Russian success for Scottish Opera?

The Scotsman suggests here that the production of Lucia di Lammermoor, originally by Scottish Opera, but imported wholesale to the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, got a 15 minute standing ovation, due to the wonders of the Scottish Opera production.  Gergiev had seen it at the Edinburgh festival and insisted that the production should be immediately seen in St Pete's. So the costumes, sets and producers rushed over to Russia (across the steppes, the Scotsman suggests - there are no steppes between Scotland and St Pete's), but the singers and everyone were Russian.

Including Anna Netrebko, who returned after 6 months of maternity leave.

So who exactly was the standing ovation for, I ask myself.