This hall is dedicated to the best creations of the outstanding
balletmasters Marius Petipa (1818-1910) and Lev Ivanov (1834-1901).
"The creative spirit of Petipa, his principles and his teaching will live
forever - if dance will" - these words belong to the dancer and
balletmaster Serge Lifar'.
Marius Petipa came to Russia in 1847, already a well-known dancer. From 1869
to 1903 he was the leading balletmaster of St.Petersburg Imperial Theatres.
He staged more than 60 ballets, whose characteristic features were the
masterly composition, perfect ensemble of dancers and virtuoso elaboration
of leading roles. Until now the Mariinsky repertoire has included the
following world masterpieces in Petipa's choreography: La Bayadere, Le
Corsaire, Paquita, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty and Raymonda. Petipa's name is
tightly connected with the prime of Russian dancing school. He brought up
several generations of brilliant actors - stars of Russian ballet.
Petipa had lived in Russia for 63. His memoir ends with the words: "God save
my second homeland which I love with all my heart!"
Two masterpieces of Russian choreography - The Nutcracker and Swan Lake -
are connected with Lev Ivanov whose creative work was, according to Boris
Asafiev, "the soul of Russian ballet". Music was the source of choreographic
imagery for Ivanov: his approach to corps de ballet dance was known for its
delicate "instrumentation". In Swan Lake, the joint creation of the two
great balletmasters, Ivanov staged "the Swan Acts" (Acts II and IV),
elevating the ballet fairy tale to the level of philosophical meditations
about the fate of Beauty in the modern world.
|
|
