Classical Ballet Swan Lake (3D cinema screenings of the ballet) - fantasy ballet in three acts (four scenes) World famous Mariinsky Ballet and Opera - Mariinsky II (New Theatre)
Running time: 3 hours 10 minutes
The performance has 2 intermissions
Schedule for Swan Lake (3D cinema screenings of the ballet) - fantasy ballet in three acts (four scenes) 2022
Composer: Peter Tchaikovsky Choreography: Marius Petipa Choreography: Lev Ivanov Set Designer: Igor Ivanov Stage Director: Konstantin Sergeyev Choreography: Konstantin Sergeyev Costume Designer: Galina Solovieva
Orchestra: Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra
Classical Ballet in 3 acts
World premiere: 27 February 1877, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, Russia
Premiere of this production: 8 March 1950, Kirov Theatre, Leningrad, Russia
Swan Lake, the treasure of the Russian Classical
Ballet ballet, form the basis of the classical ballet repertoire of the
Mariinsky Theater: more than a hundred years ago, it was
choreographed by Marius Petipa and is considered
to be a hallmark of the Mariinsky Ballet - the Main Ballet Stage of the Russian Empire. This classical masterpiece was performed almost uncountable number of times at the
Mariinsky Theatre and in the course of numerous tours.
Libretto - Vladimir Begichev, Vasily Geltzer Costume design: Galina
Solovyova
World premiere: 20 February 1877, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow
(choreography by Julius Reisinger) Premiere in St Petersburg: 15 January
1895, Mariinsky Theatre (choreography by Lev Ivanov and Marius
Petipa) Premiere of Konstantin Sergeyev’s version: 8 March 1950, Kirov
Theatre, Leningrad
Mariinsky Theatre is presenting the world’s
first ever 3D performance of a ballet at cinemas throughout
the world. Audiences will have the opportunity to see Swan
Lake in over one thousand two hundred cinemas in fifty countries
across the globe.
The “super-task” of this
project, of which Valery Gergiev has spoken on numerous occasions, is
for even those who for whatever reason have never had the chance
to visit St Petersburg or see the company perform on tour
to be able to see the Mariinsky Ballet, which has a fan base
of millions.
On 6 June at 21:30 the ballet will be broadcast
in real time from the historic Mariinsky Theatre in 3D
format to one thousand two hundred cinemas in fifty countries. A
normal broadcast will also be made in parallel. The ballet will be
shown onscreen at the Mariinsky-II.
The project’s production company is the UK’s Glass Slipper Live
Events, directed by Ann McGuire, a dedicated professional in 2D and 3D
online broadcasts. The director of the broadcast is Ross
MacGibbon, a former dancer at Covent Garden. He is a highly
experienced director of dance broadcasts and was engaged as such
for the concert marking the tercentenary of St Petersburg
followed by a recording of Swan Lake with Ulyana
Lopatkina in 2006. MacGibbon says that for him broadcasting this
legendary production in 3D is a “thrilling adventure, a great
honour and even a challenge,” because it is he who “will have to put
the magic of the ballet on film, bringing one
of the most magnificent pieces of world art to new
audiences.”
3D technology support is being provided by James Cameron and Vince Pace
(Avatar and Titanic) to ensure the best possible
quality, as the 3D company Cameron Pace Group is the world’s absolute
leader in the field – not by chance have the company’s
achievements in this sphere won it Oscar awards. Cameron Pace technology is
the best as well as the most up-to-date of its kind.
In particular, this allows the size of the equipment
to be as small as possible. This is very important as to create 3D
effects the cameras must be as close as possible to the dancers.
There will be four directly in front of the stage, one
in the gallery, another one on a boom and a further two
in other positions (a total of eight). For 3D broadcasting purposes
these cameras have not one but two lenses and are, in themselves, quite
large. Cameron Pace is constantly perfecting this equipment (the cameras used
on Avatar were four times larger), though it will be some time
before it comes down to the size of 2D equipment.
On the Russian side, technical support for the live broadcast
to Russian cinemas will be provided by Nevafilm, a pioneer
in digital broadcasting in Russia. In the Russian Federation
rental of the film is being organised by CinemaEmotion.
The lead roles will be performed by Yekaterina Kondaurova, Timur Askerov
and Andrei Yermakov. Valery Gergiev will be conducting.
In Russia, the Mariinsky Theatre is the undisputed leader
in assimilating digital technology. The theatre produced its first 3D
internet broadcast as far back as 1999 and its first ballet in 3D
in April 2010 when the Mariinsky Theatre broadcast a ballet gala
from the Concert Hall to London, Paris, Moscow and St Petersburg
with the technical support of GS Group Holding (then known as
the General Satellite Corporation). The same year saw a complete
recording of Giselle, followed by The Nutcracker
in December 2011; both performances were shown to great acclaim
at some one and a half thousand cinemas in countries throughout
the world.
“Swan Lake”
It is difficult to understand
these days how it could have happened that the first show of the “Lake” in 1877,
in Moscow’s Bolshoi, was a flop, and that it took many years for the ballet to
achieve its worldwide cult status. The composer, Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky, never
lived to see the ultimate success of his creation.
