Minkus: La Bayadere

Gabriella Komleva ............ Nikia Rejen Abdyev ................... Solor Gennadii Selyutsky ............ Chief Brahmin Yuri Potemkin .................. The Rajah Tatiana Terekhova ............. Gamzatti and the Company of the Kirov Ballet Choreography: Vakhtang Chabukiani and Vladimir Ponomarev after Marius Petipa Music: Ludwig Minkus Conductor: Victor Shirokov

Here is La Bayadere (The Temple Dancer) a ballet in three acts performed by the company that first brought it to the West. Filmed at the Kirov Theater (on the stage where it was premiered in 1877), La Bayadere stars Gabriella Komleva as the pathetic temple dancer, Nikia; Tatiana Terekhova as Gamzatti, the Rajah s daughter, and Rejen Abdyev as Prince Solor. Based on an ancient Indian poem, the ballet concerns the love between Nikia and Solor. Solor, unfortunately, is obliged to wed Ganeatti, who murders her rival by sending a basket of flowers hiding a poisonous snake. After Nikia s death, the inconsolable Solor envisions Nikia inviting him to join her in the Kingdom of the Shades. In their final dance together, they manage to find a measure of happiness among the phantoms of other maidens who have died of unrequited love. A piece of history, and a work of art, La Bayadere is quite simply a gem to be savored again and again.

Price: $26.98