George Balanchine is the most significant classical choreographer of the 20th century: he made a major impact on the development and perception of classical dance today. The appearance of Balanchine's ballets in the repertoire is a sign of professional maturity of a ballet troupe. Walpurgisnacht Ballet, composed for the Paris Opera to the music of Faust opera by Charles Gounod, confirms Balanchine’s thesis that ‘ballet is a woman’ — the characters are 24 dancers, the plot is a brilliant, virtuosic and feminine dance.
The ballet has an unexpected finale: the rational construction, as always with Balanchine, blows up in a violent Bacchic dance. Ekaterinburg spectators will be the first in Russia to see the ballet.
Production of Walpurgisnacht Ballet has been prepared in cooperation with Balanchine Foundation (New York) and performed in accordance with Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® standards.
