The Kirov's new 2002/3 season at the Mariinsky Theatre will commence on 10 Oct. with "Swan Lake" led by Svetlana Zakharova and Igor Kolb. The casting for October is now on the Kirov's website.

http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill?pbmy=2002

I would be very interested in particular to see the Kirov in "La Sylphide", which they seldom dance on overseas tours. The two performances in October will be led by Irina Zhelonkina and Elena Sheshina, both to be partnered by Anton Korsakov, who made his debut as James last season.

There is also a single performance of K. Sergeyev's Soviet production of "Sleeping Beauty", which is still in the repertory and hasn't been replaced by Vikarev's reconstructed production.

In today's St. Petersburg Times, there's a preview of two new ballets to be premiered this season - Chemayakin's new production of "Princess Pirlipat" with choreography by Kirill Simonov, and Pierre Lacotte's "Undina".

http://www.sptimes.ru/archive/times/809/features/a_7527.htm

And Zhanna Ayupova has been awarded the title Honoured Artist of Russia, according to the Kirov website.

http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/news

<small>[ 10-05-2002, 12:21: Message edited by: Kevin Ng ]</small>

<small>[ 11-23-2002, 11:25: Message edited by: Kevin Ng ]</small>