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7:00pm		 February 4, 2010
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LA BAYADÈRE
Ludwig A. Minkus / Natalia Makarova

Ballet in three acts (1877) 
Libretto by Marius Petipa and Sergey Khudekov 
World premiere: Bolszoi Theatre, Sankt Petersburg, 4 February 1877
Premiere of this production: American Ballet Theatre, New York, 21 May 1980
Polish premiere: Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera, 15 May 2004

 

Running time: 2 hours 50 min.

 

 Choreography: Natalia Makarova after Marius Petipa
Conductor: Tadeusz Kozłowski
Choreographer's assistants: Cynthia Harvey and Susan Jones
Set Design and Costumes: Jadwiga Jarosiewicz
Lights: Stanisław Zięba


American Ballet Theatre and Royal Ballet Covent Garden version 


Polish National Ballet and Orchestra of the Polish National Opera

 

La Bayadère      on You Tube 

cast:

Nikiya - Maria Żuk                   
Solor - Sergey Popov                         
Gamzatti - Marta Fiedler                   
The High Bramin - Sergey  Basalaev                 
Golden Idol - Jacek Tyski                          
The Rajah - Adam Kozal                      
Magdaveya - Paweł Koncewoj                         
Aya - Anita Kuskowska 

A beautiful Hindu tale about the love whose power is stronger than death. The title temple dancer, Nikia, has devoted herself to gods, but she falls in love with a noble warrior Solor who also loves her. At the same time, the omnipotent Rajah has chosen the brave young man as a candidate for her daughter’s, Gamzatti, husband. To get rid of her daughter’s rival, he treacherously exposes Nikia to the bite of a venomous viper. The girl dies with a broken heart and Solor, in a dream, just like Orpheus follows his beloved into The Kingdom of the Shades. Meanwhile, Gamzatti triumphs and leads her grieving fiancé to the marriage ceremony. However, the gods, who want to revenge for the death of their priestess, destroy the temple, killing all those within. It is only now that the souls of Nikia and Solor are united for good. The legendary ballet star Natalia Makarova has staged at our theatre her world-renowned version of La Bayadère, according to the best St. Petersburg tradition. It is a grand, colorful, fairytale performance and the famous ballet scene The Kingdom of the Shades in the wonderful choreography of Marius Petipa performed by the Polish National Ballet is deeply touching and stays long in our memory. [pch]  


Whoever enjoys classical ballet tales simply must see this show at the Polish National Opera. It was prepared exactly according to the rules of the genre, but also springs a few surprises. Watching La Bayadère, we have the impression of communing with something familiar, analogies to the immortal Swan Lake are obvious. And it’s not just the ‘white act’, in fact the Kingdom of Shadows scene is visually far superior to the famous dance of the swans. … But La Bayadère was first, it was created almost 20 years before Swan Lake. We need to revise our views on what is original and what is derivative in ballet art. We also need to give some thought to why Swan Lake enjoys lasting popularity while La Bayadère had to wait almost 100 years before it was first staged in the West. … If we are to bring La Bayadère out of oblivion today, we can only do it if we present it in a perfect performance. When The Kingdom of the Shadows scene at the Polish National Opera has the ethereal dancers come on stage one by one, performing an impeccable arabesque, we gain certainty that this premiere made sense. [Jacek Marczyński, Rzeczpospolita] 

 

Photo: Juliusz Multarzyński,    Marek Górecki 

SYNOPSIS

The ballet is set in legendary India. Nikiya, a bayadère or temple dancer, is in love with Solor, a noble warrior. But the Rajah decides to marry his daughter Gamzatti to Solor, who, overwhelmed by her beauty, forgets his vows of love to Nikiya.
When the Rajah learns of Nikiya and Solor's love from the High Brahmin (who is also in love with Nikiya), he decides to have the bayadère killed. Gamzatti tries to persuade Nikiya to give up Solor but she refuses and attacks the princess who then also decides to have the bayadère killed.
Nikiya dances at the betrothal celebrations of Gamzatti and Solor. She is fatally bitten by a poisonous snake hidden in a basket of flowers sent by the Rajah and Gamzatti.
Solor has a vision of Nikiya in the Kingdom of the Shades. Later, at the wedding ceremony, he is again haunted by the vision of Nikiya which he alone can see. The gods, infuriated by the killing of Nikiya, destroy the temple, killing everyone in it. The spirits of Nikiya and Solor are reunited in eternal love.

Act I.

Scene I. Outside the Temple in the Sacred Forest: The High Brahmin, priests, and temple dancers are celebrating the Indian Ritual of Fire. Nikiya, the most beautiful of the bayaderes (temple dancers), has been chosen to be consecrated the lead temple dancer and she and the young warrior, Solor, are very much in love. The High Brahmin, too, declares his love for Nikiya, but is rejected by her. The jealous High Brahmin swears his revenge.

Scene II. A Room in the Palace: The Rajah decrees that his daughter, the beautiful Gamzatti, will marry Solor. When the High Brahmin informs him that Solor is deeply in love with Nikiya, the Rajah becomes enraged and swears his vengeance against Nikiya. Gamzatti has overheard the conversation between her father and the High Brahmin, and commands her slave to bring Nikiya to her. Gamzatti tries to bribe Nikiya with money and jewels to renounce Solor. Nikiya refuses and attempts to stab Gamzatti, who swears her vengeance upon the temple dancer.

Scene III. The Garden of the Palace: At the betrothal of Solor and Gamzatti, Nikiya is commanded to dance. Gamzatti presents her with a basket of flowers which Nikiya believes to be from Solor, and which conceals a deadly snake. Nikiya is bitten, and when Solor leaves with Gamzatti, she refuses the proffered antidote and dies.

Act II.

The Tent of Solor: Solor, grief-stricken and under the influence of opium, dreams of being reunited with Nikiya in the Kingdom of the Shades. Awakening, he realizes that he must prepare to marry Gamzatti.

Act III.

The Temple: During the wedding festivities in the temple, a vision of Nikiya appears to Solor. He kneels to her in repentance. The ceremony begins, and when Gamzatti says her vows to Solor, he says his to his vision of Nikiya. The infuriated gods destroy the palace and bury everyone under its ruins. The spirits of Nikiya and Solor are reunited in the Kingdom of the Shades.

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