12+
Sergey Prokofyev

THE BOLSHOI BALLET AND ORCHESTRA:
ROMEO AND JULIET

Ballet

The production runs 3 hours 10 minutes, including two intermissions
12+
Romeo and Juliet
Music by Sergei Prokofiev
Libretto by Leonid Lavrovsky, Sergei Radlov, Sergei Prokofiev, Adrian Piotrovsky after William Shakespeare's tragedy

For the first time ever in Istanbul, Russia’s legendary Bolshoi Theatre — one of the world’s most renowned ballet companies — will perform two iconic productions: Romeo and Juliet and Swan Lake. The performances will take place at the Atatürk Cultural Centre from September 26 to 30, as part of the Türkiye Culture Route Festival. The tour is presented by the production company Art Seasons.

These timeless ballets, performed by the Bolshoi’s principal dancers, remain beloved by generations of theatergoers. Romeo and Juliet, first staged in 1940, features music by Sergei Prokofiev and choreography by Leonid Lavrovsky, who drew inspiration from the Verona chronicles, medieval romances, and historical dance traditions.

The second ballet on the program is Swan Lake — a true symbol of the Russian ballet repertoire. Premiered in 1877, it was the first ballet Pyotr Tchaikovsky composed for the Bolshoi Theatre. With its legendary music, the famous Dance of the Little Swans, and the breathtaking 32 fouettés performed by Odile, the Black Swan, Swan Lake remains one of the most celebrated ballets in the world.

Around 350 dancers, musicians, and theatre staff will travel to Istanbul for this remarkable tour. The original sets and costumes will also be brought from the Bolshoi’s historic stage to recreate the full splendor of these classic productions. Only four exclusive performances are scheduled — tickets are now on sale.

Today, Valery Gergiev, the internationally acclaimed conductor, serves as the General Director of the Bolshoi Theatre, as well as the Artistic and General Director of the Mariinsky Theatre.

The Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, the oldest musical ensemble in Russia, is internationally recognized as one of the world’s top symphony orchestras. Among its musicians — laureates and prizewinners of international competitions, as well as Honored and People's Artists of Russia.

The history of Russia’s Bolshoi Theatre dates back to 1776. The first ballets at the Bolshoi were staged under the direction of French and Italian choreographers. One of its most iconic productions, Don Quixote, was staged in 1869 by Marius Petipa — a production that has since become a hallmark of Moscow ballet. In Soviet times, especially after Moscow became the capital, the Bolshoi became the country’s principal theatre, bringing together the finest artistic talents. The golden age of Soviet ballet is inseparable from the names of choreographers Leonid Lavrovsky and Yuri Grigorovich. Among the legendary performers of that era were Galina Ulanova, Maya Plisetskaya, Ekaterina Maximova, Nina Timofeyeva, Asaf Messerer, Mikhail Lavrovsky, Vladimir Vasiliev, and Māris Liepa — artists who defined the Bolshoi’s legacy on the world stage. Makhar Vaziev has served as Artistic Director of the Bolshoi Theatre’s Ballet Company since 2016. He previously held the same role at the Mariinsky Ballet and La Scala. At the end of 2023, the theatre came under the direction of the distinguished conductor Valery Gergiev. Under his leadership the Bolshoi continues to present grand operas, ballets, and symphonic concerts.

Photo by Damir Yusupov

26 September. AKM
Romeo and Juliet

Conductor Valery GERGIEV
Juliet, the daughter of Capulet Svetlana ZAKHAROVA
Romeo, the son of Montague Artemy BELYAKOV
Mercutio, Romeo’s friend Ratmir DZHUMALIEV
Tybalt, Lady Capulet’s nephew Nikita KAPUSTIN
Count Paris, Juliet’s betrothed Mark ORLOV
Benvolio, Montague’s nephew and Romeo’s friend Ivan ALEXEYEV
Lord Capulet Alexei LOPAREVICH
Lady Capulet Vera BORISENKOVA
Lord Montague Andrei SITNIKOV
Juliet's Nurse Alevtina RUDINA
Friar Laurence Yuri OSTROVSKY
Duke of Verona Nikita ELIKAROV
Juliet’s Friend Maria KOSHKARYOVA
Troubadour Mark CHINO
Jester Akib ANVAR
Capulet Servants Alexander VODOPETOV, Dmitry DOROKHOV, Igor PUGACHYOV
Montague Servants Gleb ASADCHENKO, Dmitry EFREMOV
Maids Maria MISHINA, Nina BIRYUKOVA, Elina KAMALOVA
Juliet's Same-age Peers Polina AFANASIEVA, Alexandra TRIKOZ, Angelina VLASHINETS, Polina NETSVETAEVA-DOLGALYOVA, Elizabetta NALIN, Angelina YURKEVICH
Troubadours Gleb ASADCHENKO, Maxim IVANOV, Igor GORELKIN, Anton GAYNUTDINOV, Fuad MAMEDOV, Denis IVANOV
Tybalt's Friends Ilya KARPOVICH, Vladislav SHEVCHENKO
Jesters Grigory CHAPAEV, Filippo Ferdinando PAGANI, Andrei KOSHKIN, Genki Alexander KHOSHI
Paupers Ekaterina KLYAVLINA, Olga KALININA
Paris's Pageboy Anastasia KAZAKOVA
Romeo's Pageboy Mikhail KEMENOV
Innkeeper Ivan PRAZDNIKOV
Folk Dance Anastasia ZVONKOVA, Lina SHEVELYOVA, Vitaly GETMANOV, Mikhail KRYUCHKOV
The Bolshoi Actors & Extras Ensemble
Director Ekaterina MIRONOVA
*Please note that cast is subject to change

