Ludwig Minkus’ ballet premiere, “Bayadera”, was held at the State Academic Theater of Zakaria Paliashvili in Tbilisi on November 19, 2023. Georgian Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Thea Tsulukiani attended the event.
“Bayadera” premiere show at Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theater was successfully held on November 14, 15, 17 and 18. Performances will be held on November 28-29 as well.
The author and performer of the new choreographic version of ballet choreography Nino Ananiashvili with Alexei Fadeechv. Papuna Ghvaberidze is the director of “Bayadera”.
On November 19, the main parts of the ballet were performed by theatre soloists Nino Khakhutashvili (Nikia), Efe Burak (Solar), and Mariam Eloshvili (Hamzati).
The experienced theatre pioneers were invited to the production group of “Bayadera” on the initiative of Nino Ananiashvili: scenographer David Monavardisashvili, costume artist Kiril Gasilin, who was consulted by world-famous costume artist and scenographer, fashion historian Alexander Vasiliev, lighting artist Stein Biarke.
The new edition of the ballet is based on Marius Petipa’s original staging. It is worth noting that in the latest version of the performance, fragments from Vakhtang Chabukiani’s choreography (Pa d’Action) and libretto according to Marius Petipa and Sergey Khudekov’s book, created by Nino Ananiashvili.
The world premiere of “Bayadere” was held on January 23, 1877, in Saint Petersburg. It still has a special place in the history of world ballet. It is in the repertoire of nearly every ballet theatre.
“Bayadere” on the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theater stage was seen by the audience for the first time on May 30, 1912, during the Imperial Theater of St. Petersburg tour.
In 1968, Vakhtang Chabukiani performed his version of “Bayadera” at the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater. In 1974, the third act of “Bayadera” premiered in the theatre. On November 22, 1981, the Vakhtang Chabukiani version of “Bayadara” was repeated.
“Bayadera”, performed by Nino Ananiashvili and Alexei Fadechev on the stage of Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theater in 2023, is the fourth but different and newer choreographic version.
