and 8 March. The project is dedicated to International Women’s Day and celebrates Russian art, music and dance, as well as the great women of Russia who conquered the world. Audiences will see ballet and opera excerpts, revived stage designs by renowned artists and immerse themselves in the history of the "Russian Seasons" of the early twentieth century.

The performance will place special emphasis on talented Russian women whose depth and spiritual richness unite peoples, elevate Russian culture and resonate with audiences worldwide. It is particularly symbolic that 2026 marks the 145th anniversary of the great ballerina Anna Pavlova, whose performances on the world’s leading stages brought international fame to Russian ballet. The production will highlight the contribution of Bronislava Nijinska, who became the first female choreographer of the 20th century, and Matilda Kshesinskaya — the brightest star of the "Russian Seasons", who was the first Russian ballerina to perform 32 fouettes.

The climax of the performance will be a new interpretation of the most famous episode from the legendary ballet "The Rite of Spring", staged especially for the National Centre RUSSIA.

Alongside new choreography and revived stage designs by Nicholas Roerich, the audience will see composer Igor Stravinsky portrayed on stage as he composes his music live. His thoughts will appear on multimedia screens, while the ballet’s characters perform a traditional round dance (khorovod) and call for spring. The round dance — a symbol of unity and cultural diversity in Russia that inspired such great composers as Stravinsky — will extend into the auditorium, where spectators will dance together with the performers.

The production tells the story of the series of impresario seasons known as the "Russian Seasons", which toured abroad in the early twentieth century. The "Russian Seasons" had a profound impact on world culture and sparked a fashion for all things Russian. On 19 May 1908, the "Russian Seasons" opened at the Paris Opera with the opera "Boris Godunov". Audiences will hear the most celebrated pieces set to music by Igor Stravinsky, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Modest Mussorgsky, while multimedia screens will bring to life the stage designs of Nicholas Roerich, Alexandre Benois, Leon Bakst and other distinguished artists.

Leading artists of Russian theatres will perform the principal roles. Among them are prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia Kristina Kretova; Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation and premier of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia Artyom Ovcharenko; Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation and prima ballerina of the Kremlin Ballet Theatre Yekaterina Pervushina; as well as soloists of major Moscow drama and opera theatres.