The story begins in 1875, when Bolshoi commissions a ballet score
from the young but already famous composer. It was not yet customary practice
–despite Tchaikovsky fame and previous successes, which included four
symphonies, the now famous Piano Concerto and “Eugene Onegin” opera, the
Imperial Theatres of the time would normally employ the composers on Imperial
payroll, such as Cesare Pugni, Ludwig Minkus, and Riccardo Drigo. Keeping that
in mind, Tchaikovsky did not embark on the course of a revolution in the Russian
ballet, and studied the classic ballet scores assiduously, planning to produce a
score that would be in tune with the established tradition but at the same time
would sound new and interesting. The task of composition occupied him from May
1875 to April 1876. The story was a knightly fairy tale, and historians still
debate the literary origins –some opt for Heine, some for Musaeus, a German
fairy-tale writer, some for Russian folklore fairy tales, some even for Pushkin.
The first show took place on February 20, 1877, and was a flop.
The critics reviled the chief choreographer, Wentsel Reisinger, and were short
on praise for Polina (Pelageya) Karpakova, the first interpreter of the main
female part. The failure of the first show was detrimental for the immediate
reputation of the ballet itself, and for quite some time nobody dared to stage
it again.
The situation changed after Tchaikovsky’s death. In 1893, Mariinka
decided to revive the “Swan Lake”. A new version of the libretto and the music
was to be produced by Modest Tchaikovsky, the composer’s brother, Ivan
Vsevolzhsky, the director of the Imperial Theatres himself, and by Riccardo
Drigo. The latter used the original music as a source material for a completely
new score. The choreography was supervised by Marius Petipa and his pupil Lev
Ivanov. The tradition claims that while Petipa was the father of the unique
choreography of the new ballet, its truly Russian singing character is there
thanks to Ivanov. The lake and swan scenes, famous for their perfection, are
undoubtedly his alone. It was Ivanov who came up with the idea of enchanted
ladies with their criss-crossed arms and heads tilted to one side, which every
spectator immediately recognized for birds that sit with their wings folded. The
very magical world of the swan lake was created by Ivanov. Petipa’s are the
scenes of courtly dances and festivities and their intricate lace of waltzes and
various dances – Spanish, Hungarian, Polish. Petipa also created an antipode for
Ivanov’s White Queen of Swans –its black twin Odile, and its beautiful black
pas-de-deux of the second act.
It was this particular stage version that came to be admired as
the pinnacle of Russian ballet. This production, as none other, was the perfect
setting for many famous dancers to showcase their art. The Swan Lake is a unique
and perfect creation, and despite the changing musical and dancing fashions, the
performance of Odette and Odile parts is still considered a touchstone for the
mettle of any serious dancer. The White Swan is truly a symbol of Russian
Ballet, of its beauty and magnificence.
Synopsis
ACT I
Scene one The terrace of castle is filled with joy and merriment - Prince
Siegfried is celebrating his coming of age, his courtiers congratulate him while
his mischievous jester entertains the assembles guests. The servants announce
the arrival of his mother the queen, she presents her son with a crossbow for
the hunt. The queen reminds her son that at tomorrow coming of age ball he will
have to choose a bride. Night is fast approaching and the guests take leave,
Siegfried is finally alone with his thoughts and premonitions of what the future
may bring. In the twilight a flock of swans pass over and he rushes to the lake.
Scene two At the lake in the heart of the forest,
the swans having stepped ashore turn into beautiful young girls Siegfried about
to draw his crossbow stops fascinated by their beauty. Odette the swan princess
is startled by Siegfrieds presence, he assures her no harm will come to her.
Odette tells him of her terrible plight. Tells him of her high birth and how she
has fallen under the spell of be a swan and only in the hours of darkness to
assume her human form. She tells him she is bound for eternity by the spell
unless an unblemished youth swears eternal fidelity and marries her. Siegfried
realizes his destiny has changed. Day is breaking, the swans are again swimming
on the lake, Odette bids a sad farewell, Siegfried is left desolate.
ACT II
Scene three The coming of age ball commences at the castle. The young
noblewoman whom the Queen has chosen as prospective brides are presented to
Prince Siegfried, he shows no interest thinking only of Odette. The
entertainment and merrymaking continue until a fanfare announces the arrival of
more guests. Rothbart disguised as a knight sweeps in with his daughter Odille,
Siegfried is dazzled by her beauty and her resemblance to Odette, swears his
love and fidelity... Rothbart the sorcerer triumphs in his deception. Siegfried
horrified at what he has done rushes from the ball and into the night.
ACT III
Scene four At the lakeside Odette tells her fellow swans of Rothbarts
devilish trickery. Siegfried fleeing from the ball arrives at the shore begging
Odette’s forgiveness and telling of his undying love for her. Rothbart appears
and he and his black swans battle with Siegfried and the forces of good until
the light of the dawn breaks and the forces of evil are vanquished. The rising
sun gives birth to new life, happiness and love.
Characters
© Text 2010 Art and Culture Magazine "St Peterburg"
© Mariinsky Theatre
Photos © 2000-2006 Marc Haegeman
Provided by Wikipedia -
Swan Lake
Schedule for Swan Lake (3D cinema screenings of the ballet) - fantasy ballet in three acts (four scenes) 2022
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