La Bayadère

Ludwig Minkus / Marius Petipa, Natalia Makarowa

  • Act I

    1 h 5 min.

  • Intermission

    20 min.

  • Act II

    45 min.

  • Intermission

    20 min.

  • Act III

    30 min.

Duration: ca. 3 h

Performances

Ballet in three acts
Libretto: Marius Petipa, Sergei Khudyakov
Music: Ludwig Minkus
Arranged by: John Lanchbery
World premiere: Bolshoi Theatre, 4 February 1877
Premiere of this production: American Ballet Theatre, New York, 21 May 1980
Premiere in the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera: 15 May 2004

A beautiful Hindu tale of love and its power to transcend death. The legendary ballet star Natalia Makarova staged La Bayadère at Teatr Wielki according to the best St. Petersburg standards. She meticulously recreated and polished the original choreographic version of the great Marius Petipa from 1877, while retaining his original unmatched choreography of the Kingdom of the Shades scene – one of the most phenomenal pieces in classical ballet heritage. She first created her La Bayadère for the American Ballet Theatre in New York, and then revived it several times with the best classical dance companies. This colourful, romantic show captivates the audience with its scale; it is deeply moving and leaves a lasting impression. It is full of wonderful solo performances and ensemble scenes. It is an excellent test of academic craftsmanship of every ballet company. Also the Polish National Ballet and its leading soloists.

Cast

2023-11-17 | 19:00

Credits

Polish National Ballet
Orchestra of the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera

Synopsis

  • Act I

    Scene 1. The Sacred Forest, outside the temple

    Warriors

    returning from the great tiger hunt are joined by Solor, the noblest

    warrior in the land. He asks to be left alone to pray before the Sacred

    Fire, but once the warriors have departed, he calls for the head Fakir,

    Magdaveya, and asks him to arrange a rendezvous for him with the

    bayadère, Nikiya. They are interrupted by the arrival of the priests and

    the High Brahmin who orders Magdaveya to gather the other Fakirs to

    prepare the Sacred Fire for the coming celebration. The bayadères

    appear, and among them is Nikiya, who has been chosen to be consecrated

    their leader. The High Brahmin is overwhelmed by her beauty and tells

    Nikiya of his love for her. Nikiya, however, rejects his attentions for

    he is a man of God. The High Brahmin is deeply hurt by her reaction to

    his declaration of love. As the celebration begins, the temple dancers

    bring water to the Fakirs, and Magdaveya informs Nikiya of Solor’s

    message. Nikiya agrees to meet him, but not before the High Brahmin has

    seen her with Magdaveya and becomes suspicious. The ceremony ends and

    the celebrants return to the temple. Magdaveya calls for Solor and tells

    him to hide in the forest until Nikiya returns to meet him. She soon

    appears, and when Solor joins her they swear eternal love over the

    Sacred Fire. Unbeknown to Solor and Nikiya, the High Brahmin has been

    watching them from within the temple, and after an uneasy Magdaveya

    separates the lovers, the High Brahmin emerges in a fury and invokes the

    gods to help him kill Solor.

    Scene 2. A room in the palace

    Warriors

    have been invited to the palace to honour Solor. The Rajah announces

    that Solor’s reward for his valour will be marriage to Gamzatti. He

    presents his daughter to Solor, and when he lifts her veil, Solor is

    overcome by her beauty. Even though he has sworn eternal love to Nikiya,

    he cannot resist Gamzatti’s attractions or refuse the Rajah’s wishes.

    Entertainment is provided for the betrothed couple, which ends with the

    arrival of the High Brahmin. He asks to speak privately to the Rajah,

    and informs him of Nikiya’s and Solor’s love. He had hoped that the

    Rajah would kill Solor, but the Rajah instead decides that Nikiya must

    die, to the dismay of the High Brahmin. Gamzatti overhears their

    conversations and summons Nikiya to her rooms. She tries to bribe her to

    leave Solor by offering her jewels and gifts, but Nikiya refuses. In

    desperation, she tries to stab Gamzatti, but is stopped by her

    attendant, Aya. As Nikiya runs out of the room, Gamzatti, like her

    father, determines to kill her.

    Scene 3. The garden of the palace

    Festivities

    are presented in honour of the betrothal of Gamzatti and Solor. The

    High Brahmin brings Nikiya to dance for the ceremony. She cannot accept

    the engagement and expresses her sadness in dance. Aya gives her a

    basket of flowers which she says are from Solor, and Nikiya’s spirits

    brighten. However, a poisonous snake is hidden among the flowers, which

    were actually sent by the Rajah and Gamzatti. The snake bites Nikiya as

    she lifts the basket to smell the flowers. The High Brahmin offers her

    an antidote to the poison, but the moment before she drinks it, Nikiya

    sees Solor being led away by the Rajah and Gamzatti, and she decides to

    die.

  • Act II

    Scene 1. Solor’s tent

    Despondent and depressed by Nikiya’s death, Solor smokes opium, given to him by agdaveya to deaden his grief.

    Scene 2. The Kingdom of the Shades

    Solor

    hallucinates and conjures a vision of the dead Nikiya. She appears in

    the Kingdom of the Shades, and her vision is multiplied by the corps de

    ballet. Solor reminisces about her dance of love by the Sacred Fire.

    Scene 3. Solor’s tent

    As

    the warriors enter his tent to prepare Solor for the wedding to

    Gamzatti, the vision of Nikiya continues to haunt and confuse him.

  • Act III

    The temple

    In the shadow of the Great Buddha, a bronze idol dances as the High Brahmin and the priests prepare for the wedding of Gamzatti and Solor. The betrothed couple enter, and the bayadères perform a ritual candle dance round them, reminiscent of the Sacred Fire burning outside the temple. The Rajah, Gamzatti and Solor dance, but Solor is haunted by the vision of Nikiya, which is visible only to him. During the dance, a basket of flowers identical to the one given to Nikiya mysteriously appears, and Gamzatti, terrified and consumed with guilt, urges her father to complete the wedding ceremony. The High Brahmin performs the ceremony on the steps of the altar, but Solor cannot force himself to say the vows. The infuriated gods destroy the temple and bury everyone under its ruins. The spirits of Nikiya and Solor are reunited in eternal love.

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