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| | Arts Calendar / December 3 / Ballet |
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 Ballet in two acts to music by Herman Severin Levenskiold. 105 min. Libretto by Adolphe Nourrit and Philippo Taglioni. Choreography by August Bournonville. La Sylphide was the first major Romantic ballet and it is one of the oldest still regularly performed. It remains to this day not just a historical landmark, but a vital and thrilling example of the art of storytelling in dance. On 12 March 1832 the first version of La Sylphide premiered at the Salle Le Peletier of the Paris Op?ra with choreography by the groundbreaking Italian choreographer Filippo Taglioni and music by Jean-Madeleine Schneitzhoeffer. In 1892, Marius Petipa mounted a revival of Taglioni's original La Sylphide for the Imperial Ballet, with additional music by Riccardo Drigo. A variation Drigo composed for the ballerina Varvara Nikitina in Petipa's version is today the traditional solo danced by the lead ballerina of the famous Paquita Grand Pas Classique. In 1972, a new version of La Sylphide, based on the Taglioni version, was choreographed and staged by Pierre Lacotte for the Paris Opera Ballet. Since Taglioni's choreography has been irretrievably lost, Lacotte's choreography is based on prints, notes, drawings, and archival materials from the era of the ballet's premiere. Interpreters of the role of Lacotte's version at the Opera National de Paris include Ghislaine Thesmar (Lacotte's wife) and Aurelie Dupont. The ballet relates the story of a young Scottish farmer, James, who, on the eve of their wedding, abandons his betrothed, Effie, after being enticed away to the forest by the ethereal Sylphide of the title. But when the Sylphide dies and Effie marries another, James is left tragically alone.
Bolshoi Theater New Stage  |
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 12:00, 19:00. Ballet in two acts to music by Peter Tchaikovsky. Libretto by Vladimir Begichev and Vasily Geltzer. Choreography: Vladimir Burmeister. "Swan Lake" by the outstanding choreographer Vladimir Burmeister has become a legend a legend of the Moscow stage. It premiered as long ago as 1953, but time has no power over this masterpiece. In his staging, Vladimir Burmeister left intact the remarkable 2nd act that was staged by Lev Ivanov in the 19th century. The famous scene of the appearance of the white swans, including the most popular dance of the Little Swans, was included in his production in its original form. As for the rest, Burmeister’s version is totally original and remains unsurpassed up till now. In his interpretation the ballet has obtained a well-defined dramatic concept and a profound philosophical meaning. In 1956, "Swan Lake" was shown during the Theatre’s guest performances in Paris. It was so great a success that Opera de Paris engaged Vladimir Burmeister for the transferring the production to its stage. The production had been performed at that theatre from 1960 through the end of the 80’s. The performance has travelled almost the whole world receiving rave reviews everywhere. "…a vibrant theatrical spectacle, it is all fire and ice", concluded her review Anna Kisselgoff, famous American theatre critic of "The New York Times".
Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Music Theater |
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