In a first for Russian Rhapsody, guests at the event will be treated to a menu fit for the Tsars – a specially-designed showcase of the finest Russian cuisine, created for the event by Julia Vysotskay, actress and wife of award-winning Russian film director Andron Konchalovsky. Julia, who hosts a popular cookery programme on Russian TV, has drawn inspiration from the sophisticated cuisine of imperial Russia, which combined French culinary expertise with Russian ingredients. The resulting dishes will tantalize the taste buds of all in the Great Room of the Grosvenor House on 21 April 2008!

Russian baritone Sergei Leiferkus is recognised as one of the century's great virtuoso singers, an artist who is both in the famous Russian tradition of baritone and bass and who also has made his mark across a very wide cultural spectrum. His interpretations of major roles such as Eugene Onegin, Iago, Scarpia and Mephistopheles have become contemporary performance yardsticks.
Sergei Leiferkus has been extremely highly sought after by the leading conductors and producers of our day, particularly at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, the Vienna State Opera, the New York Metropolitan Opera, and La Scala in Milan.

«With her charismatic voice it looks as if Marina Poplavskaya will be calling Covent Garden home for years to come… She's girlish, unpretentious, and a fantastic raconteuse – but when it comes to singing, the engine revs at an astonishing rate.» The Independent

We are proud to announce that Russian soprano Marina Poplavskaya, the star of the Bolshoi and the Royal Opera House will perform for Russian Rhapsody guests. The winner of Grand Prix at numerous prestigious music competitions – from the International Competition for Young Opera Singers in St. Petersburg to the Maria Callas International Competition in Athens, Marina has performed leading opera roles, such as Rosina in the Barber of Seville, Roxanne in Cyrano de Bergerac and Russian Tatiana in the opera Eugene Onegin, especially noted for the unforgettable steely power of her voice in the drama of her final confrontation with Onegin. Marina is preparing a special programme for Russian Rhapsody, which will include her best-loved pieces from the opera of world famous Russian composers.