The St. Petersburg State Academic Leonid Yacobson Ballet Theatre is happy to present one of its latest premières at the Alexandrinsky Theatre. The Queen of Spades ballet is a neoclassical production set to music by P.I. Tchaikovsky and staged by the renowned danseur and choreographer Iñaki Urlezaga (Argentina), who was inspired by a story by A.S. Pushkin. The show was created by an-all star team, including the world-famous set designer Ezio Frigerio (Italy) in collaboration with Riccardo Massironi, the Oscar-awarded costume designer Franca Squarciapino (Italy), and the lighting designer Vinichio Cheli (Italy). The new ballet show, inspired by a story that has become Russian literature's cult classic, paid homage to the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin on his 220th birth anniversary.
The Queen of Spades is steeped in the spirit of St. Petersburg. In a perfect stroke of serendipity, all the elements of this ballet fit together flawlessly, be it the libretto, the music, the drama, or even the set, which, just like much of St. Petersburg back in Pushkin's day, is the creation of Italian masters. This is what has ensured the production's tremendous success, piquing the interest of theatre-goers both in St. Petersburg, the greater Russia, and beyond.