III Petrovsky Opera Ball
Orpheus media platform traditionally presented the 3rd Petrovsky Opera Ball, a large-scale cultural event as part of the Great International Tchaikovsky Festival "Tchaikovsky. Reloaded," which took place on September 20, 2025, in the Great Hall of the St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonic named after D. D. Shostakovich. The ball continues the historical traditions of St. Petersburg and the Petrovsky Assemblies, where secular culture was born. The project was implemented by the Art Bridge Foundation with the support of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives as part of the Big International Tchaikovsky Festival "Tchaikovsky. Reloading".
The concert program featured stars of the international and Russian stage. Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo, a Grammy Award-winning soloist at La Scala, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, performed "Una furtiva logrima," an aria from Gaetano Donizetti's opera "The Elixir of Love," and Eduardo di Capua's Neapolitan song "O sole mio." Russian soprano Christina Klein, a graduate of the V.S. Popov Academy of Choral Art, performed arias by Italian and Russian composers. Cellist Sergei Roldugin, People's Artist of Russia, performed Tchaikovsky's "Sentimental Waltz" and romances for cello and orchestra by Johann Strauss. Violinist Lev Klychkov, People's Artist of the Russian Federation, performed John Williams' music from the film "Schindler's List." Symphony Orchestra of the F.I. Chaliapin Musical Theatre "Northern Symphony", conducted by Maestro Fabio Mastrangelo, Artistic Director of the St. Petersburg Chaliapin Theatre, created a festive atmosphere for the ball. The Festino Choir also performed in the program, and the legendary Bravo group performed in the evening's dance section.
Ballet miniatures were presented by Bolshoi Theatre soloist Maria Shuvalova and her partner Igor Pugachev. Their duet was a highlight of the evening, blending classical and contemporary elements.
The 3rd Petrovsky Ball also celebrated the music of two great composers – Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Johann Strauss. This year, the international community celebrates two major anniversaries: the 185th anniversary of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's birth and the 200th anniversary of Johann Strauss Jr.'s birth. The concert featured solemn and lyrical works by these two great composers.
A special highlight of the evening was the debut of young dancers, for whom participation in the Petrovsky Ball was the first page in their social and cultural biography. Their performances and dances became a symbol of the reviving tradition of Petrovsky assemblies.
The Petrovsky Ball is also a major charity event, collaborating with the White Steamship Foundation for the Support of Creatively Gifted Children and Youth. This evening brought a ray of hope to those in need.
The hosts of the ball are Hans-Joachim Frey, Author and Artistic Director of the Project and Chairman of the Board of the Art Bridge Foundation, and Oksana Fedorova, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, TV presenter, actress, Miss Universe title holder, philanthropist.
Hans-Joachim Frey
— author, artistic director, stage director and moderator of the Petrovsky Ball,
— international Art-Director and president of the International Dresden and Dubai Opera Ball.
Artistic Director of Sirius - Foundation "Talent and success" and Advisor to the Director General of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia.
St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonic named after D.D. Shostakovich, St. Petersburg, September 20, 2025.
