Ballet is the most famous performances. The most famous ballets of Russian composers

Despite the fact that ballet is associated with a difficult art, it is one of those forms that is always understandable anywhere in the world. Dance does not depend on words, which means it can reach everyone.

Of course, this applies to a greater extent to classical ballet, in which you can always figure out what’s what without even reading the libretto. Modern ballet often suffers from the fact that understanding the meaning lies solely within the boundaries of the mind of the beholder. And this is also an interesting experience.

1. “Don Quixote”, music by L. Minkus, choreography by M. Petipa

A well-known story about a pure-hearted eccentric who fought windmills. But ballet, of course, is about love, duty and honor! Only the love is not between Don La Mancha and Dulcinea (spoiler). A bright, wonderful and simply pleasant performance will not leave you indifferent. And this is one of the few stories that does not end with mass death.

2. “The Nutcracker”, music by P. Tchaikovsky, choreography by M. Petipa

A tale of a brave king, a brave girl and a vile, power-hungry rat. The story is familiar to almost everyone, even from childhood. There is no point in thinking that the performance is intended exclusively for children. Adults leave no less delighted, if not more. Again, a show with a happy ending.
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3. “Corsair”, music by A. Adam, C. Pugni, L. Delibes, R. Drigo, P. Oldenburgsky, choreography by M. Petipa

An adventure story with oriental motifs. Does the pirate spirit still linger after reading Stevenson in childhood? Then this is definitely the place for you! Brave and decisive Conrad will deal with everything: both betrayal and the woman he loves. It’s not that no one dies here at all (only the villains), but everything definitely ends well!
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4. “The Sleeping Beauty”, music by P. Tchaikovsky, choreography by M. Petipa

A funny and incredibly beautiful fairy tale, costumes on the verge of catharsis, all movements are so perfect that you can literally “hear all the words” (which no one pronounces, naturally). Children will see in it magical story, adults will definitely find humorous moments. Denying yourself such pleasure is strictly prohibited!
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5. “Spartacus”, music by A. Khachaturian, choreography by L. Yakobson/G. Kovtun

A passionate and temperamental story about a rebel gladiator slave. Emotions are running high, so get ready for an unusual evening in a classic setting. At the Mariinsky Theater there is a version directed by Leonid Yakobson, and at the Mikhailovsky Theater - by Georgy Kovtun.
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6. “La Bayadère”, music by L. Minkus, choreography by M. Petipa

One of the oldest ballets in the repertoire of Russian performances. Nevertheless, taking into account the national flavor (and the action takes place in India), “La Bayadère” is a bright, memorable production with interesting dance solutions and unparalleled costumes (Bollywood had a lot to be inspired by). Complicated story love with a tragic ending.
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7. “Cipollino”, music by K. Khachaturian, choreography by G. Mayorov

Of course, this is a children's ballet, but if this is your favorite childhood book (like some in our editorial office), then you should definitely watch it. Bright, with wonderful decorations and talking dances. It is so difficult to perform that it was nicknamed “children’s Spartak.” And friendship and justice win! (well, they have to win somewhere)
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8. “Carmen Suite”, music by J. Bizet and R. Shchedrin, choreography by A. Alonso

Spanish passions, exciting and tragic. Jose loves Carmen, Carmen loves the young Torero. Jealousy, storm, madness, dead Carmen. The performance is one-act, short, often shown on stage together with some other one-act ballets. And the fewer there are, the better the price.
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9. “Scheherazade”, music by N. Rimsky-Korsakov, choreography by M. Fokin

Sensual and passionate, you can’t take your eyes off him. A one-act play about the enchanting east (or rather about the “cranberry” associated with it). The heroes just left the pages of One Thousand and One Nights and immediately started an orgy. No, well, why not? Think about whether you should show it to children, but adults will definitely enjoy it! Also staged together with other one-act ballets.
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10. Ballets by Boris Eifman

Magical performing arts, which originated in Italy in the 16th century, have come a long way and by now have become popular throughout the world. Numerous ballet schools and theater troupes, whose numbers increase every year, are both classical and modern.

