The Art of Svetlana Zakharova at the Bolshoi

The Art of Svetlana Zakharova at the Bolshoi

A tribute to the art and the elegance of Svetlana Zakharova, « prima ballerina assoluta » and queen of the Bolshoi Ballet, featuring Swan Lake (where she performs alongside Denis Rodkin & Artemy Belyakov), The Sleeping Beauty (with David Hallberg Maria & Allash), La Bayadère (with Vladislav Lantratov & Maria Alexandrova) and The Pharaoh’s Daughter (with Sergey Filin).

All performances were recorded at the State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Moscow.

SWAN LAKE 

White swan by day, human by night, the beautiful Odette awaits an oath of true love to break the curse. The great legend of the enigmatic swan/woman is one of the most romantic classical ballets, appropriately set in the era of courtly romance and characterised by elegance, style and harmony. With Tchaikovsky’s famous, lyrical score, ‘’Swan Lake’’ depicts the tragic love between Princess Odette and Prince Siegfried, and will no doubt be performed to perfection by the unparalleled virtuosity of Russia’s great Bolshoi Ballet. This universal and enchanting masterpiece of love, deception and drama is a must.

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

The choreographer, Yuri Grigorovich presents a new version of one of his most famous choreography for a breath taking experience in splendid sets designed by Ezio Frigerio and more than 400 new costumes designed by Franca Squarciapino. The American superstar dancer David Hallberg is Prince Désiré. Hallberg is the first main american soloist ever to be hired by the Bolshoi Ballet. Princess Aurora is danced by the principal Svetlana Zakharova. They are joined by a great cast : Maria Allash (Lilac Fairy), Artem Ovcharenko (Bluebird) and Nina Kaptsova (Princess Florine).

LA BAYADÈRE

Marius Petipa’s exotic ballet, set in legendary and mysterious India, is a story of love, death and vengeful judgement. Yuri Grigorovich’s sumptuous recreation of Petipa’s choreography, with breathtaking sets and costumes designed by Nikolay Sharonov, stars Svetlana Zakharova as the Bayadère Nikiya, Vladislav Lantratov as Solor and Maria Alexandrova as Gamzatti whose alluring presence challenges Solor’s love for Nikiya. The Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra is conducted by Pavel Sorokin.

THE PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER

Recreating the spectacular sumptuousness of the original, the ballet tells the tale of a young Englishman who dreams he elopes with a Pharaoh’s daughter. Despite a desert storm, a lion hunt and an attempted suicide, the couple finally wins the Pharaoh’s blessing to their marriage. From its creation in 1862, Petipa’s grandiose ballet was a sensational success; its stupendous costumes and striking scenery, its exotica, romanticism and drama appealing to audiences as much as the virtuoso choreography. The Bolshoi Ballet and the two soloists Svetlana Zakharova and Sergueï Filin are at their best in spite of the difficulty of Pierre Lacotte’s choreography.

The Art of Svetlana Zakharova at the Bolshoi [DVD & Blu-ray]

SWAN LAKE
Music : Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Libretto : Yuri Grigorovich after Vladimir Begishev & Vasily Geltser

Odette / Odile : Svetlana Zakharova
Prince Siegfried : Denis Rodkin

Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theater of Moscow
Conductor : Pavel Sorokin

Corps de Ballet of the Bolshoi Theater of Moscow
Choreograhy : Yuri Grigorovich
Scenes choreographed by Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov, Alexander Gorsky

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
Music : Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Princess Aurora Svetlana Zakharova
Prince Désiré David Hallberg
Lilac Fairy Maria Allash
Carabosse Alexey Loparevich

Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theater of Moscow
Conductor : Vassily Sinaisky

Corps de Ballet of the Bolshoi Theater of Moscow
Choreography : Yuri Grigorovich after Marius Petipa

LA BAYADÈRE
Music : Ludwig Minkus (1826-1917)
Livret : Marius Petipa et Sergei Khudekov

Nikiya Svetlana Zakharova
Solor Vladislav Lantratov
Gamzatti Maria Alexandrova
Dugmanta, Rajah Alexey Loparevich

Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theater of Moscow
Conductor : Pavel Sorokin

Corps de Ballet of the Bolshoi Theater of Moscow
Choreography : Marius Petipa
New choreographic version : Yuri Grigorovich

THE PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER
Music : Cesare Pugni

Aspicia, Pharaoh’s Daughter : Svetlana Zakharova
Lord Wilson, an Englishmen : Sergueï Filin
John Bull, his manservant : Gennady Yanin
Ramze, Aspicia’s slave : Maria Aleksandrova

Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theater of Moscow
Conductor : Alexander Sotnikov

Corps de Ballet of the Bolshoi Theater of Moscow
Choreography : Pierre Lacotte after Marius Petipa