Mikhailovsky Theatre
| 21 June |
| 18:00 |
| 2026 | Sunday |
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Russian Classical Ballet Stars at the Mikhailovsky Theatre "The Little Humpbacked Horse" ballet in three acts Ballet in 3 acts
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| Artists |
Credits |
Mikhail Messerer, Production
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World premiere: Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow Premiere of this production: 02 Sep 2021 The performance has 2 intermissions Running time: 2 hours 10 minutes
The Mikhailovsky Theatre, one of Saint Petersburg’s oldest and most distinguished stages since 1833, showcases artists whose training and artistry echo the excellence of the Mariinsky School. This season, the theatre presents The Little Humpbacked Horse, a dazzling ballet filled with Russian folklore, magical creatures, and heroic adventures. With virtuosic choreography, colorful staging, and enchanting music, the production invites audiences into a whimsical world where courage, wit, and imagination triumph in every leap and spin. Libretto by Vasily Vaynonen and Pavel Malyarevsky
Choreography by Alexander Radunsky
Staging by Mikhail Messerer
The Little Humpbacked Horse, Ivanushka and his envious brothers Danila and Gavrila, the Maiden Tsar, and the other characters have all been transferred from the pages of the wondrous fairy tale by Pyotr Ershov to the ballet stage. A peasant son, Ivanushka, with the help of a plain-looking horse who becomes his loyal friend, overcomes all his trials, puts the stupid Tsar to shame, takes his place, and marries the Tsar Maiden. The tale, familiar from childhood, is told with mischief and slyness. The music is by eminent composer Rodion Shchedrin, who wrote it as a young man while studying at the Conservatory. It sparkles with fun and creates freedom for choreographic solutions. Mikhail Messerer's production is based on the choreography of Alexander Radunsky, who was the first to use this score and created a ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre in 1960. The full-length three-act production is a delight for children and adults alike, sure to be enjoyed by everyone who appreciates ballet performed in the classical tradition. The stage design uses motifs from Palekh miniatures, offering a very special take on fairy tales and folklore.
SYNOPSIS
Prologue
On that as Ivan it guarded wheat and caught pilferer - the magic horse, which
into the ransom gave three horses to Ivan: two krasavtsev of painted, and the
third - horse on by prozvan’yu of sea horse.
1 act.
On how Ivan with the brothers it sold horses in the capital, as tsar to those
horses it marvelled and at a cost of it did not be stingy, as to servants by
tsarist horses they were not given and it was necessary for tsar to take Ivan by
main groom to itself in the palace.
2 act.
on how the previous main konyushiy chief of intrigue it braided against Ivan,
as to tsar denunciation reported, that Ivan de bragged Tsar- girl to bring, as
it was necessary for Ivan to go into the distant of edge after the tsarevna, and
as Konek-Gorbunok it helped its owner to captivate Tsar- girl.
3 act.
on how tsar it decided to rejuvenate and the beauty to be married, for which
before the palace they divorced fire, in the boilers they boiled water; at first
tsar ordered Ivan to expiate; Ivan as dipped, so he were wrapped up into the
fine person, and tsar in the boiling water welded, here Ivan with the Tsar- girl
they married.
Epilogue
on how they feasted how tsarina and Ivan glorified, honey pili, it flowed
along the whiskers, but it did not fall into the mouth. |
"The Little Humpbacked Horse" ballet in three acts
on the playbill |
Mariinsky Theatre: 
Mariinsky-2 (New Theatre): 
Mariinsky Concert Hall: 
