RAMT

The Natalia Sats Children’s Musical Theater presents masterpieces by the world-renowned choreographer Mikhail Fokin: Scheherazade, Chopiniana, and Polovtsian Dances. These ballets were first performed a century ago during Sergei Diaghilev’s “Russian Seasons” in Paris, and have now been revived in the 21st century by choreographer Andris Liepa.

"We did not undertake this production to be better than Mikhail Fokin, but to remain in the spirit of his innovation. Fokin, in addition to his undeniable genius as a classical choreographer, was always a pioneer, searching for new ways to combine different stage arts. I am thrilled to present a new realization of my twenty-year dream and work. Not a day goes by when I do not think about the 'Russian Seasons,' their creators, and participants," says Andris Liepa.

Costumes and sets for this project were recreated by Anna and Anatoly Nezhny:
"For us, this is an iconic project," says Anna Nezhny. "But it would be wrong to call it merely a restoration. Although many sketches survive, the materials for Fokin’s original designs were far from complete. For us, this is more of an acting work and a reconstruction of the legendary artists’ ideas, who, like all true innovators, were ahead of their time."

Scheherazade

Music: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Choreography: Mikhail Fokin
Revival: People’s Artist of Russia Andris Liepa
Set & Costume Designers: Anatoly Nezhny and Anna Nezhny, based on Léon Bakst sketches

Scheherazade is based on the symphonic poem by Rimsky-Korsakov, inspired by the tales from One Thousand and One Nights, specifically “The Story of King Shahryar and His Brother”. Fokin staged the ballet in 1910 for Diaghilev’s company, featuring Ida Rubinstein and Vaslav Nijinsky in the lead roles.

The ballet tells the story of how Queen Scheherazade saved the lives of Shahryar’s young wives by telling him her tales. It became a landmark in the history of dance, a revolutionary choreographic work full of passion and emotion, as daring as the early 20th-century theater could allow.

Chopiniana

Music: Frédéric Chopin, orchestrated by Alexander Glazunov
Choreography: Mikhail Fokin
Revival: People’s Artist of Russia Andris Liepa
Set & Costume Designer: Anna Nezhny, based on Alexander Benois sketches

Chopiniana evokes the romantic dreams of the poet. Ethereal sylphs dance to piano pieces by Chopin, orchestrated by Glazunov. The ballet emphasizes simplicity in movement, as if the dancers perform for themselves rather than for the audience. Fokin first staged Chopiniana in 1907 at the Mariinsky Theatre, and the second version premiered at Diaghilev’s Russian Seasons in 1909, featuring Tamara Karsavina, Anna Pavlova, and Vaslav Nijinsky. Additional arrangements for the Paris premiere were made by George Gershwin, Sergei Taneyev, and Anatoly Lyadov.

Polovtsian Dances

Music: Alexander Borodin
Choreography: Mikhail Fokin
Revival: People’s Artist of Russia Andris Liepa
Set & Costume Designer: Anna Nezhny, based on Nicholas Roerich sketches

The ballet segment from Act II of Borodin’s opera Prince Igor became an independent and immensely popular work shortly after the opera’s 1890 premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre. Fokin staged Polovtsian Dances for Diaghilev’s company in 1909.

In his memoirs, Fokin wrote:
"Where did my steps come from? I would say — from the music. I came with Borodin’s notes under my arm, and that was all my weapon. No one could stop me. Everything appeared clear to me, and I believed that if the Polovtsians danced, even imperfectly, they had to dance exactly like this under Borodin’s orchestra."

These dances soon became the pride of Diaghilev’s company and one of the greatest triumphs of Russian ballet.