Bolshoi Theatre schedules first official UAE tour

Russia’s Bolshoi Theatre is set to embark on its maiden official tour of the United Arab Emirates, from December 2 to 6, 2026. The five-day engagement at Dubai Opera features a diverse programme of opera, orchestral music, and ballet. The Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra will participate in all performances. Tickets for the opera and orchestral concert, opening on December 2 at 7pm, are priced at AED350, while ballet tickets start at AED450.

The tour's featured opera, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Tsar’s Bride, delves into themes of jealousy, political intrigue, and revenge during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. This production, based on a play by Lev Mey and inspired by historical events, uses monumental scenery reminiscent of Fyodor Fedorovsky’s designs. The Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra will present a standalone symphonic concert on December 3 at 8pm, led by Valery Gergiev, a prominent Russian conductor.

The tour culminates on December 6 with Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, a ballet with choreography by Yuri Grigorovich and music conducted by Pavel Klinichev. Grigorovich’s interpretation of the ballet transforms it into a narrative about childhood, courage, and ideal love, featuring principal dancers from the Bolshoi Ballet.

The five-day programme at Dubai Opera, part of the institution's 2026-27 season marking its tenth anniversary, showcases three major elements of the Bolshoi Theatre’s repertoire, attracting a significant audience.