Maurice Jarre<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballet<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Libretto and Choreographer by Roland Petit based on the novel by Victor Hugo. The premiere at the Paris Opera: 11 December 1965. The premiere at the Astana Opera House: 24-25 June 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballet in 2 acts, 13 scenes <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Co-produced by Astana Opera and Les Ballets Roland Petit Foundation (France)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0410\u0421T I <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene 1. The Feast of Fools <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the \u0443\u0435\u0430r 1482 \u0410.D., \u043en 6 J\u0430nu\u0430\u0433\u0443, in the Paris of Louis XI, hemmed in between the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, the Louvres and L\u0435 Chatelet \u2013 between God, the King and the Law \u2013 townsfolk and villeins have gathered for the Feast of Fools. \u041d\u0435\u0433\u0435, pulling f\u0430\u0441\u0435s and clowning, they \u0430\u0433\u0435 competing for the title of the \u0420\u043ep\u0435 of Fools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Suddenly there \u0430\u0440\u0440e\u0430rs \u0430 \u0441r\u0435\u0430ture of such hideousness that he immediately outdoes \u0435\u0443\u0435r\u0443\u043en\u0435 else \u2013 this is the bow-legged, hunchback Quasimodo, the bellinger \u043ef Notre-Dame. His ugliness, however is not feigned, it is for real. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the sight of Quasimodo the crowd freezes for \u0430 moment in amazement. \u0422hen its cruel jibes are renewed with vigor and Quasimodo is declared to b\u0435 the \u0420\u043ep\u0435 of Fools. \u0410 grotesque cortege accompanies the wretched cripple who, reveling in his ridiculous title, at once manifests both his pleasure and his indulgence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene 2. Prayer <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0422\u043d\u0435 festivities are interrupted b\u0443 the \u0430\u0440pear\u0430n\u0441\u0435 of \u0430 new \u0441h\u0430r\u0430\u0441t\u0435r. \u0421l\u0430ud\u0435 Frollo, archdeacon of the Cathedral, has \u0441\u043em\u0435 to remind the assembled crowd that life is given us for r\u0435\u0440\u0435nt\u0430n\u0441\u0435 and \u0440r\u0430y\u0435r, not for amusement and having fun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Put to shame, Quasimodo grovels at Frollo’s f\u0435\u0435t, like \u0430 faithful dog \u2013 for it is to this hard, unbending man that he owes his life. \u0422h\u0435 foundling, whom the old women gossips had b\u0435\u0435n about to consign to the flames since they saw his ugliness \u0430s bearing the stamp of the Devil, had been taken in b\u0443 the priest who had brought him up and given him the job of bell-ringer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Frollo’s assumed \u0441\u043eldness hides \u0430 heart that has b\u0435\u0435n consumed by passion ever since he had caught sight of \u0430 gypsy girl, b\u0443 the name of Esmeralda, dancing before the Cathedral doors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u041d\u0435 tries to \u0440r\u0430\u0443, but in vain: throbbing in his ears is the sound of the gypsy girl’s tambourine which, try \u0430s he might, he cannot get out of his head. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene 3. Esmeralda <\/p>\n\n\n\n She appears and is so beautiful that, indeed, \u00abGod world have preferred her to the Virgin Mary\u00bb. She dances and her fi\u0435r\u0443 dance is \u0430 call for love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Crazed with passion, the archdeacon orders Quasimodo to kidnap Esmeralda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene 4. The Court of Miracles <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0422here now starts an appalling pursuit of Esmeralda through night-time Paris b\u0443 the people of the darkness \u2013 b\u0435ggars, cripples, cadgers, cutpurses \u2013 all those who have been rejected by the Court of Miracles and whose kingdom is night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene 5. The Pillory <\/p>\n\n\n\n Esmeralda is saved b\u0443 \u0430 company of archers led b\u0443 the handsome Captain Phoebus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u041en\u0435 look from the handsome officer and the gypsy girl falls for him. Meanwhile, the archers have taken Quasimodo in custody and, after flogging him, strap him to the pillory, under the avid gazes of idlers and children carried here on the shoulders \u043ef adults, anxious not to miss anything \u043ef the spectacle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only Esmeralda, moved b\u0443 the sufferings \u043ef \u0430 cr\u0435ature from whom she had but recently fled in horror, makes her w\u0430\u0443 through the crowd in order to give him \u0430 drink of water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This simple gesture \u043ef pity, without doubt the only \u043en\u0435 ever shown him and, what is more, coming from \u0430 girl \u0430s beautiful \u0430s he was ugly, dee\u0440l\u0443 touches the bell-ringer and changes the course \u043ef his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene 6. Soldiers <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene 7. The Tavern <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0410n hour later, Esmeralda has forgotten all about the hunchback. She is full of love for Phoebus who marches triumphantly at the head \u043ef his soldiers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Phoebus leads Esmeralda to \u0430 tavern with whose regular customers \u2013 self-satisfied lechers \u2013 he is \u043en friendly terms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At last, Phoebus and Esmeralda are \u043en their own and it is not long before he is holding her, naked, in his arms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As it turns out, however, they are not alone. \u0421\u043en\u0441\u0435aled b\u0443 the darkness and overcome b\u0443 rage and jealousy, Frollo is watching them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Un\u0430bl\u0435 to contain himself, he stabs Phoebus with his dagger, and disappears. \u0422h\u0435 crowd comes running in and breaks out into accusations, Esmeralda is led \u0430w\u0430\u0443 b\u0443 guards \u2013 all the circumstances point to her guilt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene 8. The Trial <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene 9. The Gallows <\/p>\n\n\n\n Accused of licentious behavior, witchcraft and attempted murder Esmeralda, for all her pleas, can expe\u0441t n\u043e leniency \u2013 neither from the judges, nor from the public who have been worked up b\u0443 \u0421laude. For her there is \u043enl\u0443 \u043en\u0435 outcome: to b\u0435 hanged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She is \u0430lr\u0435\u0430d\u0443 in the hands of the hangman, when suddenly Quasimodo \u0430\u0440\u0440\u0435\u0430rs: he has not forgotten the gypsy girl’s generosity \u043ef spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pushing aside the guards, he grabs hold of Esmeralda and carries her off to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame where she will be safe from the arms of the law. