Bolshoi Names its New Ballet Director

October 25, 2015

Makhar Vaziev with La Scala Ballet dancer Claudio Coviello on tour in Japan. Photo courtesy of Teatro alla Scala on Twitter

 

From Russia to Italy and home again: Makhar Vaziev, former director (and principal dancer) of the Mariinsky Ballet and current director of the La Scala Ballet in Italy, will replace Sergei Filin at the Bolshoi Ballet when his term is up next spring.

Given his two decades of directorial experience, Vaziev’s appointment to the helm is not surprising—but it is exciting; the Russian expatriate is known for shaking up repertoires at both La Scala and the Mariinsky, which he lead for 13 years.

The title “artistic director” will leave with Filin. Instead, Vaziev will be known as “ballet director,” and it remains to be seen whether the title’s narrowing will reflect a narrowing in the scope of the director’s power as well. Either way, we can only hope his tenure is less tumultuous than his predecessor’s.

 

For more news on all things ballet, don’t miss a single issue.