Opera singer Eldar Abdurazakov has been appointed new artistic director of the Mikhailovsky Theater. This was announced by the Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov.
“The Mikhailovsky Theater gives 365 performances a year. Now it will delight the audience under the leadership of the new artistic director – Eldar Abdurazakov. This is a man of amazing talent, a world-famous opera singer, director and public figure. I wish Eldar Amirovich and the theater staff successful work and interesting creative projects,” Beglov wrote on his Telegram channel.
Since December 2024, Abdrazakov has also headed the Sevastopol Opera and Ballet Theater in the annexed Crimea.
The former artistic director of the Mikhailovsky Theater since 2015 was Vladimir Kekhman. In January 2026, his employment contract was terminated by agreement of both parties. Kekhman also served as General Director of the Gorky Moscow Art Theater from 2021 to 2025.
In the summer of 2025, searches were conducted in Kekhman and in the Moscow Art Theater. According to TASS, at the same time he was accused of embezzlement during the reconstruction of the Moscow Art Theater and was released on his own recognizance. Later, Fontanka reported that Kekhman was accused of receiving a particularly large bribe. The investigating authorities did not officially announce this.