28 October 2021 (Thu), 19:00 World famous Bolshoi Ballet and Opera theatre (established 1776) - Marvellous Main (Historic) Stage - Classical Ballet Aram Khachaturyan "Spartacus" Ballet in three acts Tickets available only at OperaAndBallet.com
Running time: 3 hours (till 22:00)
The performance has 2 intermissions
Schedule for Aram Khachaturyan "Spartacus" Ballet in three acts 2022
Conductor: Pavel Sorokin
Composer: Aram Khachaturian Conductor: Maestro Gennady Rozhdestvensky Choreography: Yuri Grigorovich Costume Designer: Simon Virsaladze Artistic Director: Maestro Yuri Grigorovich Designer: Simon Virsaladze Music Director: Gennadi Rozhdestvensky
Ballet company: Bolshoi Ballet Orchestra: Bolshoi Theatre Symphony Orchestra
Classical Ballet in 3 acts
Premiere of this production: 9 April 1968, Bolshoi theatre, Moscow, Russia
Libretto by Yuri Grigorovich
after the novel of the same name by Raffaello Giovagnolli,
ideas from the scenario by Nikolai Volkov used
Synopsis Act I Scene
1 Invasion. The military machine of imperial Rome, led by
Crassus, wages a cruel campaign of conquest, destroying everything in its path.
Among the chained prisoners, who are doomed to slavery, are Spartacus and
Phrygia.
Spartacus’c Monologue. Spartacus is in despair. Born a free man, he is now
a slave in chains.
Scene 2 The Slave Market. Slave dealers separate the
men and women prisoners for sale to rich Romans. Spartacus is parted from
Phrygia.
Phrygia’s Monologue. Phrygia is overcome with grief. She thinks with
horror of the terrifying ordeals that lie ahead of her.
Scene 3 Orgy at Crassus’s Palace. Mimes and courtesans
entertain the guests, making fun of Phrygia, Crassus’s new slave. Aegina draws
Crassus into a frenzied, bacchanalian dance. Drunk with wine and passion,
Crassus demands a spectacle. Two gladiators are to fight to death in helmets
with closed visors, i.e., without seeing each other. The victor’s helmet is
removed. It is Spartacus.
Spartacus’c Monologue. Against his will, Spartacus has been forced to
murder a fellow man. His despair develops into anger and protest. He will no
longer tolerate captivity. He has but one choice of action — to win back his
freedom.
Scene 4 The Gladiators’ Barracks. Spartacus incites
the gladiators to revolt. They swear an oath of loyalty to him and, of one
accord, break out of the barracks to freedom.
Act II Scene 5 The Appian Way. Having broken out of
their captivity and finding themselves on Appian Way, surrounded by shepherds,
Spartacus’s followers call the latter to join the uprising. Shepherds and
populace proclaim Spartacus as their leader.
Spartacus’s Monologue. The thought of Phrygia’s fate as a slave gives
Spartacus no peace. He is haunted by memories of his loved one whom he thinks of
day and night.
Scene 6 Crasuss’s Villa. His search for Phrygia leads
Spartacus to Crassus’s villa. The two lovers are overjoyed at their reunion.
But, due to the arrival of a procession of patricians, led by Aegina, they are
forced to hide.
Aegina’s Monologue. Aegina has long dreamed of seducing and gaining power
over Crassus. Her goal is to win him and thereby gain legal admittance to the
world of the Roman nobility.
Scene 7 Feast at Crasuss’s Villa. Crassus celebrates
his victories. The patricians sing his praises. The festivities are cut short by
an alarming piece of news: Spartacus and his min have all but surrounded the
villa/ The panic-stricken guests disperse. Crassus and Aegina are also forced to
flee. Spartacus breaks into the villa.
Spartacus’s Monologue. Victory! It elates him and fills him with faith
that the uprising will be successful. Victory!
Scene 8 Spartacus’s Victory. Spartacus’s men have taken
Crassus prisoner and want to kill him, but Spartacus is not bent on revenge and
suggests that they should engage in single-handed combat. Crassus accepts the
challenge and suffers defeat: Spartacus knocks the sword out of his hand.
Crassus makes ready demonstratively to meet his death, but Spartacus, with a
gesture of contempt, lets him go. That all shall know of Crassus’s dishonor is
punishment enough. The jubilant insurgents praise the victory of Spartacus.
Act III Scene 9 Crasuss Takes His Revenge. Crassus
is tormented by his disgrace. Fanning his hurt pride, Aegina calls on him to
take his revenge. There is only one way forward — death to the insurgents.
Crassus summons his legions. Aegina sees him off to battle.
Aegina’s Monologue. Spartacus is Aegina’s enemy too. The defeat of Crassus
will be her downfall. Aegina devises a perfidious plan — she will sew dissension
in Spartacus’s encampment.
Scene 10 Spartacus’s Encampment. Spartacus and Phrygia
are happy to be together. But suddenly his military commanders bring the news
that Crassus is on the move with a large army. Spartacus decides to give battle
but, overcome by cowardice, some of his warriors desert their leader.
Scene 11 Dissension. Aegina infiltrates the ranks of
the traitors who, though they have abandoned Spartacus, might still be persuaded
to go with him. Together with the courtesans she seduces the men with wine and
erotic dances and, as a result, they put all caution to the winds. Having lured
the traitors into a trap, Aegina hands them over to Crassus.
Spartacus’s Monologue. Crassus is consumed by the wish for revenge.
Spartacus shall pay with his death for the humiliation that he, Crassus, was
forced to undergo.
Scene 12 The Last Battle. Spartacus’s forces are
surrounded by the Roman legions. Spartacus’s devoted friends perish in unequal
combat. Spartacus fights on fearlessly right up to the bitter end but, closing
in on the wounded hero, the Roman soldiers crucify him on their spears.
Requiem. Phrygia retrieves Spartacus’s body from the
battle field. She mourns her beloved, her grief is inconsolable. Raising her
arms skywards, Phrygia appeals to the heavens that the memory of Spartacus live
forever...
Schedule for Aram Khachaturyan "Spartacus" Ballet in three acts 2022
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