But if there are dozens of famous show ballets, and, in fact, they differ from other dance ensembles only in the level of skill, then national ballet theaters with a centuries-old history can be counted on one hand.

Russian Ballet: Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theaters

You and I have something to be proud of, because Russian ballet is one of the best in the world. “Swan Lake”, “The Nutcracker”, the famous plastic ballets that appeared in our country at the beginning of the 20th century, made Russia the second homeland of this art and provided our theaters with an endless stream of grateful spectators from all over the world.

Nowadays, troupes of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theaters compete for the title of the best, whose skills are improving day by day. Both troupes select dancers from among the students of the St. Petersburg Vaganova Academy, and from the first days of training, all its students dream of one day performing a solo part on the main stage of the country.

French Ballet: Grand Opera

The cradle of world ballet, whose attitude towards performances has been unchanged for three centuries, and where only classical academic dance exists, and everything else is regarded as a crime against art, is the ultimate dream for all dancers in the world.

Every year its composition is replenished with only three dancers who have passed more selections, competitions and tests than even astronauts could dream of. Tickets to the Paris Opera are not cheap, and only the wealthiest art connoisseurs can afford them, but the hall is full during every performance, since in addition to the French themselves, all Europeans come here who dream of admiring classical ballet.

United States: American Ballet Theater

Made famous by the release of Black Swan, American Ballet Theater was founded by a soloist at the Russian Bolshoi Theatre.

Having its own school, the ballet does not hire dancers from outside and has a distinctive Russian-American style. The productions combine classic themes, such as the famous “Nutcracker,” and new dance styles. Many ballet connoisseurs claim that ABT has forgotten about the canons, but the popularity of this theater is growing every year.

UK: Birmingham Royal Ballet

Supervised by the Queen herself, the London Ballet has a small number of dancers, but is distinguished by the strict selection of participants and repertoire. You won't find modern trends or genre deviations here. Perhaps that is why, unable to withstand the harsh traditions, many young stars of this ballet they leave it and begin to create their own troupes.

It is not easy to get to a performance of the Royal Ballet; only the most famous and richest people in the world are awarded this opportunity, but once every three months, charity evenings with open admission are organized here.

Austrian Ballet: Vienna Opera

The history of the Vienna Opera goes back one and a half centuries, and all this time Russian dancers have remained the first soloists of the troupe. Known for its annual balls, which were held only during World War II, the Vienna Opera is Austria's most visited attraction. People come here both to admire talented dancers and to look at their compatriots on stage and speak their native language with pride.

It is very easy to get tickets here: thanks to the huge hall and the absence of resellers, you can do this on the day of the ballet, with the only exception being the days of premieres and the opening of the season.

So, if you want to see classical ballet performed by the most talented dancers, go to one of these theaters and enjoy the ancient art.

Ballet is a performing art form; this is an emotion embodied in musical and choreographic images.

Ballet, the highest level of choreography, in which the art of dance rises to the level of musical stage performance, arose as a courtly aristocratic art much later than dance, in the 15th-16th centuries.

The term “ballet” appeared in Renaissance Italy in the 16th century and meant not a performance, but a dance episode. Ballet is an art in which dance is the main thing. means of expression ballet, is closely connected with music, with the dramatic basis - libretto, with scenography, with the work of the costume designer, lighting designer, etc.

The ballet is diverse: plot - classical narrative multi-act ballet, dramatic ballet; plotless - symphony ballet, mood ballet, miniature.

World stages have seen many ballet performances based on literary masterpieces to the music of brilliant composers. That is why the British online resource Listverse decided to compile its ranking of the best ballet performances in history.

"Swan Lake"
Composer: Pyotr Tchaikovsky

The first, Moscow production of “Swan Lake” was not successful - it nice story began almost twenty years later in St. Petersburg. But it was the Bolshoi Theater that contributed to the fact that the world was gifted with this masterpiece. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote his first ballet at the request of the Bolshoi Theater.
“Swan Lake” was given a happy stage life by the famous Marius Petipa and his assistant Lev Ivanov, who went down in history primarily thanks to the staging of the standard “swan” scenes.

