Discover the 'Golden Age' of Russian ballet with Raymonda, a tale of love, bravery, and cultural intrigue!
Background
Raymonda is one of the great classical ballets, inspired by the spirit of the women who supported the war effort in Crimea. The 3-act production originally premiered in 1898 at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, Russia.
The ballet was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa for the Imperial Russian Ballet, with music composed by Alexander Glazunov. Since then, Raymonda has been adapted and reimagined by some of the greatest choreographers in ballet history, such as George Balanchine, Rudolf Nureyev, and Yuri Grigorovich.
Characters:
(from left)
Raymonda – young countess
Jean de Brienne – French knight, Raymonda's fiancé
Abderakhman – Saracen knight
The White Lady – supernatural figure
Did you know?
Raymonda Act III's wedding celebration incorporates vibrant Hungarian folk-inspired dances like the czardas and mazurka.
Synopsis
Act I:
The story of Raymonda is set in Provence, France, medieval times, during the Crusades. Raymonda, a young countess is engaged to Jean de Brienne, who goes away to fight in the Crusades. At the castle, Countess Sybille, Raymonda’s aunt and her friends Henriette and Clémence, are preparing for Raymonda’s birthday celebration. Preparations are interrupted by the arrival of the Saracen knight, Abderakhman, who was seeking shelter for the night. Captivated by Raymonda’s beauty, Abderakhman falls in love with her and resolves to do anything to have her. The party lasts late into the night. Exhausted, Raymonda lays on a couch and falls asleep.
As she falls asleep, the White Lady appears and orders Raymonda to follow her. She leads Raymonda to the garden, where Jean de Brienne appears. Suddenly, Abderakhman takes his place, confessing his love for Raymonda. She rejects him. Enraged, Abderakhman tries to abduct Raymonda. She cries out and falls to the ground as the vision disappears.
Act II:
In the castle courtyard, there is a feast to honour Jean de Brienne’s arrival. Before Jean arrives, Abderakhman approaches her repeatedly and declares his love for her. Remembering the vision, Raymonda rejects him. Abderakhman then attempts to abduct her.
Act III
Jean arrives, challenging Abderakhman to a duel, where Abderakhman is slain by Jean. The ballet concludes with a grand wedding celebration for Raymonda and Jean, featuring Hungarian-inspired folk dances.
Watch the Raymonda Grand Pas Classique Hongrois here!
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