the Fifth far Eastern international music festival “Mariinsky” will open in Vladivostok today the premiere of the ballet “the Thousand and one nights.” Artistic Director of the Mariinsky theatre Valery Gergiev decided not to break the tradition of annual festivals and hold it, observing all the requirements of the regime of restrictions. Before the premiere, the team Director told at a press conference as he was working on a new production.
– Probably the world’s first premiere as ambitious ballet after the pandemic. We were very worried how the public would react to the opening of the theatre, but tickets for three premiere performances sold out long before, – said the choreographer and chief ballet master of the Seaside scenes of the Mariinsky theatre Eldar Aliyev. – Preparation of the ballet, which was planned to be released on may 22, began in late February, but had to stop because of the pandemic. Fortunately, managed to obtain permission from the provincial authorities in rehearsal with observance of all sanitary norms that actors have not lost physical form. The recess was about two weeks. We started to rehearse with a soloist, then with small groups, and, when partially lifted the restrictions began work with the corps de ballet, and the Assembly performance of the prepared fragments.
the famous Azerbaijani composer Fikrat Amirov wrote in 1979 for the ballet based on the famous Arabian tales a stunningly beautiful, colorful and very dance music. It was first staged in Baku on the stage of the Azerbaijan Opera and ballet. An aspiring choreographer Eldar Aliev put the “Thousand and one night” in 1994 in the USA, the American ballet company has traveled the world. According to him, “it was a very different, more large-scale performance, as the company was very small and involved about 90 artists.”
– the Choreography of the ballet is solved in the neoclassical style, with the plastic reflecting the colourful palette of Oriental dance. With the performers was a specialist in Oriental dance. In the play 13 soloists, a very difficult duets with elements of supports, which I would estimate at ten points on a scale, – said Eldar Aliev.
he Gave full play to his creative imagination and main artist of coastal scenes Peter Okunev.
– In this ballet we wanted to show the fantastic, fabulous East, complementing the picturesque scenery of the projections. The main part of the decorations made in the workshops of Mariinsky theatre, and for the first time we used workshops in Vladivostok. Came Petersburg artists and taught our young professionals – told the details of the preparation of the premiere of Peter Okunev.
For the “Thousand and one nights” made more than 300 sophisticated ornate costumes with intricate hand embroidery and AP��lekeciai. Partly they were made in the workshop of the Seaside scene in the Mariinsky branch in Vladikavkaz, but for the most part by experienced craftsmen in St. Petersburg.
to Conduct the orchestra at the premiere will be chief conductor of the State Opera and ballet theatre of Azerbaijan Eyyub Guliyev.
I feel great joy from working on this ballet. With him I began my career at the Azerbaijan Opera and ballet theater, when he returned after his studies in St. Petersburg, put it several times in different countries, my father was well acquainted with the composer, told Eyyub Guliyev. – To recreate the flavor of the Middle East he used the whole Arsenal of percussion instruments and traditional Azerbaijani instrument the tar. So I specially for this production brought him in. I came with Ramin Azimov, the tar of our theatre, he will perform at the premiere performances, and then we will leave the tool in the gift of your Symphony orchestra.
the festival, which runs until 6 September, the Opera “don Carlo”, “Cavalleria Rusticana”, “the Fiery angel”, “Aida”, “the Tsar’s bride”, “War and peace”, the night of modern choreography, the ballets “Le Corsaire”, “don Quixote” and “Sleeping beauty”.