The Petipa-Ivanov version has become a classic. It underlies most subsequent productions of Swan Lake, except for the extremely modernist ones.

The prototype for the swan lake was the lake in the Davydovs' Swan Economy (now Cherkasy region, Ukraine), which Tchaikovsky visited shortly before writing the ballet. While relaxing there, the author spent more than one day on its shore, watching snow-white birds.
The plot is based on many folklore motifs, including an ancient German legend telling the story of the beautiful princess Odette, who was turned into a swan by the curse of an evil sorcerer, Knight Rothbart.

"Romeo and Juliet"

Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet is one of the most popular ballets of the twentieth century. The ballet premiered in 1938 in Brno (Czechoslovakia). However, the edition of the ballet, which was presented at the Kirov Theater in Leningrad in 1940, became widely known.

“Romeo and Juliet” is a ballet in 3 acts, 13 scenes with a prologue and epilogue based on the tragedy of the same name by William Shakespeare. This ballet is a masterpiece of world art, embodied through music and amazing choreography. The production itself is so impressive that it is worth watching at least once in your life.

"Giselle"
Composer: Adolf Adam

“Giselle” is a “fantastic ballet” in two acts by the French composer Adolphe Adam to a libretto by Henri de Saint-Georges, Théophile Gautier and Jean Coralli, based on a legend retold by Heinrich Heine. In his book “On Germany,” Heine writes about the Wilis - girls who died from unhappy love, who, having turned into magical creatures, dance to death the young people they meet at night, taking revenge on them for their ruined lives.

The ballet premiered on June 28, 1841 at the Grand Opera, choreographed by J. Coralli and J. Perrault. The production was a huge success, there were good feedback in press. Writer Jules Janin wrote: “There is so much to be found in this work. And fiction, and poetry, and music, and the composition of new steps, and beautiful dancers, and harmony, full of life, grace, energy. That's what they call ballet."

"Nutcracker"
Composer: Pyotr Tchaikovsky

The history of stage productions of P. I. Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker”, the literary basis of which was the fairy tale “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” by Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann, knows many author’s editions. The ballet premiered at the Mariinsky Theater on December 6, 1892.
The ballet's premiere was a great success. The ballet “The Nutcracker” continues and completes the series of ballets by P. I. Tchaikovsky, which have become classics, in which the theme of the struggle between good and evil, begun in “Swan Lake” and continued in “Sleeping Beauty,” is heard.

The Christmas tale about a noble and handsome enchanted prince, transformed into a Nutcracker doll, about a kind and selfless girl and their opponent, the evil Mouse King, has always been loved by adults and children. Despite the fairy-tale plot, this is a work of real ballet mastery with elements of mysticism and philosophy.

"La Bayadère"
Composer: Ludwig Minkus

“La Bayadère” is a ballet in four acts and seven scenes with an apotheosis by choreographer Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Fedorovich Minkus.
The literary source of the ballet “La Bayadere” is the drama of the Indian classic Kalidasa “Shakuntala” and the ballad of V. Goethe “God and the Bayadère”. The plot is based on a romantic oriental legend about the unhappy love of a bayadère and a brave warrior. “La Bayadère” is an exemplary work of one of the stylistic trends of the 19th century - eclecticism. In “La Bayadère” there is both mysticism and symbolism: the feeling that from the first scene a “sword punishing from heaven” is raised over the heroes.

"Sacred spring"
Composer: Igor Stravinsky

The Rite of Spring is a ballet by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky, which premiered on May 29, 1913 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris.

The concept for The Rite of Spring was based on Stravinsky's dream, in which he saw ancient ritual- a young girl, surrounded by elders, dances until exhaustion to awaken spring, and dies. Stravinsky worked on the music at the same time as Roerich, who wrote sketches for the scenery and costumes.

