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La Bayadère: Three Different Star Casts
La Bayadère, one of the masterpieces of Russian classical ballet, will be performed at the Mikhailovsky Theatre on three successive nights in February. |
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The enchanting feature of the ballet is the magical contrast between the bustle of lavish festivities and the lofty aloofness of the famous Kingdom of the Shades. The solemn entrances of the priests, the colourful oriental dances, and the tender melancholy of the ‘white corps de ballet’ combine to create the wholly special atmosphere of this production. But the ballet hinges on Nikiya, the temple dancer spurned by her beloved – and, of course, the ballerina who performs the role. The part of Nikiya will be
performed by different dancers on each date: There are few roles in the ballet repertoire that make such stringent demands on the dancer and, at the same time, give her so much artistic freedom. The traditional version that has taken shape in the 135 years since the ballet was first performed requires a combination of refined, impeccable academic dance and a subtle psychological interpretation of the role, with a strong individual acting talent. Marius Petipa created the
ballet for a benefit performance of the well-known Russian ballerina Ekaterina
Vazem. Later on, as dance technique improved overall and the aesthetics of
ballet productions changed, the choreography of the role became more complex
and its psychology and range of emotions enriched. During
its long history, productions of La
Bayadère have witnessed the talent and inner beauty of Anna Pavlova, Olga
Spesivtseva, Marina Semyonova, Galina Ulanova, Natalia Dudinskaya, and other
outstanding performers. Today every ballerina entrusted with the leading role
in La Bayadère is upholding the
continuity and stability of tradition and, at the same time, seeking an
interpretation of the subject that suits her best. |
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