Russian first for SA

2009-07-03 14:48

Duncan Alfreds

Cape Town - South Africans are in for a treat as the Imperial Russian Ballet tours the country for the first time.

"This is the first time that the Imperial Russian Ballet tours South Africa and I'm very excited," impresario Edouard Miasnikov told News24.

"Some artists are very expensive to bring to South Africa, but I know them - they're friends and I want to bring them to South Africa to build friendly relations."

Miasnikov said he came to South Africa in 1991 as a clarinet player with the National Symphony Orchestra and set up his agency the following year.

"I signed a contract with the National Symphony Orchestra for two years, but I set up my agency to explore cultural relations between Russia and South Africa. There is huge interest in Russia about this country," he added.

Interesting programme

For the Russians coming here, he said that even though it's summer there and winter here, it's not a problem for the performers.

"No, this winter isn't a problem for Russians. Our winters are sometimes at -20°C and so this is nothing."

Miasnikov said the show includes performances of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, adding that it was particularly popular.

"I tried to make the programme interesting and we're doing a new production of Carl Orff. People like that one."

He said that he also plans to take the company sightseeing.

"Yesterday, we went to the lion park and in Cape Town, we're going to Cape Point and the Aquarium," he added.

The Imperial Russian Ballet is at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre until Saturday and in Cape Town at the Artscape from July 15 to 19. Tickets start at R135 and are available at Computicket.

- News24