|
Mikhailovsky Ballet’s home is the exquisitely restored Mikhailovsky Theatre in Arts Square St Petersburg. Since the Theatre’s renaissance in 2007, the Ballet has produced a new full production every year. After a triumphant London debut in 2008, Mikhailovsky Theatre returns this summer to the London Coliseum from July 13th – 25th 2010, with a thrilling programme packed with premieres.
Just before the Ballet’s London debut, whilst describing the extraordinary restoration of the historic theatre, General Director Vladimir Kekhman said: "Here is a major Russian ballet company, neither the Bolshoi, nor the Kirov. Mikhailovsky was renowned as an experimental stage for opera in the 1920s, and today is recognized as a vehicle for Russian ballet development, creating new work and preserving the classics. It has been a long road from St Petersburg to London, it took 175 years. I am very proud of the Company and the productions we show the British audience."
This summer that road will be trodden once again when the Mikhailovsky Ballet arrives in London in July. An historic nineteenth century company with a twenty-first century twist – presenting the rare, the traditional and the new – just what London audiences crave, appreciate and treasure. This will be a sensational summer ballet season and one to remember.
Swan Lake - Premiere
The jewel in the repertoire of St. Petersburg’s Mikhailovsky Theatre and the highlight of its London season in 2010. This is a revival of the historical Moscow staging in 1956 - an exquisite production with choreography by Alexander Gorsky and Asaf Messerer. The triumphal restaging of this Swan Lake at the Mikhailovsky Theatre in September 2009 was devised by Mikhail Messerer, the company’s ballet master in chief. The epoch of Alexander Gorsky saw the next phase in the evolution of dance following the ballet classicism of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. The staging boasts the superb sets and costumes by renowned Georgian theatre designer, Simon Virsaladze. The legend of a young prince finding his true love, a swan princess bewitched by an evil genius, offers all the dancers of the company a great opportunity to show their talents.
Giselle
The Mikhailovsky Theatre’s 2008 production of Giselle by Nikita Dolgushin, a specialist in historical works, amazed public and critics. Dolgushin, a noble Albrecht in his time as a dancer, inspired this production, delicately uniting dance and classic mime. The choreographer reveals the essence of this romantic era ballet: the story of Giselle is told in the language of ballet classicism. Together with Vyacheslav Okunev, who designed the epitome of romantic settings, Dolgushin created a production that was described by the Sunday Times as ‘an exemplary Giselle’.
Cipollino - UK Premiere
This ballet enchants you from its very first minute. Harmony of the melodic and ear-catching music by Karen Khachaturian, with bright sets and costumes by Valery Leventhal and vivid choreography by Genrikh Mayorov. The fairy-tale story by Italian author Gianni Rodari tells of the adventures of the Little Onion boy (in Italian, Cipollino), who fights the unjust treatment of his fellow vegetable folk (his little girlfriend Radish, old Mr Pumpkin, handyman Master Grape) by the fruit “aristocracy” (foppish Prince Lemon, martinet Signor Tomato and the Count Cherry). The principals of the Mikhailovsky Ballet really enjoy themselves turning from Siegfrieds and Odettes into ‘vegetables’ and ‘fruits’. The rhythms of dance, the portrayal and humour of the characters and the exceptional performances keeps everyone enthralled.
Laurencia - World Premiere of the revival
Mikhailovsky Theatre presents the revival of Vakhtang Chabukiani’s masterpiece Laurencia, based on the play Fuente Ovejuna by Lope de Vega.. To the tuneful music by Alexander Krein, Chabukiani asserted the importance of male dance, furthering in particular the notion of the “heroic” style. Laurencia was premiered of 1939 at the Kirov Theatre. Leading parts were performed by Natalia Dudinskaya (Laurencia), Vakhtang Chabukiani (Frondoso) and Tatiana Vecheslova (Pascuala). In 1956 the ballet was staged at the Bolshoi Theatre where Vakhtang Chabukiani partnered Maya Plisetskaya.
London will be the first city in the world to witness the historical revival of this famous ballet, in a new full-length production, after a fifty year absence from the Russian stage,.
Triple Bill
An exhilarating performance showing the talents of the Mikhailovsky dancers, this programme was greeted with countless curtain calls and critical appreciation when they made their London debut in July 2008. This season’s programme includes Le Halte de cavalerie (Cavalry Halt) by Marius Petipa, giving the audience a second chance to see the light hearted classic gem created in 1896 to music by Ivan Armsheimer; a premiere created this year especially for the Mikhailovsky Ballet by Viacheslav Samodurov to music by Domenico Scarlatti; and Divertissements will crown the programme. These include Asaf Messerer’s breathtaking pas de deux Spring Waters to the music of Sergei Rachmaninov, and a pas de deux from Mikhailovsky’s exuberant production of Spartacus choreographed by Georgy Kovtun. It is a great opportunity to see both contemporary and classical ballets performed by true virtuosi.
|
MIKHAILOVSKY BALLET
