Libretto after William Shakespear's tragedy

Choreographer: Leonid Lavrovsky
Set Designer: Pyotr Williams
Ballet Master: Mikhail Lavrovsky
Music Director: Anton Grishanin
Set Revival: Sergei Grachev
Costume Designer: Tatiana Noginova
Lighting Designer: Damir Ismagilov

At the heart of the Bolshoi Theatre’s ballet repertoire lies a timeless masterpiece — Sergei Lavrovsky’s legendary production of Romeo and Juliet, set to the immortal score of Sergei Prokofiev. First premiered in 1940, this ballet remains one of the most emotionally charged and theatrically powerful interpretations of Shakespeare’s tragedy ever created.

Lavrovsky’s choreography combines sweeping romanticism with expressive drama, drawing the audience into the passionate and ill-fated world of Verona’s young lovers. Through every leap and gesture, the story unfolds — from tender encounters and radiant hope to heartbreak and destiny. Prokofiev’s monumental music, performed by the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, heightens every emotion, blending lyrical beauty with dramatic intensity.

Generations of great Bolshoi dancers have defined their artistry through this production. Galina Ulanova, who created the role of Juliet, brought unmatched delicacy and truth to the character, setting a standard that continues to inspire today’s stars. Modern interpreters — including Svetlana Zakharova, Olga Smirnova, Denis Rodkin, and Artem Ovcharenko — carry this tradition forward with their own brilliance and emotional depth.

Lavrovsky’s Romeo and Juliet remains a cornerstone of world ballet — a union of choreography, music, and storytelling so perfect that it continues to move audiences more than eight decades after its creation.