Kremlin Ballet Theatre
| 17 March |
| 19:00 |
| 2027 | Wednesday |
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Russian Classical Ballet Stars at the Kremlin Ballet Theatre
Sergei Prokofiev "Romeo and Juliet" (Ballet in two acts) Ballet |
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The performance has 1 intermission Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Set within the very heart of Moscow, on the historic grounds of the Kremlin, the stage of the State Kremlin Palace is home to the distinguished Kremlin Ballet Theatre. Its company brings together accomplished dancers, many of whom have performed on the stage of the legendary Bolshoi Theatre and trained in the same prestigious academies that shaped generations of Russia’s greatest ballet artists. As Yuri Grigorovich recalls:
“For us (with Simon Virsaladze – editor’s note), it was obvious that bringing Sergei Prokofiev’s music to the stage (the designer had known him personally) required, above all, a powerful visual concept. The result was an abstract, dynamic space, open and free for dance. The transitions between scenes were created through the movement of panels, draperies and curtains, which the artist particularly loved and whose colours and textures evoked the visual art of the Renaissance.
Romeo and Juliet became one of Virsaladze’s most beautiful creations – an atmosphere saturated with almost tangible colours, an energetic painterly touch, an environment that could be freely transformed and, of course, costumes of extraordinary beauty.
The ballet costume, as we know, was one of Virsaladze’s trademarks. ‘He dressed the dance,’ said the remarkable ballet theorist Lyubov Blok about his work on Laurencia. He personally supervised the length of each sleeve, counted the number of pleats, could trim a finished costume directly on the dancer backstage, and even select a particular pearl for a ballerina’s headdress…”
A year later, a somewhat modified version of the production appeared on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre.
Romeo and Juliet at the Kremlin Ballet Theatre was created in 1999 to mark Simon Virsaladze’s 90th anniversary (1908–1989) and was dedicated to his memory. It was the third interpretation by Yuri Grigorovich of Shakespeare’s immortal tragedy. The Kremlin version was initially conceived on the basis of the Paris production, but ultimately developed into a completely new and independent work. Since then, Romeo and Juliet has remained in the theatre’s repertoire and has been repeatedly presented during the company’s tours.
“I am pleased about this,” says Yuri Grigorovich. “Sergei Prokofiev’s music has naturally entered the 21st century, and new generations of artists and audiences are discovering this inspired composition.”
The performance is accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra of Radio Orpheus. Romeo and Juliet is a ballet by Sergei Prokofiev based on William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. It is one of the most enduringly popular ballets. Music from the ballet was extracted by Prokofiev as three suites for orchestra and as a piano work. Synopsis
Act l
Scene 1
A Square in Verona.
Brawl between the Montagues and Capulets.
Scene 2
A masked Romeo and Mercutio are on their way to the ball at the Capulets.
Scene 3
Juliet’s Room. Preparations for the ball.
Scene 4
Ball at the Capulets.
Scene 5
The Capulets’ Garden.
First Meeting between Romeo and Juliet.
Act ll
Scene 1
A Square in Verona. Carnival.
Meeting between Mercutio and Tybalt.
Scene 2
Church.
Friar Lawrence marries Romeo and Juliet in secret.
Scene 3
A Square in Verona.
Quarrel, ending in a duel, between Mercutio and Tybalt.
Death of Mercutio.
Romeo’s revenge and Tybalt’s death
Lament for the Dead.
Scene 4
Juliet’s Room.
The Lovers meet prior to their separation.
Paris woos Juliet.
Scene 5
Romeo’s despair in banishment.
Scene 6
Friar Lawrence gives Juliet an opiate.
Scene 7
Juliet’s Room.
Paris woos Juliet.
Juliet drinks the opiate.
Juliet’s vision.
Scene 8
The house of the Capulets.
Paris’ morning Serenade.
News of Juliet’s fictitious death.
The sad news puts an end to the wedding preparations.
Scene 9
The Capulet Vault Romeo’s despair.
Romeo bids farewell to Juliet.
Death of the Lovers.
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Main Stage
Teatralnaya ploschad, 1 (Theatre Square, 1), Moscow, Russia
New Stage
Bol'shaya Dmitrovka Street, 4/2, Moscow, Russia
RAMT
Teatralnaya ploschad, 2 (Theatre Square, 2), Moscow, Russia
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