WATCH: Crown of The Russian Ballet returns to Emperors Palace
It’s been said that attending a ballet is a truly magical event, an emotional and enchanting storytelling journey that will leave you feeling exhilarated.
The Crown of the Russian Ballet, proudly presented by Edouard Miasnikov and the acclaimed international theatre company, the Royal Moscow Ballet, will be returning to Johannesburg for two days only.
They will be on stage at the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace on July 21 and 22 for a two-hour extravaganza led by chief choreographer and principal dancer, Anatoly Emelianov, and artistic director, Anna Aleksidze.
Also read: Crown of the Russian Ballet sets the barre high
The dazzling double bill programme embraces Marius Petipa’s One Act Ballet, the Paquita with music by Ludwig Minkus and Anatoly Emilianov’s choreographic interpretation of the Firebird to the musical composition of Igor Stravinsky.
Paquita is the creation of French composer Édouard Deldevez and Paris Opera Ballet Master, Joseph Mazilier.
In 1847, Paquita was staged for the first time in Russia for the Imperial Ballet of St Petersburg by Marius Petipa and Pierre-Frédéric Malavergne.
In 1881, Petipa produced a revival of the ballet for which he added new pieces specially composed by Ludwig Minkus.
This included the Paquita pas de trois for the first act and the Paquita grand pas classique and the Mazurka des enfants for the last act.
Petipa’s version of Paquita was retained in the repertory of the Mariinsky Theatre until 1926.
Petipa’s 1881 additions for Paquita survived long after the full-length ballet left the stage.
Today these pieces, particularly the Grand pas classique, are major cornerstones of the traditional classical ballet repertory and have been staged by ballet companies throughout the world.
The Firebird is a ballet and orchestral concert work by the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky.
It was written for the 1910 Paris season of Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes company and the original choreography was by Michel Fokine, with a scenario by Alexandre Benois and Fokine based on the Russian fairytales of the Firebird and the blessing and curse it possesses for its owner.
When first performed at the Opéra de Paris on June 25, 1910, the work was an instant success with both audience and critics.
The ballet has historic significance not only as Stravinsky’s breakthrough piece, but also as the beginning of the collaboration between Diaghilev and Stravinsky that would also produce the acclaimed ballets Petrushka (1911) and The Rite of Spring (1913).The Royal Moscow Ballet, which consists of graduates of the best Russian choreography, ballet and dance schools, premiered on August 12, 2002.
The company has created more than 20 modern and 15 classical ballets, which have been created by its founders, Emelianov and Aleksidze, and has toured successfully around the globe presenting more than 1 000 performances.
The show will be stages at 3pm and 7pm on July 21 and 3pm on July 22.
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