Classical Ballet "Laurencia" (ballet in two acts) Mikhailovsky Classical Ballet and Opera Theatre (established 1833)
Running time: 1 hour 50 minutes
The performance has 1 intermission
Schedule for "Laurencia" (ballet in two acts) 2022
Composer: Alexander Krein Revival Designer: Vyacheslav Okunev Choreography: Vakhtang Chabukiani Production: Mikhail Messerer Costume Designer: Vadim Ryndin Revival Designer: Oleg Molchanov Lighting Designer: Mikhail Mekler Musical Director: Valery Ovsyanikov
Orchestra: Mikhailovsky Symphony Orchestra
Classical Ballet in 2 act
Premiere of this production: 5 June 2010, Mikhailovsky theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia
Ballet based on Lope de Vega’s Fuente Ovejuna
To celebrate the centenary of the birth of choreographer Vakhtang Chabukiani, the Mikhailovsky Theatre presents the revival of his masterpiece Laurencia based on the play Fuente Ovejuna by Lope de Vega. Chabukiani created a new choreographic language by means of his own particular blend of folk dance and classical ballet. In this ballet, to the upbeat music by Alexander Krein, Chabukiani asserts the importance of male dance, furthering the notion of the ‘heroic’ style. Laurencia was premiered in 1939 in the Kirov Theatre. Leading roles were performed by Natalia Dudinskaya (Laurencia), Vakhtang Chabukiani (Frondoso) and Tatiana Vecheslova (Pascuala). In 1956, the ballet was staged at the Bolshoi Theatre where Vakhtang Chabukiani partnered Maya Plisetskaya. In 2010, after decades of absence from the Russian stage the ballet was revived for the Mikhailovsky Theatre by Mikhail Messerer.
Synopsis
Act I Scene one The harsh
sound of military music is heard and the Commander appears. The people
give him a cautious welcome, but he does not pay much notice: his
attention is drawn to the beautiful Laurencia. Ordering everyone
to disperse, the Commander detains only her. Her friend Pascuala remains
with her. Laurencia rejects the Commander’s advances. Annoyed, the Commander
orders his soldiers to bring Laurencia and Pascuala to his castle, but
the girls manage to escape.
Scene
two In a secluded location by a forest stream,
Frondoso reveals his feelings to Laurencia. But the capricious girl
responds evasively. The sound of a hunting horn is heard.
It is the Commander out hunting in the forest. Soon
he appears before Laurencia and tries to kiss her. Frondoso fearlessly
throws himself at the Commander, saving Laurencia from her hated admirer.
The Commander vows revenge on both of them.
A group
of girls come to the stream to wash clothes. They are more
occupied with chatting than laundry, especially as Mengo also arrives:
it is always fun when he is there. Jacinta runs in,
chased by soldiers. Mengo defends Jacinta, but the soldiers knock him down.
The Commander returns. Jacinta begs for his protection, but he hands her
over to the soldiers.
Laurencia, now convinced of Frondoso’s
faithfulness, bravery and devotion, agrees to marry him.
Act II Scene three The whole
village merrily celebrates Laurencia and Frondoso’s wedding. One dance follows
another, but the merrymaking is interrupted when the Commander appears,
looking sombre. He has come to take his revenge. He gives orders
for Frondoso to be imprisoned and Laurencia to be taken
to his castle.The people are horrified.
Scene
four At night the men gather together in the forest. They
know they must fight the tyrant, but from fear and indecision they merely clench
their fists and utter curses, they do not act. Laurencia enters unsteadily,
battered and with her dress torn, but her will is strong and she
is filled with fury. She shames the men for their inaction and calls
on them to rise up and fight. Her impassioned call fills their
hearts with courage. All the village women support Laurencia. The people
of Fuente Ovejuna decide to enter the Commander’s
castle.
Scene five Armed with knives, scythes,
clubs, and sticks, the people storm in the inner rooms of the castle
like a fearsome tidal wave. They free Frondoso from incarceration and set
off to get even with the Commander. He tries to flee, but the
peasants capture him. He offers them gold to let him go, but
is met by an indignant refusal. The dead tyrant's helmet set up
on the pole symbolizes the victory of the people of Fuente Ovejuna.
Schedule for "Laurencia" (ballet in two acts) 2022
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