La Bayadere, IDOB, 16.10.2024, AKM (Istanbul)
Basic Info:
Original Title: _La Bayadère_
Premiere: 1877, Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre, St. Petersburg
Composer: Ludwig Minkus
Librettist: Marius Petipa and Sergei Khudekov
Company: IDOB (Istanbul State Opera Ballet)
Stage Director: Ayşem Sunal Savaşkurt
Conductor: Zdravko Lazarov
Set Design: Efter Tunç
Costume Design: Gülden Sayıl
Lighting Design: Önder Arık
Choreography: Marius Petipa (original)
Resources:
Original DOB link:
https://www.operabale.gov.tr/tr-tr/Sayfalar/workdetail.aspx?EserKodu=323A video from Bolshoi Ballet of Kingdom of Shadows scene (find it embedded below)
I understand that La Bayadere belongs to the classic ballet repertoire and has its merits in the evolution of the art. The strangeness though is inescapable (especially for ballet-ignorant people like me) : 2024, in Istanbul, A 19th century Russian / Austrian / French ballet taking place in ancient India where temple dancers waltz to beautiful triple time tunes. It can prove difficult to slip into the fairy tale of the exotic land that is India (?) that probably never existed but it is a good look into the aesthetic workings of a orientalist lens.
The supernatural scene, the kingdom of shades, made me think of Giselle, and the land of the Wilis. I mean both ballets seem to have a movement from natural to supernatural as the story evolves.
The music is very enjoyable with some memorable tunes - again, most I remember were in 3/4. When I looked into it I found out that the composer Ludwig Minkus is from Vienna.
-
Here is a video of the Kingdom of Shades section from Bolshoi Ballet:
