Details
Bayadère" is one of the most spectacular ballet works – set to music by Ludwig Minkus and choreographed by Marius Petipa. This classical title unveils the tragic love story of an Indian temple dancer. It is based on Goethe's ballad "The God and the Bayadère," which was inspired by an ancient Indian work.
The production marks the directorial debut of prima ballerina Vesa Tonova, who created the performance for the stage of the Burgas Opera in 2018. Thanks to the strong partnership between the two institutions, Bayadère was also staged with the dancers of the Plovdiv Opera. After intense rehearsals with an international troupe, which began at the start of the new season, and three cancelled premieres due to unforeseen circumstances, Bayadère will captivate the audience with its meticulously crafted theatrical and dance elements.
In the role of the bayadère Nikiya, the Brazilian dancer Amanda Rocha will perform, while her rival, Princess Gamzatti, will be portrayed by Mara Salvaggio from Italy. The warrior Solor, the object of affection for both women, will be danced by Nikola Hadjitanev, the premier soloist of the Sofia Opera and Ballet.
The set design for Bayadère is by the renowned artist and set designer Ivan Tokadzhiev, who transports the audience into an authentic atmosphere, while the costumes by designer Tsvetanka Stoynova capture the vivid colors and opulence of the East.
This production is extremely rare due to the high level of performance required, the financial resources needed, and the large number of dancers involved. Its realization serves as a statement of the quality and prosperity of any theater.
Bayadère was created in 1877 and achieved tremendous success right from its premiere. The original work is in four acts and seven scenes, but it is almost always performed in a shortened version based on the 1941 Kirov Ballet version. The famous "Kingdom of the Shades" scene was inspired by Gustave Doré’s illustrations for Dante Alighieri’s Paradise. This scene is considered a masterpiece in ballet history and has inspired similar sequences in other ballet productions.
The story of Bayadère is a tragic love tale involving the Indian temple dancer Nikiya and the warrior Solor. Their love enrages the high Brahmin, who secretly loves Nikiya, and Princess Gamzatti, who is in love with Solor. Gamzatti's father, the Raja, has promised her to Solor as a husband. In her vengeful jealousy, the princess hides a snake in a basket of flowers meant for Nikiya. During a dance in the temple at a festival, Nikiya is fatally bitten by the snake. The Brahmin offers her an antidote in exchange for her love, but she refuses. As she dies, she reminds Solor of his vow of eternal faithfulness. Devastated by her death, Solor, under the influence of opiates, transports himself to the Kingdom of the Shades, where he encounters Nikiya's spirit. Upon returning to reality, he cannot shake the memory of their encounter. During the wedding ceremony of Gamzatti and Solor, just before the exchange of vows, the temple is destroyed in an earthquake. Everyone perishes, and the spirits of Nikiya and Solor are finally united in the afterlife.