The students of the Ukrainian Ballet Academy perform The Sleeping Beauty, a masterpiece by the Russian composer
On 13 May 1888, the then prince and superintendent of the Imperial Theaters of St. Petersburg Ivan Vsevoložskij wrote to Pyotr Il’ič Tchaikovsky, revealing that he wanted to stage a ballet based on the fairy tale by Charles Perrault: “Sleeping Beauty”, proposing to the composer to write the music.
Tchaikovsky accepted and wrote all the music in just forty days.
On January 15, 1890, the premiere of what many define as “The ballet of ballets”, Sleeping Beauty, took place in St. Petersburg.where in the role of the protagonist Aurora, there was an Italian dancer: Carlotta Brianza.
In Italy the ballet was staged six years later and, since then, it has not stopped being performed.
On Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th April, it will be staged at the Arcimboldi Theater in Milan, with the students of the Ukrainian Ballet Academy of Milan and with guest stars Michal Krčmář and Yuka Masumoto, principal dancers of the Helsinki Opera House, who will dance in the roles of the protagonists. All accompanied by live music fromItalian Philharmonic Orchestradirected by the maestro Marco Dallara.
Caterina Calvino Prina, director of the Ukrainian Ballet Academytells us that the show will be strictly proposed in its most famous version respecting the tradition of the classical repertoire.
Sleeping Beauty, brought to the stage by your students
“To all intents and purposes it is the story of the fairy tale of the same name, with a prologue and three acts, therefore a long show – it is Tchaikovsky’s longest ballet. The choreography is that of Marius Petipa, taken up here by the teachers of the Academy.
We respect the original versions, in my opinion it is right that the ballets are handed down over time in their traditional versions. They are wonderful works, and as in all our shows, the roles of the protagonists are played by dancers who we invite from the big European theaters, rather than Americans.
In this show the two protagonists are the two principal dancers of the Helsinki Opera House: Michal Krčmář and Yuka Masumoto.”
Even on an educational level it is extremely important to dance alongside great professionals.
I must say that in all these years we have always found people with a big heart and really helpful, in addition obviously to a high caliber. They set a beautiful example.”
“Another thing that I really want to underline is that our shows are accompanied by live music and orchestra. There will be forty-seven elements, directed by our orchestra master Marco Dallara.”
In 1890, at the end of the show’s premiere, Tsar Alexander III summoned Tchaikovsky to the imperial box, commenting simply: Beautiful. It is said, however, that the composer became irritated, trusting in a more favorable and talkative comment.
The passionate maestro probably hadn’t considered that when the show offers such strong and intense emotions, it is difficult to find the most appropriate adjectives.
He was also the Tsar of Russia.