There is no plot as such in the ballet. The composer sets out the content of “The Rite of Spring” as follows: “The bright Resurrection of nature, which is reborn to a new life, a complete resurrection, a spontaneous resurrection of the conception of the world.”

"Sleeping Beauty"
Composer: Pyotr Tchaikovsky

The ballet “The Sleeping Beauty” by P.I. Tchaikovsky - Marius Petipa is called an “encyclopedia” classical dance" The carefully constructed ballet amazes with the magnificence of its varied choreographic colors. But as always, at the center of every Petipa performance is the ballerina. In the first act, Aurora is a young girl who perceives lightly and naively the world, in the second - she is an alluring ghost, summoned from a long-term sleep by the Lilac fairy, in the finale - a happy princess who has found her betrothed.

The inventive genius of Petipa dazzles the audience with a bizarre pattern of diverse dances, the pinnacle of which is the solemn pas de deux of the lovers, Princess Aurora and Prince Désiré. Thanks to the music of P.I. Tchaikovsky, the children's fairy tale became a poem about the struggle between good (fairy Lilac) and evil (fairy Carabosse). “Sleeping Beauty” is a true musical and choreographic symphony in which music and dance are fused together.

"Don Quixote"
Composer: Ludwig Minkus

“Don Quixote” is one of the most life-affirming, vibrant and festive works of ballet theater. It is interesting that, despite its name, this brilliant ballet is by no means a dramatization of the famous novel by Miguel de Cervantes, but an independent choreographic work by Marius Petipa based on Don Quixote.

In Cervantes's novel, the image of the sad knight Don Quixote, ready for any exploits and noble deeds, is the basis of the plot. In Petipa's ballet to the music of Ludwig Minkus, which premiered in 1869 at the Moscow Bolshoi Theater, Don Quixote is a minor character and the plot focuses on love story Kitri and Basil.

"Cinderella"
Composer: Sergei Prokofiev

"Cinderella" is a ballet in three acts by Sergei Prokofiev based on the story of the fairy tale of the same name by Charles Perrault.
The music for the ballet was written between 1940 and 1944. “Cinderella” to Prokofiev’s music was first staged on November 21, 1945 at the Bolshoi Theater. Its director was Rostislav Zakharov.
This is how Prokofiev wrote about the ballet Cinderella: “I created Cinderella in the best traditions of classical ballet,” which makes the viewer empathize and not remain indifferent to the joys and troubles of the Prince and Cinderella.

Publications in the Theaters section

Famous Russian ballets. Top 5

Classical ballet - amazing view art, born in Italy during the mature Renaissance, “moved” to France, where the credit for its development, including the founding of the Academy of Dance and the codification of many movements, belonged to King Louis XIV. France exported the art of theatrical dance to all European countries, including Russia. In the middle of the 19th century, the capital of European ballet was no longer Paris, which gave the world the masterpieces of romanticism La Sylphide and Giselle, but St. Petersburg. Exactly at Northern capital For almost 60 years, the great choreographer Marius Petipa, the creator of the classical dance system and the author of masterpieces that still do not leave the stage, worked. After the October Revolution, they wanted to “throw the ballet off the ship of modernity,” but they managed to defend it. Soviet time was marked by the creation of a considerable number of masterpieces. We present five Russian top ballets - in chronological order.

"Don Quixote"

Scene from the ballet Don Quixote. One of the first productions by Marius Petipa

Premiere of the ballet by L.F. Minkus "Don Quixote" at the Bolshoi Theater. 1869 From the album of architect Albert Kavos

Scenes from the ballet Don Quixote. Kitri - Lyubov Roslavleva (center). Staged by A.A. Gorsky. Moscow, Bolshoi Theater. 1900

Music by L. Minkus, libretto by M. Petipa. First production: Moscow, Bolshoi Theater, 1869, choreography by M. Petipa. Subsequent productions: St. Petersburg, Mariinsky Theatre, 1871, choreography by M. Petipa; Moscow, Bolshoi Theatre, 1900, St. Petersburg, Mariinskii Opera House, 1902, Moscow, Bolshoi Theater, 1906, all - choreography by A. Gorsky.

