Stanislavsky Theatre
Premiere of this production: 12 Dec 2008 The performance has 1 intermission Running time: 2 hours 10 minutes The Stanislavsky Theatre, located in XIX century historical building just 750 metres (9-minute walk) from the Bolshoi, presents The Stone Flower, a legendary ballet by Yuri Grigorovich. Today’s performances feature brilliant dancers who have performed at the Bolshoi Theatre and trained at the same world-renowned academies as Bolshoi stars, carrying forward the living tradition of Russian ballet at its finest. Ballet at the Stanislavsky Theatre is the great and affordable alternative to the Bolshoi. The world premiere of The Stone Flower took place in 1957 at the Kirov (now Mariinsky) Theatre, and just two years later it was staged at the Bolshoi Theatre. This ballet marked a turning point in Soviet ballet history: with it, Yuri Grigorovich bid farewell to the “dramballet” tradition and ushered in a new era, becoming the absolute leader of Russian ballet for decades to come. The Stone Flower also marked the beginning of Grigorovich’s long collaboration with the great designer Simon Virsaladze, who became the choreographer’s true creative partner. Over the years, many of the greatest stars of Russian ballet danced in this production — Irina Kolpakova, Alla Osipenko, Yuri Soloviev, Maya Plisetskaya, Ekaterina Maximova, Vladimir Vasiliev, Nina Timofeyeva, and others. In 2008, the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre had its first artistic encounter with Yuri Grigorovich when this legendary ballet was brought to its stage. A milestone of ballet history — reborn on the stage of one of Moscow’s most acclaimed theatres. SynopsisThe Ural stone carver Danila dreams of creating a wondrous stone flower. In his search for the cherished image, he is helped by Katerina. They love each other and are happy. At their betrothal feast, the master’s steward, Severian, appears uninvited. He provokes a quarrel with Danila and ruins the celebration. Katerina leaves, and Danila remains alone with his thoughts. He tries in vain to uncover the secret of stone, guarded from humankind by the Mistress of the Copper Mountain. In despair, yet full of hope, Danila rushes to the Serpent Hill, into the Mistress’s domain. She appears before him in a magical vision—elusive and mysterious, now in the form of a lizard, now in the guise of the “Malachite Maiden.” She lures the master into her underground chambers. At her command, lifeless nature comes alive—the stones, glittering with sharp facets and shimmering with countless colors, reveal to Danila the longed-for stone flower. Awestruck, he bows before the sovereign of otherworldly beauty. In the realm of the Mistress of the Copper Mountain, Danila learns the secrets of true creation. The Mistress falls in love with the gifted artist and wishes never to part with him. To keep him forever, she resolves to make him her “Master of the Mountain.” Meanwhile, in her hut, Katerina grieves for her vanished betrothed. She rejects Severian’s coarse advances and sets out in search of her beloved. Her path leads her to a fair, where she again encounters the drunken Severian, reveling with gypsies. He pursues Katerina and tries to drag her away with him. She escapes, but he chases after her. Suddenly, another strange maiden appears before him, and at once his feet grow fast to the ground. With great effort he tears them free and rushes after the mysterious figure who lures him onward. Only upon reaching the Serpent Hill does Severian realize that it is the dread Mistress of the Copper Mountain. He begs for mercy, but the Mistress condemns the “beast and murderer,” commanding the earth’s depths to open and swallow him. Katerina, guided by her heart, is also led to the Serpent Hill, sensing that Danila is near. She calls out to him. In answer, the Mistress herself appears before her. Katerina rushes to her and begs her to return her betrothed. The Mistress is moved by the boundless power of human love and releases Danila back into the earthly world—back to people, and to his bride. | Sergei Prokofiev "The Stone Flower" Ballet in 2 acts on the playbill | |||||||||||
