Double international success of our Ballet: guests from La Scala in Zagreb and the participation of our ballet dancers in a TV show with Roberto BolleBallet — 23. April 2025.
The Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb announced two exceptional ballet events that confirm the international reputation of the Ballet of the CNT in Zagreb.
On April 29, 2025, the ballet ensemble of the CNT in Zagreb took part in a prestigious TV show of Rai Uno called Viva la danza led by one of the most popular ballet artists Roberto Bolle. The show is broadcasted in prime-time and last year reached an audience of 2.5 million viewers. Our dancers will dance an excerpt from Swan Lake and four more choreographies created especially for this show, thus demonstrating versatility of the ballet ensemble of the CNT in Zagreb. Participation of our ensemble in such a program places us among the important European ballet institutions and confirms the artistic level and reputation we cherish in international circles, said the director of Ballet Massimiliano Volpini. Roberto Bolle, one of the most popular current ballet dancers cooperated with the CNT in Zagreb and at the gala concert Roberto Bolle & Friends in Milan at the Teatro degli Arcimboldi in October 2023 welcomed ballet artists of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb. He was also a guest at the CNT in Zagreb at the Ballet Gala Concerts in 2022 and 2024.
The principals of La Scala danced on the stage of the CNT in Zagreb along the ballet principals of the company in two special gala performances of ballet Giselle on April 30, 2025, and May 3, 2025. On April 30, 2025, Nicoletta Manni, primaballerina of Teatro alla Scala danced the role of Giselle with Guilherme Gameiro Alves as Count Albrecht and on May 3, 2025 Iva Vitić Gameiro appeared in the role of Giselle and the principal of Teatro alla Scala Timofej Andrijashenko was Count Albrecht. Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko thrilled the Zagreb audience last year in ballet Swan Lake and they also appeared in the Ballet Gala Concert in 2022. The director of the Ballet of the CNT in Zagreb Massimiliano Volpini explained how this unique casting presents a connection of the best local and international ballet art and recognises the openness of the Ballet of the CNT Zagreb for collaborations that cherish artistic excellence and long-term partnerships. This time we wish to additionally deepen our cooperation and strengthen the trust and artistic commitment that has developed between our theatre and these exceptional dancers said Volpini.
I am very glad that our Ballet has achieved such success and both events are one more proof that we are working hard and are very active beyond our national borders, confirming our relevance and attractiveness in the European cultural space, concluded the general manager of the CNT in Zagreb Iva Hraste Sočo.
