The HNK ballet performance, choreographed by Leo Mujic, was held to mark 50 years of friendly relations between Zagreb and St. Petersburg and 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Croatia and Russia.
The event marked the continuation of cultural cooperation between the two friendly cities that began last October with the Gala Ballet Concert in Zagreb's HNK, featuring some of the greatest ballet soloists from St. Petersburg.
Russia's culture minister attended the performance, saying that he had not heard such an enthused audience for quite some time, a press release from the HNK said.
HNK general manager Dubravka Vrgoc said that the HNK ballet ensemble on Sunday "wrote a new page in the history of Croatian culture." "The enthralled audience recognised our efforts to tell new dance stories with artistic quality," Vrgoc said and added that this was just the start of theatre cooperation between the two cities and cultures.
The cultural cooperation between the Zagreb and St. Petersburg ballets was made possible through the cooperation of St. Petersburg city authorities, HNK Zagreb and the Neva Art production company with the support of the Russian Embassy in Croatia, the Ministry of Culture, the City of Zagreb and the Zagreb Mayor's Office.
Some of the greatest stars of St. Petersburg's ballet, opera and musical theatres will perform at Zagreb's HNK on 5 and 6 June.