Ballet troupes of world theaters. The most famous theaters in the world

Submitted by copypaster on Wed, 15/08/2007 - 01:11

Ballet is a fairly young art. It is a little over four hundred years old, although dance has been decorating human life since ancient times.

The term “ballet” appeared at the end of the 16th century (from the Italian balletto - to dance). But then it did not mean a performance, but only a dance episode conveying a certain mood. Such “ballets” usually consisted of slightly interconnected “outputs” of characters - most often heroes of Greek myths. After such “exits” the general dance began - the “grand ballet”.

The first ballet performance was the Queen's Comedy Ballet, staged in 1581 in France by the Italian choreographer Baltazarini di Belgioioso. It was in France that the further development of ballet took place. At first these were masquerade ballets, and then pompous melodramatic ballets with chivalric and fantastic plots, where dance episodes were replaced by vocal arias and recitation of poetry. Don't be surprised, at that time ballet was not just a dance performance.

During the reign of Louis XIV, court ballet performances reached special splendor. Louis himself loved to participate in ballets, and received his famous nickname “The Sun King” after performing the role of the Sun in “Ballet of the Night.”

In 1661 he created the Royal Academy of Music and Dance, which included 13 leading dance masters. Their responsibility was to preserve dance traditions. The director of the academy, royal dance teacher Pierre Beauchamp, identified five main positions of classical dance.

Soon the Paris Opera was opened, and the same Beauchamp was appointed choreographer. A ballet troupe was formed under his leadership. At first, it consisted of only men. Women appeared on the stage of the Paris Opera only in 1681.

The theater staged operas and ballets by composer Lully and comedies and ballets by playwright Moliere. At first, courtiers took part in them, and the performances were almost no different from palace performances. The already mentioned slow minuets, gavottes and pavanes were danced. Masks, heavy dresses and high heels prevented women from performing complex movements. Therefore, men's dances were then distinguished by greater grace and elegance.

By the middle of the 18th century, ballet gained great popularity in Europe. All the aristocratic courts of Europe sought to imitate the luxury of the French royal court. Opera houses opened in cities. Numerous dancers and dance teachers easily found work.

Soon, under the influence of fashion, women's ballet costumes became much lighter and freer, and the lines of the body could be seen underneath. The dancers abandoned high-heeled shoes, replacing them with light heelless shoes. The men's costume also became less bulky: tight trousers to the knees and stockings made it possible to see the dancer's figure.

Each innovation made dancing more meaningful and dance technique higher. Gradually, ballet separated from opera and became an independent art.

Although the French ballet school was famous for its grace and plasticity, it was characterized by a certain coldness and formality of performance. Therefore, choreographers and artists looked for other means of expression.

At the end of the 18th century, a new direction in art was born - romanticism, which had a strong influence on ballet. In a romantic ballet, the dancer stood on pointe shoes. Maria Taglioni was the first to do this, completely changing previous ideas about ballet. In the ballet La Sylphide, she appeared as a fragile creature from the other world. The success was stunning.

At this time, many wonderful ballets appeared, but, unfortunately, romantic ballet became the last period of heyday of dance art in the West. From the second half of the 19th century, ballet, having lost its former significance, turned into an appendage to opera. Only in the 30s of the 20th century, under the influence of Russian ballet, the revival of this art form in Europe began.

In Russia, the first ballet performance - “The Ballet of Orpheus and Eurydice” - was staged on February 8, 1673 at the court of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Ceremonial and slow dances consisted of a change of graceful poses, bows and moves, alternating with singing and speech. He did not play any significant role in the development of stage dance. It was just another royal “fun” that attracted people with its unusualness and novelty.

Only a quarter of a century later, thanks to the reforms of Peter I, music and dance entered the everyday life of Russian society. Compulsory dance training was introduced into noble educational institutions. Musicians, opera artists and ballet troupes imported from abroad began to perform at the court.

In 1738, the first ballet school in Russia opened, and three years later, 12 boys and 12 girls from the palace servants became the first professional dancers in Russia. At first they performed in the ballets of foreign masters as figures (as the corps de ballet dancers were called), and later in the main roles. Timofey Bublikov, a wonderful dancer of that time, shone not only in St. Petersburg, but also in Vienna.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Russian ballet art reached creative maturity. Russian dancers brought expressiveness and spirituality to the dance. Feeling this very accurately, A.S. Pushkin called the dance of his contemporary Avdotya Istomina “soul-filled flight.”

Ballet at this time occupied a privileged position among other forms of theatrical art. The authorities paid great attention to it and provided government subsidies. Moscow and St. Petersburg ballet troupes performed in well-equipped theaters, and graduates of theater schools annually joined the staff of dancers, musicians and decorators.

