Iconic ballets that conquered the world: Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet and Giselle
There is beauty, drama, but also pain within ballet. An awe-inspiring art that deserves our respect.
Swan Lake - of love, in which the soul is what matters most
The work was written at the request of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. The Russian nobility loved ballet at that time. The music was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The performance first opened for the public on 4 April 1877. It is the choreographer Václav Reisinger who deserves credit for the fame our country enjoyed in those days. That catapulted him into the world history of ballet. On the other hand, critics rejected the master's music, considering it too loud and the tempo too fast. After the death of the composer, the iconic ballet was revived by the choreographer Maruis Petipa. Swan Lake will be performed in the National Theater in Prague starting on March 28, 2019.
The legendary Romeo and Juliet
The ballet was inspired by a tragedy of the same name written by William Shakespeare, which tells a love story between a young man and woman who come from rival families. The music was written by the Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev. The world premiere took place in Brno on December 30, 1938. The luxury choreography was created by Ivo Váňa Psota. Virtually every ballet company in the world has included this performance in its repertoire. For a luxurious traditional ballet experience, you can visit the Metropolitan Opera in NY, or even the cradle of ballet, Russia.
Giselle - a tragedy about a broken heart
The music was composed by Adolphe Charles Adam and the author of the libretto is Théophile Gautier. The ballet premiered in Paris on June 28, 1841, after which it was introduced in England, Russia and Italy. Carlotta Girisi, then a prima ballerina from Italy, performed in the title role. Almost immediately, this performance became a huge hit across Europe. Her concept served as a benchmark for all future ballerinas. The typical Giselle hairstyle (a parting in the middle, a bun pulled tightly over the ears) became an instant phenomenon in Paris. The most famous productions include the Royal Ballet and the American Ballet Theater.