The ballet “Don Quixote” is a theatrical performance full of life and joy, eternal holiday a dance that never tires adults and that parents are happy to take their children to. Although it is named after the hero of the famous novel by Cervantes, it is based on one of his episodes, “The Wedding of Quiteria and Basilio,” and tells about the adventures of young heroes, whose love ultimately wins, despite the opposition of the heroine’s stubborn father, who wanted to marry her to rich Gamache.

So Don Quixote has almost nothing to do with it. Throughout the entire performance, a tall, thin artist, accompanied by a short, pot-bellied colleague portraying Sancho Panza, walks around the stage, sometimes making it difficult to watch the beautiful dances composed by Petipa and Gorsky. Ballet, in essence, is a concert in costume, a celebration of classical and character dance, where all the dancers of any ballet company have a job.

The first production of the ballet took place in Moscow, where Petipa visited from time to time in order to raise the level of the local troupe, which could not be compared with the brilliant troupe of the Mariinsky Theater. But in Moscow there was more freedom to breathe, so the choreographer, in essence, staged a ballet-memory of the wonderful years of his youth spent in a sunny country.

The ballet was a success, and two years later Petipa moved it to St. Petersburg, which necessitated alterations. There they were much less interested in characteristic dances than in pure classics. Petipa expanded “Don Quixote” to five acts, composed the “white act”, the so-called “Don Quixote’s Dream”, a real paradise for lovers of ballerinas in tutus and owners of pretty legs. The number of cupids in the “Dream” reached fifty-two...

“Don Quixote” came to us in a reworking by the Moscow choreographer Alexander Gorsky, who was keen on the ideas of Konstantin Stanislavsky and wanted to make the old ballet more logical and dramatically convincing. Gorsky destroyed Petipa's symmetrical compositions, abolished tutus in the "Dream" scene and insisted on the use of dark makeup for dancers portraying Spanish women. Petipa called him a “pig,” but already in the first adaptation of Gorsky the ballet was performed on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater 225 times.

"Swan Lake"

Scenery for the first performance. Big theater. Moscow. 1877

Scene from the ballet “Swan Lake” by P.I. Tchaikovsky (choreographers Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov). 1895

Music by P. Tchaikovsky, libretto by V. Begichev and V. Geltser. First production: Moscow, Bolshoi Theater, 1877, choreography by V. Reisinger. Subsequent production: St. Petersburg, Mariinsky Theater, 1895, choreography by M. Petipa, L. Ivanov.

The beloved ballet, the classic version of which was staged in 1895, was actually born eighteen years earlier at Moscow's Bolshoi Theater. The score by Tchaikovsky, whose world fame was yet to come, was a kind of collection of “songs without words” and seemed too complex for that time. The ballet was performed about 40 times and sank into oblivion.

After Tchaikovsky's death, Swan Lake was staged at the Mariinsky Theater, and all subsequent productions of the ballet were based on this version, which became a classic. The action was given greater clarity and logic: the ballet told about the fate of the beautiful princess Odette, who was turned into a swan by the will of the evil genius Rothbart, about how Rothbart deceived Prince Siegfried, who fell in love with her, by resorting to the charms of his daughter Odile, and about the death of the heroes. Tchaikovsky's score was cut by approximately a third by conductor Riccardo Drigo and re-orchestrated. Petipa created the choreography for the first and third acts, Lev Ivanov - for the second and fourth. This division ideally answered the calling of both brilliant choreographers, the second of whom had to live and die in the shadow of the first. Petipa is the father of classical ballet, the creator of impeccably harmonious compositions and the singer of the fairy woman, the toy woman. Ivanov is an innovative choreographer with an unusually sensitive feel for music. The role of Odette-Odile was performed by Pierina Legnani, “the queen of Milanese ballerinas”, she is also the first Raymonda and the inventor of the 32nd fouette, the most difficult type of spin on pointe shoes.

