The Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre invites audiences to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory with a series of special performances and concerts dedicated to this momentous occasion. In early May 2025, four major events will take place.

On May 1 and 2, the Theatre will present a truly significant event—the world premiere of Alexander Tchaikovsky’s opera To Love in Wartime based on the works by Viktor Astafyev. This new production is dedicated not only to Victory Day but also to the birthday of the Siberian writer and war veteran who would have turned 101 on May 1, 2025.  The libretto is inspired by poignant love stories set against the harrowing backdrop of WWII, drawn from Astafyev’s novellas The Shepherd and the Shepherdess and Starfall, as well as the play Forgive Me.

On May 8, two intimate chamber concerts will be held in the theatre’s foyer. In the afternoon, the concert Songs of Our Victory will feature music from the wartime era, along with Soviet and Russian songs and romance art songs—some tragic and deeply moving, others filled with joy and humour. That evening, the concert programme Memories from the Vecherok cycle will take place.  Vecherok is also the title of a song cycle by Valery Gavrilin, and through this musical vecherok (evening), performers will embark on a nostalgic journey flipping through the pages of a photo album. Spanning from the late 19th century to the present day, the programme will trace the lives of its characters against the backdrop of the country’s history including its wartime past.

On May 9, Victory Day, the Theatre will present one of the most highly anticipated premieres of its 47th season—the ballet Spartacus by Aram Khachaturian.  The idea for this masterpiece emerged during the war years, in the darkest days of December 1941, when enemy forces stood at the gates of Moscow. In a newspaper article, Khachaturian shared his artistic vision and the significance of the story: “Commissioned by the Bolshoi Theatre of the USSR, I am beginning work on the ballet Spartacus. It is to be a monumental heroic production... The story of Spartacus and the slave uprising in Ancient Rome holds great meaning in our time and carries profound social resonance. <...> People must remember the names of those who, even in the earliest chapters of human history, dared to rise against oppression in pursuit of freedom and independence.” This timeless tale of defiance against tyranny, brought to life through music and choreography, serves as a powerful tribute to the heroism of those who fought not only in ancient times but also against fascism in the 20th century.