From 24 to 26 April 2026, the stage of Dubai Opera will ignite with one of the most powerful ballet events of the season: The Firebird / Petrushka, performed by the prestigious Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb.

This landmark double bill honors the revolutionary genius of Igor Stravinsky — a composer who didn’t just write music; he reshaped the language of modern sound. Now, two of his most iconic scores return in bold, contemporary reinterpretations that bridge legacy and innovation in one breathtaking evening.

If you care about world-class ballet, powerful storytelling, and artistic excellence — this is not optional. This is essential.

Why This Performance Matters 🎭

Stravinsky’s music was once considered shocking, radical, even dangerous. Today, it remains fiercely alive. This refined diptych presents two masterpieces side by side, revealing how classical repertoire can evolve without losing its soul.

• A modern reimagining of timeless stories
• Visually striking, emotionally resonant choreography
• A rare international company on Dubai’s most elegant stage
• Supported by Van Cleef & Arpels — a symbol of artistic excellence

This is ballet as a living, evolving art form — not museum preservation.

🔥 The Firebird — Power, Transformation, Transcendence

Set to Stravinsky’s 1919 suite, The Firebird is reborn under the visionary direction of choreographer Maša Kolar.

Rather than retelling a simple fairy tale, Kolar transforms the narrative into an abstract and symbolic journey through power, metamorphosis, and human desire. Prince Ivan moves through a dreamlike world where myth becomes psychological — and transformation becomes inevitable.

Creative Team

• Choreography: Maša Kolar
• Set & Costume Design: Petra Pavičić
• Dramaturge & Assistant Choreographer: Maja Marjančić
• Lighting Design: Nuno Salsinha
• Ballet Master: Iva Višak

Principal Cast

• The Firebird: Takuya Sumitomo & Rieka Suzuki Sumitomo
• The Prince: Yuho Yoshioka

Expect refined minimalism, striking stage imagery, and an atmosphere that feels both mythic and contemporary. It’s less about fantasy — more about transformation.

🎪 Petrushka — Identity, Isolation, Humanity

Choreographed by internationally acclaimed Edward Clug, Petrushka is not nostalgia — it’s reinvention.

Originally developed by Stravinsky and Alexandre Benois for the Ballets Russes, this version respects the theatrical heritage while speaking directly to modern audiences. Clug strips away excess and replaces it with precision, emotional clarity, and haunting expressiveness.

At its core, Petrushka is about alienation — the tragic puppet who feels too much in a world that sees him as disposable.

Creative Team

• Choreographer: Edward Clug
• Set Design: Marko Japelj
• Costume Design: Leo Kulaš
• Lighting: Tomaž Premzl
• Puppet Design: Primož Mihevc

Lead Performers (Selected Dates)

• Petrushka: Yuho Yoshioka (24 & 26 April) / Pavel Savin (25 April)
• The Ballerina: Natalia Kosovac / Iva Vitić Gameiro
• The Moor: Taiguara Goulart / Samuele Berbenni

Minimalist yet emotionally devastating, this production asks uncomfortable questions about identity and fragility. It doesn’t comfort you — it confronts you.

An International Artistic Force

The Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb premiered this double bill on 15 November 2024, earning acclaim for its daring reinterpretation and artistic depth.

Under the musical leadership of Ljudmila Šumarova, with accompaniment by Teo Visintin, this company delivers technical excellence and dramatic intensity in equal measure.

Dubai rarely hosts ballet of this calibre. Missing it would be a mistake.

📅 Performance Dates & Timings

• Friday, 24 April 2026 – 8:00 PM
• Saturday, 25 April 2026 – 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM
• Sunday, 26 April 2026 – 5:00 PM

⏳ Duration: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes (including intermission)

🎟 Tickets from 245 AED

Premium seats will not last — serious ballet audiences book early.

Venue Experience: Elegance Matters

Dubai Opera maintains a refined dress code. Overly casual attire (shorts, flip flops) is not permitted. This is an evening for sophistication.

• Children under 6 are not permitted.
• Latecomers enter only during intermission.
• No photography or mobile phone use inside the auditorium.

Respect the art. Respect the atmosphere.

Why You Should Book Now 💎

Let’s be direct:

• Dubai does not regularly host Stravinsky double bills.
• International touring ballet companies of this level are rare.
• This is heritage and modernity colliding in the best possible way.
• Supported by Van Cleef & Arpels — a mark of cultural distinction.

If you claim to appreciate world-class performance, this is where you prove it.

Final Thought

Stravinsky once disrupted the world of music. Now his work returns — not as nostalgia, but as renewal.

The Firebird explores transcendence.
Petrushka exposes vulnerability.
Together, they form an evening of artistic intensity that refuses to play safe.

From 24–26 April 2026, ballet doesn’t whisper at Dubai Opera.

It burns. 🔥