27 September. AKM
Romeo and Juliet

Conductor Anton GRISHANIN
Juliet, the daughter of Capulet Elizaveta KOKOREVA
Romeo, the son of Montague Daniil POTAPTSEV
Mercutio, Romeo’s friend Alexei PUTINTSEV
Tybalt, Lady Capulet’s nephew Denis SAVIN
Count Paris, Juliet’s betrothed Egor GERASHCHENKO
Benvolio, Montague’s nephew and Romeo’s friend Mark ORLOV
Lord Capulet Andrei SITNIKOV
Lady Capulet Anastasia MESKOVA
Lord Montague Alexei LOPAREVICH
Juliet's Nurse Alevtina RUDINA
Friar Laurence Yuri OSTROVSKY
Duke of Verona Nikita ELIKAROV
Juliet’s Friend Elizaveta KRUTELYOVA
Troubadour Ivan PODDUBNYAK
Jester Danila KLIMENKO (1^st appearance)
Capulet Servants Alexander VODOPETOV, Dmitry DOROKHOV, Igor PUGACHYOV
Montague Servants Gleb ASADCHENKO, Dmitry EFREMOV
Maids Maria MISHINA, Nina BIRYUKOVA, Elina KAMALOVA
Juliet's Same-age Peers Polina AFANASIEVA, Alexandra TRIKOZ, Angelina VLASHINETS, Polina NETSVETAEVA-DOLGALYOVA, Elizabetta NALIN, Angelina YURKEVICH
Troubadours Gleb ASADCHENKO, Maxim IVANOV, Igor GORELKIN, Anton GAYNUTDINOV, Fuad MAMEDOV, Denis IVANOV
Tybalt's Friends Ilya KARPOVICH, Vladislav SHEVCHENKO
Jesters Grigory CHAPAEV, Filippo Ferdinando PAGANI, Andrei KOSHKIN, Roman MUDRAGEL
Paupers Ekaterina KLYAVLINA, Olga KALININA
Paris's Pageboy Anastasia KAZAKOVA
Romeo's Pageboy Mikhail KEMENOV
Innkeeper Ivan PRAZDNIKOV
Folk Dance Anastasia ZVONKOVA, Lina SHEVELYOVA, Vitaly GETMANOV, Mikhail KRYUCHKOV
The Bolshoi Actors & Extras Ensemble
Director Ekaterina MIRONOVA
*Please note that cast is subject to change

Event Rules

Detailed information regarding ticket purchase, cancellation, refund, and exchange policies can be found through official ticket sales channels.
For events where student discounts are applicable, student tickets are valid only with a valid student ID and can be purchased from the AKM Box Office. The student ID must be presented to the event staff on the day of the event.
For events cancelled by Atatürk Cultural Center, the refund application period for tickets purchased from the box office is 15 days from the date of cancellation. Within this period, audience members must submit their refund requests at the AKM Box Office.
Age restrictions for our events are specified in the event rules. All attendees are required to have a valid ticket.
For Children’s Art Center workshops, the age group is specified separately. Guests whose ages do not fall within the indicated range will not be permitted to enter the workshop area. Tickets purchased for these workshops are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
AKM Management reserves the right to deny entry to individuals deemed unsuitable for the event, in which case a refund will be issued.
AKM reserves the right to make changes to its ticket purchase policies.

AKM reserves the right to change the event venue and time.
Guests are required to adhere to the specified seating arrangement. No seat changes are allowed during the event.
After the event starts, no audience member will be allowed into the hall.
The age group for the Children’s Art Centre workshops is specified separately. Guests who do not meet the specified age requirement for the event are not allowed to enter the workshop area. Purchased tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable.
Recording with cameras, photo cameras, mobile phones, etc. is prohibited during the concert. Recording devices will not be allowed in the venues.
You must be ready with your ticket at the event entrance at least 1 hour before the event start time.
AKM can make changes to event venues. The AKM management will prepare a seating plan that provides our audience with the closest seats to their ticket numbers in the new venue. Purchased tickets are non-refundable due to the change of venue.
It is prohibited to enter areas outside the designated spaces in the venues with food or beverages, to consume tobacco and tobacco products, or to use electronic cigarettes.
There is a paid parking lot inside AKM.

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THE BOLSHOI BALLET AND ORCHESTRA:
ROMEO AND JULIET