Classical Ballet Ballet in one act by Roland Petit "Le Jeune Homme et la Mort". Ballet in one act "Serenade". Ballet in one act by Roland Petit "La Dame de Pique" World famous Bolshoi Ballet and Opera theatre (established 1776) - Small Stage
Schedule for Ballet in one act by Roland Petit "Le Jeune Homme et la Mort". Ballet in one act "Serenade". Ballet in one act by Roland Petit "La Dame de Pique" 2022
Composer: Peter Tchaikovsky Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach Choreography: George Balanchine Choreography: Roland Petit Composer: Ottorno Respighi
Orchestra: Bolshoi Theatre Symphony Orchestra
Le Jeune Homme et la Mort to music by Johann Sebastian Bach/Ottorno
Respighi Libretto by Jean Cocteau Choreography by Roland Petit Sets
by Georges Wakhevitch
Working together, Roland Petit and Jean Cocteau
produced a masterpiece which, to this day (it was created in 1946), works its
magic on both public and dancers. Stars with worldwide reputations have appeared
in this small ballet, among them Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov. In
terms of its emotional and psychological intensity this miniature is in no way
inferior to a full-length ballet. Le Jeune Homme et la mort will be Roland
Petit's fifth production for the Bolshoi.
SerenadeBallet in one act to music of Serenade for
string orchestra by Pyotr Tchaikovsky Choreography by George Balanchine
(1935)
Serenade was first danced by the Bolshoi Ballet in
2007 since when the Company has virtually never been parted from it. It is
lyrical ballet, evoking the play of moonlight on water, though it derives, to
all intents and purposes, from a lesson in ballet class. Serenade was the great
George Balanchine's first American ballet (1935). America
became for him a promised land where he would find his feet and his talent would
burgeon. George Balanchine: "As part of the school curriculum, I started an
evening ballet class in stage technique, to give students some idea of how
dancing on stage differs from class-work. Serenade evolved from the lessons I
gave. <…>… many people think there is a concealed story in the ballet.
There is not. There are, simply, dancers in motion to a beautiful piece of
music. The only story is the music's story, a serenade, a dance, if you like, in
the light of the moon" (from the book 101 Stories of the Great Ballets). The
Bolshoi's new (2010) stage version of the ballet is by Sandra Jennings.
Photo © Damir Yusupov/Bolshoi Theatre
La Dame de PiqueBallet in one act by
Roland Petit to music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky (Sixth symphony)
musical version by Roland Petit Libretto by Roland
Petit after the story of the same name by Alexander Pushkin
The world premiere took place at the Bolshoi Theatre on October 26, 2001.
Synopsis
Scene 1 Prologue Hermann is obsessed with his thoughts of the
game. To him, it seems the cards of all suits gather around him and come to him
from the gaming table. He, himself, is not playing, but is watching the game.
The ghost appears - an elderly woman in black. She lays down one card, then
another, then a third. Bank notes flow to the stage. She wins and disappears
without taking the winnings. Hermann remains alone. At his feet are the
winning cards - white, without the signs of the suit.
Scene 2 Gambling Hall Hermann is in the gambling hall. Trying
not to miss a thing, he watches the gamblers.
Scene 3 Ballroom The gamblers join the others dancing at the
ball. Hermann seems indifferent walking about the ballroom. He wants to
learn how to win at cards in order to provide for his future. The Countess
appears. Strangely enough, she reminds Hermann of the ghost of the elderly woman
that he saw earlier in the gambling hall. She is followed by a young lady - her
ward, Liza. Everybody talks about the Countess and greets her. Hermann also
tries to get closer to her. He is aware that she knows the secret of the "lucky"
cards. Hermann envisions himself talking to the Countess. Everyone leaves;
the Countess follows her young escort. Hermann watches them depart. It seems to
the girl that he has fallen in love with her. She comes back to collect the
handbag she left behind. Hermann talks to her, and asks for a secret date, and
she gives him a key to her room.
Scene 4 The Countess’ room Hermann sneaks into the Countess’
house and finds himself in her room. She comes enters, accompanied by her maids
and her ward. She takes off her jewelry, dress, corset and wig. She changes her
clothes behind the screen, returns and sends her maids away. Hermann, who
has been waiting for the Countess to be alone, emerges from his cover. He wants
to know "the secret of the three cards". The Countess remains speechless, but
Hermann insists, he even tries to embrace her - he would "become her lover,
should it be necessary", as Pushkin wrote. Finally, he threatens her with a
pistol. The Countess drops dead from fear, Hermann runs away. Liza comes. The
Countess is dead at her feet.
Scene 5 Hermann’s room Back in his room, Hermann gives way to
despair. He failed to find out the secret of the three cards and his life is
forever ruined. He holds the pistol, which was the reason for the Countess’
death… But suddenly, she - or her ghost - appears and tells Hermann about
the three winning cards: three, seven and queen - hearts, diamonds, clubs, but
for the queen of spades. Hermann throws on his coat and runs out.
Scene 6 Big gambling hall "The Big game" is in full swing.
Hermann comes and joins the others in the game… A three wins, a seven wins… but
a queen is up - he grows pale - the Queen of Spades. All is over. Hermann falls
dead at the old Countess’ feet.
Characters and performers
Schedule for Ballet in one act by Roland Petit "Le Jeune Homme et la Mort". Ballet in one act "Serenade". Ballet in one act by Roland Petit "La Dame de Pique" 2022
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