You may not know anything about ballet, but everyone knows Swan Lake. IN last years existence Soviet Union, when the elderly leaders quite often replaced one another, the soulful melody of the “white” duet of the main characters of the ballet and the splashes of winged hands from the TV screen announced a sad event. The Japanese love “Swan Lake” so much that they are ready to watch it morning and evening, performed by any troupe. Not a single touring troupe, of which there are many in Russia and especially in Moscow, can do without “Swan”.

"Nutcracker"

Scene from the ballet "The Nutcracker". First production. Marianna - Lydia Rubtsova, Klara - Stanislava Belinskaya, Fritz - Vasily Stukolkin. Mariinskii Opera House. 1892

Scene from the ballet "The Nutcracker". First production. Mariinskii Opera House. 1892

Music by P. Tchaikovsky, libretto by M. Petipa. First production: St. Petersburg, Mariinsky Theater, 1892, choreography by L. Ivanov.

There is still erroneous information floating around in books and websites that “The Nutcracker” was staged by the father of classical ballet, Marius Petipa. In fact, Petipa only wrote the script, and the first production of the ballet was carried out by his subordinate, Lev Ivanov. Ivanov was faced with an impossible task: the script, created in the style of the then fashionable extravaganza ballet with the indispensable participation of an Italian guest performer, was in obvious contradiction with Tchaikovsky’s music, which, although it was written in strict accordance with Petipa’s instructions, was distinguished by great feeling and dramatic richness and complex symphonic development. In addition, the heroine of the ballet was a teenage girl, and the star ballerina was destined for only the final pas de deux (a duet with a partner, consisting of an adagio - a slow part, variations - solo dances and a coda (virtuoso finale)). The first production of The Nutcracker, where the first act was predominantly a pantomime act, differed sharply from the second act, a divertissement act, was not a great success; critics noted only the Waltz of the Snowflakes (64 dancers took part in it) and the Pas de deux of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Prince of Whooping Cough , the source of inspiration for which was Ivanov's Adagio with a Rose from The Sleeping Beauty, where Aurora dances with four gentlemen.

But in the twentieth century, which was able to penetrate the depths of Tchaikovsky’s music, “The Nutcracker” was destined for a truly fantastic future. There are countless ballet productions in the Soviet Union, European countries and the USA. In Russia, productions by Vasily Vainonen at the Leningrad State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater (now the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg) and Yuri Grigorovich at the Moscow Bolshoi Theater are especially popular.

"Romeo and Juliet"

Ballet "Romeo and Juliet". Juliet - Galina Ulanova, Romeo - Konstantin Sergeev. 1939

Mrs Patrick Campbell as Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. 1895

Finale of the ballet "Romeo and Juliet". 1940

Music by S. Prokofiev, libretto by S. Radlov, A. Piotrovsky, L. Lavrovsky. First production: Brno, Opera and Ballet Theatre, 1938, choreography by V. Psota. Subsequent production: Leningrad, State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after. S. Kirov, 1940, choreography by L. Lavrovsky.

If a Shakespearean phrase in a famous Russian translation reads “There is no sadder story in the world than the story of Romeo and Juliet”, then they said about the ballet written by the great Sergei Prokofiev on this plot: “There is no sadder story in the world than Prokofiev’s music in ballet”. Truly amazing in its beauty, richness of colors and expressiveness, the score of “Romeo and Juliet” at the time of its appearance seemed too complex and unsuitable for ballet. Ballet dancers simply refused to dance to it.

Prokofiev wrote the score in 1934, and it was originally intended not for the theater, but for the famous Leningrad Academic Choreographic School to celebrate its 200th anniversary. The project was not implemented due to the murder of Sergei Kirov in Leningrad in 1934, changes occurred in the leading musical theater of the second capital. The plan to stage “Romeo and Juliet” at the Moscow Bolshoi did not come true either. In 1938, the premiere was shown by the theater in Brno, and only two years later Prokofiev’s ballet was finally staged in the author’s homeland, at the then Kirov Theater.

