On November 30 and December 1, the Astana Ballet Theatre will present one of the most anticipated events of the season – the long-awaited premiere of the performance “Romeo and Juliet” by Sergei Prokofiev choreographed by Honoured Artist of Russia and the Republic of Tatarstan Vladimir Yakovlev.
“Choreographic art requires high professionalism, incredible work, and dedication, and I am proud of the team that is working on this grandiose performance. We have been preparing for this premiere for a long time, trying to reflect the full depth and emotionality of the well-known story. I am sure that the premiere will be quite an event for all admirers of ballet art and will give the audience unforgettable emotions,” said Alexandr Sovostyanov, director of the theatre.
The plot revolves around two young lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, who come from warring families in Verona. The tragedy occurs when a series of misunderstandings and impulsive decisions leads to a fatal confrontation between the families of Romeo and Juliet. The love story of Romeo and Juliet eventually unites their warring families, emphasizing the destructive power of hatred and the enduring nature of love. The play is known for its poetic language, eternal themes, and depiction of youthful passions and impulsive actions.
“Today there is a need to breathe new life into the performance so that it corresponds to the spirit of the times – in form, dynamics, and aesthetics. To do this, it was necessary, as the greatest Italian sculptor of the Renaissance Michelangelo said, “to chisel away the superfluous material” so that there would not be a single empty mise-en-scene, “dance for the sake of dance”, so that the cross-cutting thread of the narrative would not be interrupted. The ballet became a two-act one, which also required some musical changes,” said choreographer Vladimir Yakovlev on the eve of the 2017 premiere.
Prokofiev’s music performed by the Astana Ballet Theatre Symphony Orchestra under the baton of the theatre’s chief conductor Arman Urazgaliyev conveys the finest psychological movements of the human soul, the richness of Shakespeare’s thought, as well as the passion and drama of his first of the most perfect tragedies.
“This classic story about love and conflict between two families does not lose its relevance and depth today. We have tried to create an interpretation of the play that will reflect our modern realities, while preserving the essence and emotional depth of Shakespeare’s original work. We are sure that this ballet, filled with passion, love, and tragedy, will perfectly merge with music and tell the audience the classic story of Romeo and Juliet even more vividly and soulfully,” said the artistic director of the theatre Nurlan Kanetov.
The premiere of the performance “Romeo and Juliet” promises to be a grandiose and unforgettable theatrical event that will meet the expectations of even the most demanding audience. The abundance of mass scenes, beautiful costumes and scenery created with great attention to detail, brilliant music by Sergei Prokofiev and choreography by Vladimir Yakovlev will create a unique atmosphere and emphasize the dramatic plot, allowing the spectators to immerse themselves in the world of love and passion of the main characters.
The premiere will be held with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan.