On November 13, 2022, the audience of the Primorsky Stage will enjoy two musical masterpieces unique in their beauty and significance: the Polish Act from A Life for the Tsar opera by Mikhail Glinka and the Polovtsian Act from Prince Igor opera by Alexander Borodin. This night, the Great Hall of the Theatre will host two contrasting elements, the Polish aristocracy of the 17th century and the wild Polovtsian nomads of the 12th century. Both acts will be presented in costumes and scenery from historical productions of the Mariinsky Theatre. This magnificent festival of music and the amazingly beautiful, dazzlingly colorful dance scenes from the legendary Mariinsky Theatre productions will not leave anyone indifferent!
The audience could already enjoy the Polish Act in the performances of A Life for the Tsar in early November. The luxurious ball in a Polish castle is a spectacular dance suite featuring Polonaise, temperamental Krakowiak, lyrical Waltz and Mazurka danced to accompaniment of a female chorus.
On the other hand, the Polovtsian Act will be performed for the first time on the Primorsky Stage. The musical creations of the outstanding composer Alexander Borodin have gained great fame, among them the exuberant Polovtsian Dances composition. The libretto is adapted from the Ancient Russian epic The Tale of Igor’s Campaign. The Polovtsian Dances is not only one of the best scenes of the opera; it is also considered an independent full dance segment, which is quite often included in concert ballet divertissements around the world.
Despite the fact that the masterpiece was created more than 130 years ago, it still remains quite popular. The composition that ends the second act, Fly Away on the Wings of the Wind, has gained world fame in popular culture.
On November 13, 2022, the Gala concert will feature the ballet company, opera soloists, the chorus and the Mariinsky Orchestra of the Primorsky Stage under the baton of the Theatre’s Principal Conductor Pavel Smelkov.
