On 15 April at Moscow’s Gostiny Dvor hosted Russia’s Golden Mask theatre prize awards ceremony. The Mariinsky Theatre has become a record holder in terms of musical theatres having won four Masks.

The “Best Opera Production” was Jonathan Kent’s production of Richard Strauss’ Die Frau ohne Schatten. For the same production, Paul Brown won a Mask in the category “Best Work by a Designer in Musical Theatre.” In its review of this production, the newspaper Kultura wrote of the “aesthetic revolution in opera”, calling the production “a thrilling spectacle.” In turn, the newspaper Kommersant commented that Die Frau ohne Schatten has allowed us to learn a new side to Valery Gergiev – “the Mariinsky’s demiurge has developed into a tender and soft lyricist.”