Overview
- The St. Petersburg culture committee and the theatre confirmed on January 16 that Vladimir Kekhman left the post by mutual agreement.
- Alexander Solovyov, the theatre’s musical director and chief conductor, was appointed acting artistic director effective January 16.
- Solovyov has been with the company since 2019 and now oversees most repertoire productions as well as serving as music director for premieres.
- Kekhman had led the theatre as general director since 2007 and became artistic director in 2015, recently directing La Traviata, La Bohème and The Queen of Spades.
- Media previously reported searches, charges in an embezzlement case, a bribery allegation and asset freezes involving Kekhman in 2025, though officials have not connected his departure to those proceedings.