Our Bolshoi page Bolshoi performances

The Opera then take over until 7 August.

The ballets they are bringing are:

La Bayadere,
Don Quixote,
Raymonda,
Spartacus,
Swan Lake
and a Giselle programme (which includes Spectre de la rose and Pas de Quatre - like Giselle by Perrot.

They are bringing their own orchestra (under Mark Ermler) and we are promised lots of new young principals who are simply not yet known here. I suppose they would say that! Even so the company is 250 strong and, like the Kirov, there are bound to be some great young dancers in there. The one dancer coming whom many will know is Nina Ananiashvili, who guested with the Royal in the early 1990's and stirred up more than a few of us.

The last time they were here was 1994 (I think) when they appeared in suites of dances at the Albert Hall and were panned by the critics, yet the public turned out in substantial numbers.

It's a shame that they are not bring The Little Humpbacked Horse with them, something they are premiering this season and a classic from the 19th century, the title and content of which has always intrigued me.

There is a Bolshoi Ballet web site coming together and which is now in beta test. For ourselves We plan to do a feature on the Bolshoi, and their London season, later in the spring.

There have been rumours about the Kirov coming over this year, but at the moment we can't find out the exact position - I suspect it is off, or liable to happen nearer Christmas.

July should be an interesting time with the Royal Ballet Sadler's Wells season running from the 5 to 31 July as well.

(The above originaly appeared in teh weekly update page and we will doing a more indepth piece about teh Bolshoi nearer their visit)