Bolshoi cancels Serebrennikov's ballet and Kuliabin's opera over antiwar stance

The Bolshoi Theater has canceled the performances of Kirill Serebrennikov's ballet Nureyev and Timofey Kuliabin's opera Don Pasquale, which were scheduled for the May holidays.

«Dear Audience! We would like to draw your attention to the changes in the Historic and New Stage playbill. On May 5, 6, 7 and 8, instead of the previously announced opera Don Pasquale, The Barber of Seville opera will be shown. Tickets are valid. On May 6, 7 and 8 instead of the previously announced ballet Nureyev the Spartacus ballet will be shown. Tickets remain valid,» a statement from the theater says.

On March 29th media reported that Kirill Serebrennikov had left for France. Later, in an interview with Euronews, Serebrennikov, commenting on the mood of Russians about the war, said many of them had become victims of «years of terrible propaganda» and called the military action in Ukraine «a terrible invasion».

Timofey Kuliabin also spoke publicly against the war and in support of Ukraine. At the end of March, the director left for Berlin. He also left his post as chief director of the Novosibirsk Theater «Red Torch» as from April 21.