The Nutcracker, the world’s most famous Christmas fairy-tale, reigns supreme at theatres around the globe throughout December and January. This legendary ballet turned 130 (counting from the date of the world première at Mariinsky) on 18 December, or 6 December according to the Julian calendar.

Yesterday, we performed an all-new ballet: Cheeky Chastushki, set to Rodion Shchedrin’s music. The première took place on 16 December at the historical venue of the Mariinsky Theatre, as part of a larger festival called Shchedrin-90: a celebration of the great composer’s birthday.

Leonid Yacobson Ballet Theatre is working on a new show, Cheeky Chastushki, with music by Rodion Shchedrin. Vyacheslav Samodurov, the production’s director of choreography, is a three-times winner of the Golden Mask award and art director at the Ural Ballet.

In honour of the renowned music master who is now celebrating his 90th birthday, Mariinsky Theatre is holding the Shchedrin-90 festival. During this event, on 16 December, the theatre’s historical venue will host a première of Cheeky Chastushki: a theatrical gift to Rodion Shchedrin from the Leonid Yacobson Ballet, set to his eponymous music.