Arthur Saint-Leon

In the history of our ballet theater, the names of foreign masters who played a significant role in the development of Russian ballet are often found. First of all, these are Charles Didelot, Arthur Saint-Leon and Marius Petipa. They helped create the Russian ballet school. But talented Russian artists also gave the opportunity to reveal the talents of their teachers. This invariably attracted the largest choreographers of Europe to Moscow and St. Petersburg. Nowhere in the world could they meet such a large, talented and well-trained troupe as in Russia.

In the middle of the 19th century, realism came to Russian literature and art. Choreographers feverishly, but to no avail, tried to create realistic performances. They did not take into account that ballet is a conventional art and realism in ballet differs significantly from realism in painting and literature. The crisis of ballet art began.

A new stage in the history of Russian ballet began when the great Russian composer P. Tchaikovsky first composed music for ballet. It was Swan Lake. Before this, ballet music was not taken seriously. It was considered a lower type of musical creativity, just an accompaniment to dancing.

Thanks to Tchaikovsky, ballet music became a serious art along with opera and symphonic music. Previously, music was completely dependent on dance, now dance had to submit to music. New means of expression and a new approach to creating a performance were required.

The further development of Russian ballet is associated with the name of the Moscow choreographer A. Gorsky, who, having abandoned the outdated techniques of pantomime, used modern directing techniques in the ballet performance. Attaching great importance to the picturesque design of the performance, he attracted the best artists to work.

But the true reformer of ballet art is Mikhail Fokin, who rebelled against the traditional construction of a ballet performance. He argued that the theme of the play, its music, and the era in which the action takes place require different dance movements and a different dance pattern each time. When staging the ballet “Egyptian Nights,” Fokine was inspired by the poetry of V. Bryusov and ancient Egyptian drawings, and the images of the ballet “Petrushka” were inspired by the poetry of A. Blok. In the ballet Daphnis and Chloe, he abandoned dancing on pointe shoes and revived the ancient frescoes with free, flexible movements. His Chopiniana revived the atmosphere of romantic ballet. Fokin wrote that “he dreams of creating a ballet-drama out of ballet-fun, and out of dance into an understandable, speaking language.” And he succeeded.

Anna Pavlova

In 1908, annual performances of Russian ballet dancers began in Paris, organized by theater figure S. P. Diaghilev. The names of dancers from Russia - Vaslav Nijinsky, Tamara Karsavina, Adolf Bolm - became known throughout the world. But first in this row is the name of the incomparable Anna Pavlova.

Pavlova - lyrical, fragile, with elongated body lines, huge eyes - evoked engravings depicting romantic ballerinas. Her heroines conveyed a purely Russian dream of a harmonious, spiritualized life or melancholy and sadness about something unfulfilled. “The Dying Swan”, created by the great ballerina Pavlova, is a poetic symbol of Russian ballet at the beginning of the 20th century.

It was then, under the influence of the skill of Russian artists, that Western ballet shook itself up and found a second wind.

After the October Revolution of 1917, many ballet theater figures left Russia, but despite this, the school of Russian ballet survived. The pathos of movement towards a new life, revolutionary themes, and most importantly the scope for creative experimentation inspired the ballet masters. They were faced with a task: to bring choreographic art closer to the people, to make it more vital and accessible.

This is how the genre of dramatic ballet arose. These were performances, usually based on the plots of famous literary works, which were built according to the laws of dramatic performance. The content was presented through pantomime and figurative dance. In the middle of the 20th century, dramatic ballet was in crisis. Choreographers made attempts to preserve this genre of ballet, enhancing the entertainment value of performances with the help of stage effects, but, alas, in vain.

At the end of the 1950s, a turning point came. Choreographers and dancers of the new generation have revived forgotten genres - one-act ballet, ballet symphony, choreographic miniature. And since the 1970s, independent ballet troupes have emerged, independent of opera and ballet theaters. Their number is constantly increasing, and free dance and modern dance studios are appearing among them.

Since the beginning of human civilization, theater has served as the main source of entertainment. Nowadays, theater and opera performances have not lost any of their popularity and significance, and thousands of people around the world visit theaters every day and enjoy this wonderful art form.

The building of any theater is a unique world with its own history, traditions and secrets. Let's talk about those that are known throughout the world.

Teatro La Scala is rightfully the most famous theater in the world. And most of all it is associated with opera, although dramatic performances and ballet also occupy a significant place in the repertoire.

La Scala, photo Rudiger Wolk

It was built in 1778. The horseshoe-shaped hall has five tiers of boxes. Works by famous composers Bellini, Rossini, Donizetti, and Verdi were performed on the stage of La Scala. The theater is famous for its impeccable acoustics.

Many people associate Australia with the building of the Opera House in Sydney. It is easily recognizable and is one of the main attractions of the country. This is perhaps one of the most iconic theaters of our time.