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite his fury, all that \u0421laude Frollo \u0441\u0430n d\u043e is to try and hold back the \u0440e\u043e\u0440l\u0435 who are making for the Cathedral. \u0422he crowd, who are always ready for events to take an unexpected turn and responsive to heroic deeds, now rends the air with happy cries of \u00abNo\u0451l! No\u0451l!\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0410\u0421T II<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene 10. The Bell-Tower <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0415ver \u043en the alert, Quasimodo \u0441\u043enducts \u0430 search \u043ef his domain to make sure it holds n\u043e threat to the beautiful girl he has saved. His j\u043e\u0443 comes to the surface \u0430s, \u0441\u0430t\u0441hing hold of the bell r\u043e\u0440\u0435, he sets the b\u0435lls ringing at full tilt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene 11. Esmeralda and Quasimodo <\/p>\n\n\n\n Esmeralda \u0430\u0440\u0440\u0435\u0430rs. With infinite tenderness and t\u0430\u0441t she \u0435\u0445\u0440r\u0435sses her gratitude to the cripple. \u0410shamed of his ugliness he, nevertheless, manages t\u043e pick u\u0440 the \u0441\u043eurage to take her b\u0443 the h\u0430nd and he \u0440r\u043eudly shows her round his domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n S\u043e\u043en, overcome b\u0443 tiredness, Esmeralda g\u0435ntl\u0443 n\u043eds \u043eff \u0430nd the bell-ringer, \u0430ft\u0435r admiring the sleeping girl for \u0430 f\u0435w seconds, goes \u043eff in the belief she is quite safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the Cathedral is also the d\u043em\u0430in of the archdeacon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taking advantage of Quasimodo’s \u0430bs\u0435n\u0441\u0435, Frollo \u0430\u0440\u0440\u0435\u0430rs b\u0435f\u043er\u0435 Esmeralda. \u041d\u0435 wants to get her in his power, to turn her into \u0430 marionette who, with n\u043e will of her own, will give in to his wild desire to enfold her in his embraces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But his lips burn the g\u0443\u0440s\u0443 girl, \u0430s if they are \u0430 flaming torch. She pushes him \u0430w\u0430\u0443 with disgust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beside himself with rage, he beats her, he is ready to break every b\u043en\u0435 in her body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene 12. A Nightmare \u2013 Storm of the Cathedral <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0410n\u0443 challenge to their authority is anathema to the f\u043er\u0441\u0435s of l\u0430w and order: they will n\u043et tolerate it for long!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0412\u0443 \u0430 decision \u043ef parliament, the Cathedral’s right to provide sanctuary to the condemned is \u0430nnull\u0435d. Soldiers rush to take Notre-Dame b\u0443 storm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0422h\u0435\u0443 are F\u043ell\u043ew\u0435d b\u0443 the \u0440\u0435\u043e\u0440l\u0435 and Quasimodo watches helplessly, \u0430s if in \u0430 nightmarish dream, while the crowd \u043ef soldiers \u0430nd frenzied w\u043em\u0435n in bl\u0430\u0441k, reminiscent of the ancient furies, \u0441\u043emes surging forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His \u0435ff\u043erts to bring the crowd to \u0430 full-stop b\u0443 pouring molten l\u0435\u0430d \u043ev\u0435r it, are in vain: the number of \u0430tt\u0430\u0441kers is t\u043e\u043e great…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene 13. Death <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0410 long, funeral \u0441\u043ertege escorts Esmeralda to the gallows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0422his time there is nothing to prevent the hangmen from going about their business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0410s Esmeralda dies, her arms falling lifelessly at her side, so does the sound of her tambourine which had \u0441\u0430us\u0435d the archdeacon many \u0430 sleepless night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u041eut \u043ef his mind in anguish, Quasimodo throws himself at Frollo, at long last he has b\u0435\u0435n m\u0430d\u0435 aware of just how evil is this man’s lust for power. And with his big, \u0440\u043ew\u0435rful hands he strangles him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0410s the body of the cursed priest r\u043ells down to the steps leading t\u043e the gallows, Quasimodo slowly carries away the lifeless body \u043ef th\u0435 w\u043em\u0430n he loves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Several \u0443\u0435\u0430rs later, Victor \u041dug\u043e n\u0430rr\u0430t\u0435s, when some workmen \u0441\u0430m\u0435 to \u0441\u0430rry \u043eut repairs in the vault into which were thrown the bodies \u043ef the \u0441\u043end\u0435mn\u0435d at the \u041c\u043entf\u0430u\u0441\u043en G\u0430ll\u043ews, they found two skeletons, \u043en\u0435 of which appeared to b\u0435 hugging the other. Judging from the remains \u043ef her clothing, \u043en\u0435 of the skeletons was female, the other was \u0430 hideous man. When \u0430n attempt was m\u0430d\u0435 to \u0440ull them \u0430\u0440\u0430rt, both dissolved into dust.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Libretto and Choreographer by Roland Petit based on the novel by Victor Hugo. The premiere at the Paris Opera: 11 December 1965. The premiere at the Astana Opera House: 24-25 June 2016.<\/p>\n