Evening of One-Act Ballets: "Apollo". "The Seasons" Choreography by Konstantin Keihel. "Le Reveil de Flore" Choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov.
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Music by Igor Stravinsky Choreography by George Balanchine (1928) Libretto by Igor Stravinsky
Staging by Francia Russell Original lighting design by Ronald Bates Lighting: Vladimir Lukasevich
World premiere: 12 June 1928, Les Ballets Russes de Serge de Diaghilev, Théâtre Sarah Bernhart, Paris Premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre: 26 January 1992 Premiere of last revived version at the Mariinsky Theatre: 30 April 1998
Running time 35 minutes
The Ballet of George Balanchine Apollo is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® service standards established and provided by the Trust.
The Mariinsky Theatre would like to express its gratitude to Mrs Bettina von Siemens for her support in bringing the "Ballets of George Balanchine" project to life.
Apollo, the son of Zeus and Leto, achieves stunning levels of brilliance in dance and citherplaying. He is followed in his sequence of dance by his ever-present companions the three muses – Calliope (the muse of epic poetry), Polyhymnia (the muse of sacred hymns) and Terpsichore (the muse of dance). When Apollo, accompanied by his muses, appears on Mount Olympus everything around him falls silent in adoration of his divine art.
“I regard Apollo as a turning point in my life. In terms of discipline, restraint, the perpetual unison of sound and mood this score was a revelation for me. It seemed to be telling me that I didn’t have to use it all, that I could leave something out. In Apollo and all of the composer’s subsequent music it is impossible to imagine any one given extract to be an extract from another score. Each of them is unique, nothing can be replaced. I examined my own work in the light of that lesson. It was when studying Apollo that I first understood that the gestures, like tones in music and shades in painting, find certain ‘native ties’ between themselves. Like any group they are subject to their own special laws. And the more solid the artist the more clearly he will understand and consider these laws. Starting with ApolloI developed my choreography along these lines, dictated by these mutual ties. “Apollo has sometimes been criticised for its ‘lack of theatricality.’ It may be true that there is no vividly expressed story there (although there is a plotline that runs throughout). But its technique is that of classical ballet which in every sense is theatrical, and it is here that we see the start of the literal transformation of sound into visual movement.”
George Balanchine. The Dance Element in Stravinsky’s Music
Age category 12+
"The Seasons"
Credits
Music by Alexander Glazunov Choreography by Konstantin Keikhel
Musical Director: Valery Gergiev Designer: Sergey Illarionov Lighting Designer: Konstantin Binkin Video Designer: Maria Feodoridi, Maxim Malovichko Librettist: Natalia Chumina
Premiere: 11 March 2018, Mariinsky Theatre
Age category 6+
"Le Reveil de Flore"
Credits
Music by Riccardo Drigo Choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov (1894) Set design: Mikhail Bocharov Costumes: Yevgeny Ponomarev
(revival of the 1894 production) The revival team: Conductor: Pavel Bubelnikov Choreography staged: Sergei Vikharev Sets reproduced: Mikhail Shishliannikov Costumes reproduced: Irina Korovina Lighting: Vladimir Lukasevich
SYNOPSIS
Scene 1. Danse de Diane. Night. Flore and her nymphs are in a deep sleep; Diane, the Goddess of the Night, guards their peace. As dawn approaches there is a freshness in the air. Diane hides in the clouds. Scene 2. Entrée d’Aquilon, Danse de la rosée. Aquilon storms over the stage; his sudden appearance awakes the sleeping maidens and makes them seek refuge among the leafage. The appearance of the cool dew brings despair to Flore and she begs Aurore to come to their assistance. Scene 3. Arrivée d’Aurore, Valse. Aurore comforts Flore with tender caresses and declares that she will be followed by the God of the Day – Apollon, who will put an end to their sufferings. Scene 4. Entrée d’Apollon, Zéphyr, Cupidon et les Amours, Pas d’action. As the radiant Apollon appears everything comes to life. Enchanted by the beauty of the Goddess of Flowers, he kisses her. At the summons of the God of the Day, the light and gentle breeze Zéphyr flies into the embrace of Flore, his beloved. “You must be his friend,” Apollon tells her, “That is the will of the gods.” All are delighted. Cupidon, the Amours and Nymphs rejoice at the lovers’ happiness. Scene 5. Arrivée de Mercure, Ganymède et Hébé. Mercure, the messenger of the gods, announces the arrival of Ganymède. Flore and Zéphyr bring forth a cup of nectar and declare that Jupiter will grant them eternal youth. Scene 6. Cortège, Grand pas. Procession. Bacchus and Ariadne’s chariot, accompanied by maenads, satyrs, fauns and sylphs. Apotheosis. Olympia. Jupiter, Juno, Neptune, Vulcan, Minerva, Ceres, Mars, Pluto, Proserpina and Venus all appear.
Content printed after the Annual of the Imperial Theatres for 1893–1894.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
The score of the ballet Le Réveil de Flore has been revived from the manuscript by Riccardo Drigo preserved at the Mariinsky Theatre Central Music Library. The choreographic text of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov has been revived from the records of Nikolai Sergeyev, executed in the Stepanov Notation System housed at the Harvard Theatre Collection and from violin répétiteurs retained at the Mariinsky Theatre Central Music Library. The sets and costumes have been reconstructed from photos and sketches by Mikhail Bocharov and Yevgeny Ponomarev from the archives of the St Petersburg State Museum of Theatre and Music. The costumes have been reconstructed from sketches by Yevgeny Ponomarev from the archives of the St Petersburg State Museum of Theatre and Music.
Premiere: 12 April 2007, Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg Premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre: 20 January 1895 Premiere of the revival at the Mariinsky Theatre: 12 April 2007
Running time: 1 hour
The ballet Le Reveil de Flore has been made possible thanks to supporting from the Stiftung der Freunde des Mariinsky Theaters (Germany).