Choreographer Leonid Lavrovsky, within the framework of the genre of “drama ballet” (a form of choreographic drama characteristic of ballet of the 1930s-50s), which was highly welcomed by the Soviet authorities, created an impressive, exciting spectacle with carefully sculpted crowd scenes and finely outlined psychological characteristics characters. At his disposal was Galina Ulanova, the most sophisticated ballerina-actress, who remained unsurpassed in the role of Juliet.

Prokofiev's score was quickly appreciated by Western choreographers. The first versions of the ballet appeared already in the 40s of the 20th century. Their creators were Birgit Kullberg (Stockholm, 1944) and Margarita Froman (Zagreb, 1949). Famous productions of “Romeo and Juliet” belong to Frederick Ashton (Copenhagen, 1955), John Cranko (Milan, 1958), Kenneth MacMillan (London, 1965), John Neumeier (Frankfurt, 1971, Hamburg, 1973).I. Moiseeva, 1958, choreography by Yu. Grigorovich, 1968.

Without Spartak, the concept of “Soviet ballet” is unthinkable. This is a real hit, a symbol of the era. Soviet period developed other themes and images, deeply different from the traditional classical ballet inherited from Marius Petipa and the Imperial Theaters of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Fairy tales with a happy ending were archived and were replaced by heroic stories.

Already in 1941, one of the leading Soviet composers, Aram Khachaturian, spoke of his intention to write music for a monumental, heroic performance, which was to be staged on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater. The theme for it was an episode from ancient Roman history, a slave uprising led by Spartacus. Khachaturian created a colorful score, using Armenian, Georgian, Russian motifs and full of beautiful melodies and fiery rhythms. The production was to be carried out by Igor Moiseev.

It took many years for his work to reach the audience, and it appeared not at the Bolshoi Theater, but at the Theatre. Kirov. Choreographer Leonid Yakobson created a stunning innovative performance, abandoning the traditional attributes of classical ballet, including dancing on pointe shoes, using free plasticity and the ballerinas wearing sandals.

But the ballet “Spartacus” became a hit and a symbol of the era in the hands of choreographer Yuri Grigorovich in 1968. Grigorovich amazed the viewer with his perfectly constructed dramaturgy, subtle portrayal of the characters of the main characters, skillful staging of crowd scenes, and the purity and beauty of the lyrical adagios. He called his work “a performance for four soloists with a corps de ballet” (corps de ballet are artists involved in mass dance episodes). The role of Spartacus was played by Vladimir Vasiliev, Crassus - Maris Liepa, Phrygia - Ekaterina Maksimova and Aegina - Nina Timofeeva. The ballet was predominantly male, which makes the ballet “Spartacus” one of a kind.

In addition to the famous readings of Spartacus by Jacobson and Grigorovich, there are about 20 more productions of the ballet. Among them are the version by Jiří Blazek for the Prague Ballet, László Szeregi for the Budapest Ballet (1968), Jüri Vamos for the Arena di Verona (1999), Renato Zanella for the Vienna State Opera Ballet (2002), Natalia Kasatkina and Vladimir Vasiliev for the State Academic Theater directed by them classical ballet in Moscow (2002).

From the very beginning human civilization the theater served as the main source of entertainment. Nowadays, theater and opera performances have not lost any of their popularity and significance, and thousands of people around the world visit theaters every day and enjoy this wonderful art form.

The building of any theater is unique world with its own history, traditions and secrets. Let's talk about those that are known throughout the world.

Teatro La Scala is rightfully the most famous theater in the world. And most of all it is associated with opera, although dramatic performances and ballet also occupy a significant place in the repertoire.

La Scala, photo Rudiger Wolk

It was built in 1778. The horseshoe-shaped hall has five tiers of boxes. Works by famous composers Bellini, Rossini, Donizetti, and Verdi were performed on the stage of La Scala. The theater is famous for its impeccable acoustics.

