A DOCUMENTARY DEDICATED TO THE GREAT BALLET PRODUCTIONS BY RUDOLF NUREYEV

PERFORMED AT THE OPÉRA NATIONAL DE PARIS

Directed by FRANÇOIS ROUSSILLON
Choreography and Stage Direction by RUDOLF NUREYEV after Marius Petipa
Set & Costume Design by NICHOLAS GEORGIADIS
Music by ALEXANDER GLAZUNOV
Les Etoiles, les Premiers Danseurs et le Corps de Ballet de l’Opéra National de Paris
Orchestre de l’Opéra National de Paris conducted by ALEXANDER ANISSIMOV

When Nureyev took up the position of Artistic Director of the ballet of the Paris opera in 1983, his words to the dancers of the ensemble so rich in tradition were, “Don’t talk, work”, and only two months later he presented his magnifi cent new production of Marius Petipa’s oriental ballet Raymonda.

This production was of great importance both for Nureyev and for the ensemble, because it was his fi rst choreography as newly-appointed director of the Paris ensemble. It laid the foundation for his personal relationship as choreographer, teacher and director with the dancers. There could not have been a better ballet than Raymonda to show to advantage the qualities of this ensemble, which is one of the foremost in the world of ballet. It is not only the three leading parts which are shown to advantage in numerous pas-de-deux, in a dramatic sword duel and in dream scenes, but there are also impressive solos for a dozen other dancers as well as many spectacular ensemble scenes, among them the splendid Hungarian dances, an exciting Spanish dance, a wonderful polonaise and fascinating pas-de-quatre and pas-de-six.

The documentary by François Roussillon examines the various aspects of this ballet, which has become a classic in the repertoire of the ballet ensemble of the Paris opera through Rudolf Nureyev’s choreography. Nureyev’s innate talent for dancing and the
perfection of his rehearsal work made Raymonda one of the greatest masterworks of ballet history.