Sydney Opera House, photo Shannon Hobbs

The opening took place in 1973. During construction, the main emphasis was on acoustics and visibility. That is why every theatergoer feels as if he has purchased a ticket to the best seat in the hall.

The theater building became home to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Theater Company, Australian Ballet and Australian Opera. More than 1,500 performances take place here annually.

3. Bolshoi Theater

The Bolshoi Theater in Moscow is one of the leading theaters in Russia and around the world. Together with the best symphony orchestra, he survived fire, war and revolution.

Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, photo jimmyweee

At the entrance, visitors are greeted by a statue of Apollo in a chariot, anticipating the grandiose performances taking place in the theater. The theater's ballet troupe is very famous. Yuri Grigorovich staged the legendary “Swan Lake” and “The Golden Age” here. The Bolshoi was opened after a large-scale reconstruction in 2011.

4. Vienna State Opera

Built in 1869, the theater has long had a reputation as the center of musical life in Vienna and throughout Austria.

Vienna State Opera, photo JP

During World War II, the building was bombed and almost destroyed. The staircase and some other parts were miraculously preserved. It was restored only in 1955. Today it continues to be one of the world's main opera venues. Traditional balls are held annually under the vaults of the Vienna Opera.

The Palace of Catalan Music is located in. The building was officially opened in 1908 and almost immediately became a symbol of the city. The magnificent glass ceiling, rich paintings, stained glass windows and sculptures turned it into a real work of art. This is one of the few theaters included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list.

Palau de la Musica Catalana, photo Jiuguang Wang

The palace is one of the main theater and music venues in Barcelona, ​​where many world celebrities perform. Important international meetings and conferences are also held here, and excursions are organized for tourists.

Theater Les Celestins is the main art center of the city of Lyon in France. This is an opera house that is suitable for grand performances and can accommodate over 1000 people. The horseshoe-shaped hall is divided into several levels, so even spectators sitting far from the stage can see and hear everything well. The interior is designed in a royal style using red and gold tones. The outside of the building is more austere and decorated with statues.

Les Celestins in Lyon, photo Mirej

For more than two centuries, Les Celestins has staged the best plays, operas, dramatic performances and concerts.

The Covent Garden Theater is well known throughout the world. Its stage hosts productions of the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet. Stars of world classical music have performed in this majestic building since 1858.

Royal Opera House Convent Garden, photo

Previously, it was possible to enter the theater only before the start of the performance if you had a ticket. Today you can explore it by taking a short excursion.

Another famous world stage is the Metropolitan Opera musical theater on Broadway in New York. This is the best theater. Celebrities such as Enrico Caruso and Placido Domingo played leading roles here.

The Metropolitan Opera House, photo Blehgoaway

The Met puts on more than two hundred performances each year. From time to time they are broadcast on television and radio.

9. Odeon of Herodes Atticus

If you want to visit a theater that is as old as art itself, head to the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in . This is a classic ancient amphitheater built in 161 AD. e. There was originally a roof over it, but it was destroyed.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, photo Yucatan

The theater seats 5,000 people and still hosts plays, ballets and other events on its stage. Even Elton John gave his concert at the Odeon.

10. Chicago Theater

The Chicago Theater was built in 1921 during what is known as the "Golden Age of Entertainment" and was the first luxury theater of its kind to house movies, musicals and shows. Gradually it became a hallmark of Chicago. Today, Chicago theater is a mixture of different genres and styles, from plays and comedies to dance shows and pop concerts.

The Chicago Theatre, photo by Leandro Neumann Ciuffo

There are still a huge number of theaters in the world, each of which is worthy of attention. During your travels through cities and countries, be sure to visit theaters, and it doesn’t matter whether they are famous throughout the world or known only in a small town. In any case, you will get a unique opportunity to touch the wonderful world of theatrical art.

Ballet is called an integral part of the art of our country. Russian ballet is considered the most authoritative in the world, the standard. This review contains the success stories of five great Russian ballerinas who are still looked up to today.

Anna Pavlova

What is curious is that the aspiring ballerina was not placed in the corps de ballet, but immediately began to give her responsible roles in productions. Anna Pavlova danced under the direction of several choreographers, but the most successful and fruitful tandem, which had a fundamental influence on her performance style, was with Mikhail Fokin.

Galina Ulanova

After graduating from the choreographic technical school in 1928, Ulanova was accepted into the ballet troupe of the Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theater. From the very first performances, the young ballerina attracted the attention of spectators and critics. A year later, Ulanova was entrusted with performing the leading role of Odette-Odile in Swan Lake. Giselle is considered one of the ballerina’s triumphant roles. Performing the scene of the heroine's madness, Galina Ulanova did it so soulfully and selflessly that even the men in the audience could not hold back their tears.

Galina Ulanova danced on stage until she was 50 years old. She was always strict and demanding of herself. Even in old age, the ballerina began every morning with classes and weighed 49 kg.

Olga Lepeshinskaya

Olga Lepeshinskaya easily coped with both classic ballet (“Swan Lake”, “Sleeping Beauty”) and modern productions (“Red Poppy”, “Flames of Paris”.) During the Great Patriotic War, Lepeshinskaya fearlessly performed at the front, raising the fighting soldier spirit.

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Olga Lepeshinskaya -
ballerina with a passionate temperament. | Photo: www.etoretro.ru.

Maya Plisetskaya

Aunt Plisetskaya was a ballerina at the Bolshoi Theater, so Maya also began attending choreography classes. The girl achieved great success in this field and after graduating from college she was accepted into the Bolshoi Theater troupe.

After the ballerina was fired from the Bolshoi Theater in 1990, she did not despair and continued to give solo performances. The overflowing energy allowed Plisetskaya to make her debut in the production of “Ave Maya” on her 70th birthday.

Lyudmila Semenyaka

Semenyaka coped with any part so naturally and effortlessly that from the outside it seemed as if she was not making any effort, but was simply enjoying the dance. In 1976, Lyudmila Ivanovna was awarded the Anna Pavlova Prize from the Paris Academy of Dance.

But he mastered the art of ballet in Russia, and spent most of his life performing in the USA.

Whatever one may say, one cannot ignore the famous masterpiece of the Russian composer in four acts, thanks to which the German legend of the beautiful swan girl was immortalized in the eyes of art connoisseurs. According to the plot, the prince, in love with the swan queen, betrays her, but even the realization of the mistake does not save either him or his beloved from the raging elements.

The image of the main character, Odette, seems to complement the gallery of female symbols created by the composer during his life. It is noteworthy that the author of the ballet plot still remains unknown, and the names of the librettists have never appeared on any poster. The ballet was first presented back in 1877 on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater, but the first version was considered unsuccessful. The most famous production is Petipa-Ivanov’s, which became the standard for all subsequent performances.

The best ballets in the world: “The Nutcracker” by Tchaikovsky

Popular on New Year's Eve, the ballet for children “The Nutcracker” was first presented to the public in 1892 on the stage of the famous Mariinsky Theater. Its plot is based on Hoffmann's fairy tale “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King”. The struggle of generations, the confrontation between good and evil, the wisdom hidden behind the mask - the deep philosophical meaning of the fairy tale is clothed in bright musical images that are understandable to the youngest viewers.

The action takes place in winter, on Christmas Eve, when all wishes can come true - and this gives additional charm to the magical story. In this fairy tale, everything is possible: cherished desires will come true, masks of hypocrisy will fall, and injustice will definitely be defeated.

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The best ballets in the world: “Giselle” by Adana

“A love that is stronger than death” is perhaps the most accurate description of the famous ballet in four acts “Giselle”. The story of a girl dying from ardent love, who gave her heart to a noble young man engaged to another bride, is so vividly conveyed in the graceful pas of slender wilis - brides who died before the wedding.

The ballet was a tremendous success from its first production in 1841, and over the course of 18 years, 150 theatrical performances of the work by the famous French composer were given on the stage of the Paris Opera. This story so captivated the hearts of art connoisseurs that an asteroid discovered at the end of the 19th century was even named after the main character of the story. And today our contemporaries have taken care of preserving one of the greatest pearls of the classical work in film versions of the classic production.

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The best ballets in the world: “Don Quixote” by Minkus

The era of great knights has long passed, but this does not at all prevent modern young ladies from dreaming of meeting Don Quixote of the 21st century. The ballet accurately conveys all the details of the folklore of the inhabitants of Spain; and many masters tried to stage the plot of noble chivalry in a modern interpretation, but it is the classical production that has been decorating the Russian stage for one hundred and thirty years.

Choreographer Marius Petipa was able to skillfully embody in dance all the flavor of Spanish culture through the use of elements of national dances, and some gestures and poses directly indicate the place where the plot unfolds. The story has not lost its significance today: even in the 21st century, Don Quixote skillfully inspires warm-hearted young people capable of desperate acts in the name of goodness and justice.

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The best ballets in the world: Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet

The immortal story of two loving hearts, united only after death forever, is embodied on stage thanks to Prokofiev's music. The production took place shortly before the Second World War, and we must pay tribute to the dedicated craftsmen who resisted the customary order at that time, which also reigned in the creative sphere of the Stalinist country: the composer preserved the traditional tragic ending of the plot.

After the first great success, which awarded the play the Stalin Prize, there were many versions, but literally in 2008, the traditional production of 1935 took place in New York with a happy ending to the famous story, unknown to the public until that moment.

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Enjoy watching!