The Firebird / Petrushka

Dubai Opera is proud to present The Firebird / Petrushka, a landmark ballet double bill performed by the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, running from 24 to 26 April 2026.

This exceptional programme pays tribute to one of the most influential composers of the 20th century, Igor Stravinsky, through two of his most iconic scores, reimagined by leading contemporary choreographic voices.

Bringing together The Firebird and Petrushka, this refined diptych offers a compelling dialogue between heritage and modernity, showcasing how Stravinsky’s revolutionary musical language continues to inspire new artistic visions for our time.

In The Firebird, choreographer Maša Kolar transforms the celebrated fairy tale into a contemporary, abstract and symbolic journey, set to Stravinsky’s 1919 suite. Her interpretation explores themes of power, metamorphosis, and transcendence, guiding Prince Ivan through a dreamlike world where myth becomes a poetic reflection on transformation and human desire.

Edward Clug’s Petrushka offers a visually striking and emotionally resonant reinterpretation of the tragic puppet’s story. While echoing the spirit and theatrical legacy of the Ballets Russes, Clug’s version speaks to a contemporary sensibility, delving into questions of identity, alienation, and the fragility of the human condition through a language of refined minimalism and profound expressiveness.

Together, these two masterworks form an evening of exceptional artistic depth, where classical repertoire is re-envisioned through a contemporary lens, reaffirming ballet’s enduring power as a living, evolving art form on the stage of Dubai Opera.

This performance is proudly supported by Van Cleef & Arpels.

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