MOSCOW STATE ACADEMIC CHAMBER MUSICAL THEATRE NAMED AFTER BORIS POKROVSKY Chamber Musical Theatre founded by B. A. Pokrovsky in 1972 is one of the most famous and internationally-known Russian musical theatres. From its earliest days, the theatre has been a true contemporary opera laboratory remaining an only theatre of its kind in Russia for many years. At the festival, the theatre will present I Quatro rusteghi (The Four Ruffians), by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, one of the most original opera composers of the 20th century. The composer’s talent was revealed most clearly in his comic operas, he successfully applied commedia dell'arte principles in modern opera becoming one of the few worthy successors of the of Italian opera buff tradition.