Many people associate Australia with the building of the Opera House in Sydney. It is easily recognizable and is one of the main attractions of the country. This is perhaps one of the most iconic theaters of our time.

Sydney Opera House, photo Shannon Hobbs

The opening took place in 1973. During construction, the main emphasis was on acoustics and visibility. That is why every theater viewer feels as if he has purchased a ticket to the best place in the hall.

The theater building became home to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Theater Company, Australian Ballet and Australian Opera. More than 1,500 performances take place here annually.

3. Bolshoi Theater

The Bolshoi Theater in Moscow is one of the leading theaters in Russia and around the world. Together with the best symphony orchestra, he survived fire, war and revolution.

Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, photo jimmyweee

At the entrance, visitors are greeted by a statue of Apollo in a chariot, anticipating the grandiose performances taking place in the theater. The theater's ballet troupe is very famous. Yuri Grigorovich staged the legendary “Swan Lake” and “The Golden Age” here. The Bolshoi was opened after a large-scale reconstruction in 2011.

4. Vienna State Opera

Built in 1869, the theater for a long time had a reputation as a center musical life Vienna and all of Austria.

Vienna State Opera, photo JP

During World War II, the building was bombed and almost destroyed. The staircase and some other parts were miraculously preserved. It was restored only in 1955. Today it continues to be one of the world's main opera venues. Traditional balls are held annually under the vaults of the Vienna Opera.

The Palace of Catalan Music is located in. The building was officially opened in 1908 and almost immediately became a symbol of the city. The magnificent glass ceiling, rich paintings, stained glass windows and sculptures turned it into a real work of art. This is one of the few theaters included in the list cultural heritage UNESCO.

Palau de la Musica Catalana, photo Jiuguang Wang

The palace is one of the main theater and music venues in Barcelona, ​​where many world celebrities perform. Important international meetings and conferences are also held here, and excursions are organized for tourists.

Theater Les Celestins is the main art center of the city of Lyon in France. This is an opera house that is suitable for grand performances and can accommodate over 1000 people. The horseshoe-shaped hall is divided into several levels, so even spectators sitting far from the stage can see and hear everything well. The interior is designed in a royal style using red and gold tones. The outside of the building is more austere and decorated with statues.

Les Celestins in Lyon, photo Mirej

For more than two centuries, Les Celestins has staged the best plays, operas, dramatic performances and concerts.

The Covent Garden Theater is well known throughout the world. Its stage hosts productions of the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet. Stars of world classical music have performed in this majestic building since 1858.

Royal Opera House Convent Garden, photo

Previously, it was possible to enter the theater only before the start of the performance if you had a ticket. Today you can explore it by taking a short excursion.

Another famous world stage is Musical Theatre Metropolitan Opera on Broadway in New York. This is the best theater. Celebrities such as Enrico Caruso and Placido Domingo played leading roles here.

The Metropolitan Opera House, photo Blehgoaway

The Met puts on more than two hundred performances each year. From time to time they are broadcast on television and radio.

9. Odeon of Herodes Atticus

If you want to visit a theater that is as old as art itself, head to the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in . This is a classic ancient amphitheater built in 161 AD. e. There was originally a roof over it, but it was destroyed.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, photo Yucatan

The theater seats 5,000 people and still hosts plays, ballets and other events on its stage. Even Elton John gave his concert at the Odeon.

10. Chicago Theater

The Chicago Theater was built in 1921 during what is known as the "Golden Age of Entertainment" and was the first luxury theater of its kind to house movies, musicals and shows. Gradually he became business card Chicago. Today, Chicago theater is a mixture of different genres and styles, from plays and comedies to dance shows and pop concerts.

The Chicago Theatre, photo by Leandro Neumann Ciuffo

There are still a huge number of theaters in the world, each of which is worthy of attention. During your travels around cities and countries, be sure to visit theaters, and it doesn’t matter whether they are famous throughout the world or known only in small town. In any case you will receive unique opportunity touch the wonderful world of theatrical art.