On May 26, May 27 and May 28, 2023 first performances of Alexander Glazunov’s ballet Raymonda will take place at the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. Eldar Aliev, Ballet Artistic Director of the Primorsky Stage, will present his own version of the ballet.
Raymonda is the first ballet by Alexander Glazunov. Having embraced the best traditions of the 19th century classical ballet with its lush romantic aesthetics, it enriched the treasury of the world musical culture. The libretto is based on a medieval chivalric legend, which has been rethought and filled with a new content due to creative collaboration of the composer Alexander Glazunov and the choreographer Marius Petipa. Raymonda has become Petipa’s last grand ballet; the choreographer completed it in his eightieth year of life. The ballet triumphant premiere took place on the stage of the Mariinsky Theatre on January 7, 1898, one hundred and twenty five years ago.
It was no wonder that after the premiere, Raymonda was immediately called the most classical romantic ballet. It absorbed all the best components of the ballet genre including a detective plot, a prophetic dream, colorful character dances and classical grand pas upon reunion of lovers. The main conflict in the ballet is based on a contraposition of two worlds. The barbarous world of furious passions, which are personified in Abderakhman and his retinue, invades the chivalrously noble and idyllic world of Raymonda’s medieval castle.
The primary female part deserves particular attention and is considered to be one of the most difficult to perform. Six solo variations, one monologue, four duets – all this must be performed by a ballerina dancing the part of the regal Raymonda, which requires the highest degree of ballerina’s artistry. It is no coincidence that the Primorsky Stage dedicates the series of premiere performances to the jubilee of Irina Kolpakova, one of the most perfect performers of this role.
Raymonda will become a worthy addition to the brilliant classical repertoire of the Primorsky Stage. The superb performances are being prepared by the whole Ballet Company.
