03.02.2020

Maurice Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé Be Premiered as Winter Highlight on the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre

Two original ballet shows are to be premiered on the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. They are specially created for Vladivostok by stage directors from St. Petersburg. The openings of Maurice Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé and Sergei Prokofiev’s Visions fugitives will take place on February 14 and February 15. The two ballets are choreographed by Dmitry Pimonov; all sets and costumes are designed by Stas Lopatkin. The piano part in Visions fugitives will be performed by Nikolai Mazhara, a famous Russian pianist. In Daphnis et Chloé the orchestra will play under the baton of Shizuo Z Kuwahara, Principal Guest Conductor of the Primorsky Stage (Japan).

Daphnis et Chloé is one of the most renowned 20th century ballets, based on Longus’ romance of the same name. Maurice Ravel, a French impressionist composer, was commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev to write the score. The world premiere was performed by the non-repertory company Ballets Russes with Michel Fokine as a choreographer in Paris in 1912. Many well-known choreographers have statedly turned their attention to the ballet score ever since, and Ravel’s music is often played as an original opus in concert halls.

Dmitry Pimenov has choreographed Daphnis et Chloé as a neoclassical ballet tinctured with jazz dance. “It is a love story about a young shepherd and a beautiful shepherdess. We see how they surmount obstacles in the way to their love and how their feelings grow. I have slightly changed Fokine’s libretto to which Ravel set music. In our performance on the Primorsky Stage there is a characterful conflict between two principles: aggressive sexuality that destroys everything and sexuality that originates in carnal infatuation ensuring the continuity of life on the Earth”, said the choreographer.

Designed by Stas Lopatkin, an artist from St Petersburg, the sets and costumes for Daphnis et Chloé should form living pictures illustrating Longus’ romance. “Spectators may rely on it that there will be really painterly backcloths, several backgrounds, animated projections, saturated colors, confections and light cloths that echo dancers’ movements”, said the designer.

The performance lasts an hour. Over 40 members of the Ballet Company of the Primorsky Stage act in Daphnis et Chloé. Ravel’s music is performed by the Primorsky Stage orchestra directed by Japanese maestro Shizuo Z Kuwahara.

Daphnis et Chloé will be preceded by the one-act ballet Visions fugitives which is based on Sergei Prokofiev’s set of 20 piano pieces. “Visions fugitives is a story about human feelings, emotions, situations, wishes, and passions, about things of ephemeral nature, which have a significant impact on our life. The ballet choreography reflects my perception of Prokofiev’s piano cycle”, said Dmitry Pimonov.

Stas Lopatkin’s solution to the stage design is made in terms of minimal art. “I would like Visions fugitives to be devoid of everything but music and minimal plastique. So I chose to go without setting. I offer “a black parlor” in which dancers enrobed in clinging overalls should tell 20 short stories to the audience”, said Stas Lopatkin.

Four soloist couples and corps de ballet take part in the performance; each number from the ballet has a separate choreographic plot. During the premiere slated to take place on February 14 and February 15, the piano part will be played by Nikolai Mazhara, a prizewinner at international piano competitions and a celebrated performer of Prokofiev’s works.

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