On 26 March, Apollo will be performed for the first time at the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre in Vladivostok as a part of the premiere Evening of George Balanchine’s One-act Ballets. The premiere is timed to mark the 135th anniversary of Igor Stravinsky’ birthday.
The creation of this masterpiece of the world neoclassical choreography became possible as a result of the meeting of three masters - George Balanchine, Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Diaghilev. At the beginning of the 20th century, Sergei Diaghilev and his Ballets Russes were considered to be the leaders of European ballet. The impresario constantly introduced the audience to new names and new trends. One of his discoveries was the emerging choreographer George Balanchine. It was Diaghilev and his commission for Apollo that started a lifelong creative collaboration between Stravinsky and Balanchine.
The production of Apollo turned Balanchine into the most influential choreographer. In his memoirs he admitted that this ballet had become the turning point in his biography, which was in many ways underpinned by Igor Stravinsky’s magnificent score. Balanchine was enthralled by the music to the ballet. The ballet depicts the way of Apollo, a son of Zeus, from his birth to his achievement of personhood. At his father’s will, Apollo has to become the patron of arts, mentored by three muses – Calliope, Terpsichore and Polyhymnia.
Also, the Evening of George Balanchine’s One-Act Ballets on 26 March will feature Scotch Symphony to music by Felix Mendelssohn and Serenade to music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. On 24 and 25 March, the premiere performances programme will also include The Prodigal Son to music by Sergei Prokofiev.
