Ludwig Minkus<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballet<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Libretto by Marius Petipa and Sergei Khudekov. Choreography by Marius Petipa. Revised by Vladimir Ponomaryov and Vakhtang Chabukiani, with dances by Konstantin Sergeyev and Nikolai Zubkovsky<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballet in 3 acts and 5 scenes <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The premiere took place at the Bolshoi Theatre on 23 January 1877 (Saint Petersburg) <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the Astana Opera House, the premiere took place on 25 December 2015 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Act I<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene one <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A group of noble young warriors comes back from hunting a tiger. The famous warrior Solor persuades the fakir Magedaveya to tell the bayad\u00e8re Nikiya that he wishes to meet with her that night near the temple walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The solemn procession of priests and bayad\u00e8res, headed by the Great Brahmin, opens the feast of the fire worship. The culmination of this celebration is adorned by the dance of the beautiful Nikiya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having forgotten about his ordination and vows of celibacy, the High Brahmin confesses to Nikiya that he loves her. He promises her all the riches of India \u2013 whatever she wishes. Terrified Nikiya rejects him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Night falls and Nikiya comes secretly to meet Solor. Solor asks the bayad\u00e8re to flee with him somewhere, where no one knows them and where they will find happiness. However, the High Brahmin manages to overhear their passionate conversation and swears revenge on the lovers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene two <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Rajah Dugmanta tells his daughter Gamzatti that she will marry the brave warrior Solor. Gamzatti is happy, while Solor, on the other hand, is thrown into confusion: he cannot reject such an honour, but he loves Nikiya and has sworn eternal fidelity to her!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nikiya is invited to the palace for the ceremony of consecrating Gamzatti\u2019s betrothal. The High Brahmin arrives. Hoping to do away with Solor, he tells the Rajah about Nikiya and Solor\u2019s secret love. The Rajah is infuriated but doesn\u2019t change his decision: Solor will marry his daughter and the bayad\u00e8re must die. The High Brahmin didn\u2019t expect such a turn of events. He threatens the Rajah with punishment of the Gods for the bayad\u00e8re\u2019s death. But the Rajah is unrelenting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gamzatti overhears this conversation. She orders her slave to bring Nikiya. She deliberately shows her the portrait of her fiance. Nikiya is in despair, she protests: Solor loves only her and will belong to her alone. Gamzatti demands and even begs Nikiya to give up Solor, but the bayad\u00e8re would rather die than part with her beloved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In a rage, Nikiya raises her dagger to strike her rival, but a slave girl saves Gamzatti from imminent death. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Act II<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene three <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The square in front of the Rajah\u2019s palace. The wedding of Solor and Gamzatti is underway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The dancing Nikiya is presented a basket of roses, out of which a snake slithers and bites the bayad\u00e8re fatally. This is the revenge of Gamzatti. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The High Brahmin promises her an antidote if she forgets Solor. But the bayad\u00e8re is faithful to her love. Dying, she reminds her beloved of his vow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Act III<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene four <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Solor is inconsolable. He is gnawed by remorse. Magedaveya attempts to divert him from his grief, and so he calls for a snake charmer. Solor falls asleep to the sound of the flute. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scene five <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Solor sees shadows, which appear out of the darkness. They are descending from mountains in a long line. Solor sees Nikiya among them… She beckons him to follow her\u2026 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Libretto by Marius Petipa and Sergei Khudekov. Choreography by Marius Petipa. Revised by Vladimir Ponomaryov and Vakhtang Chabukiani, with dances by Konstantin Sergeyev and Nikolai Zubkovsky<\/p>\n