The ballet production of Anna Karenina by legendary choreographer Boris Eifman, is set to premiere in Doha this week, 12 and 13 February, at the Al Mayassa Theatre of the Qatar National Convention Centre. The event is part of a series of projects under the Qatar-Russia 2018 Year of Culture, in partnership with Russian oil company, Rosneft.

Anna Karenina posterAnna Karenina has gained global recognition and captivated audiences at the best theatres in Russia, USA, Australia, UK, Germany, Holland, Spain, France, China and many other countries over 14 years for its distinguished choreography, technical mastery and eye-catching costumes and set design. The premiere in Qatar will be the first time that the Anna Karenina ballet is set to music by revered Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky.

Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Russian Federation HE Fahad bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, said that the Anna Karenina ballet performance is yet another exciting opportunity for mutual cultural exchange between Qatar and Russia, celebrating the arts and showcasing Russia’s rich artistic and cultural history.

We are confident that our audiences here will find Eifman’s production truly memorable and inspiring. We thank Eifman Ballet and Rosneft Oil Company for all their efforts in bringing this performance to Qatar.’

According to Boris Eifman, Artistic Director of Eifman Ballet of St Petersburg, ballet is a very special realm where psychological drama is recreated: it’s an opportunity to get an insight into the subconscious.

The Anna Karenina novel by Tolstoy has always been the object of my keen interest. While reading Tolstoy, one can see how fully and accurately the author understands the inner world and psychology of his heroes, how sensitively and precisely he describes life in Russia.’

Eifman said that in the novel, one is not only immersed in the psychological world of the main character but is also offered an interpretation of her personality.

Even in our contemporary literature, we won’t find similar passions, metamorphosis, and phantasmagoria. All this has become the gist and essence of my choreographic reflections.’

Eifman created his own theatre to combine the dance and the drama and tell people touching stories of human souls. The choreographer successfully fused off-the-wall modern dance and the rich tradition of the Russian classical ballet. The combined company and theatre is now widely known and loved by ballet fans all over the world. Check out the video of the Anna Karenina performance below.

Related Link: https://www.marhaba.qa/event/anna-karenina/