Ten-minute ovations for the new Zagreb production of ‘The Sleeping Beauty’Ballet — 11. April 2026.
Last night, the premiere of The Sleeping Beauty by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, choreographed and directed by Paul Chalmer, took place at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, concluding with an impressive ten-minute standing ovation from the audience. Prolonged applause and multiple curtain calls confirmed the exceptional reception of this production.
Principal dancers, soloists and the Ballet ensemble of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, together with the creative team led by director and choreographer Paul Chalmer, were met with audience acclaim for an outstanding artistic and production achievement. This marks the seventh production of The Sleeping Beauty in the history of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb. Shaped by a contemporary stage sensibility and enriched with lavish costumes and set design, the new Sleeping Beauty stands as one of the most ambitious and opulent ballet productions of the Zagreb Ballet in the past decade.
A significant contribution was also made by the Orchestra of the Opera of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb under the baton of conductor Mikhail Agrest, delivering an interpretation of the score marked by stylistic precision and dynamic expressiveness. The performance also features students of the School of Classical Ballet in Zagreb.
Seven sold-out performances of this ballet are scheduled for Zagreb audiences, along with a gala performance on Monday, 13 April 2026, featuring special guest appearances by distinguished artists of Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, principal dancer Nicoletta Manni and principal dancer Timofej Andrijashenko.
