New theatre season starts in the city in mid September. On Sep 14 Mariinsky Theatre opens its 228th season with “Khovanshchina” opera featuring Mariinsky soloists, Olga Borodina and Vladimir Galuzin, and Valery Gergiev as conductor. On Sep 15 the theatre presents the premiere of a legendary ballet “Spartacus”.  Mikhailovsky Theatre is opening its 178th season with two latest premieres. On Sep 15 the theatre will show the ballet "Laurencia" with choreography by Vakhtang Chabukiani. On Sep 16 the opera season will be started by the new production of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Un Ballo In Maschera” staged by Latvian director Andrejs ?agars and featuring legendary Italian baritone Leo Nucci , one of the best performers of Verdi’s operas.