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Conductor:
Choreography: Vasily Medvedev (Russia)
Libretto: Jana Temiz
Ass. Choreograpy: Stanislav Fecho (Czech Republic)
Set Design, Costume Design and Light Design: Pavol Jurash(Slovakia)
Concert Master: Kliment Todoroski
Repetitors: Irena Pasarikj (Croatia), Goran Bozhinov, Aleksandra Mijalkova, Sasha Evtimova, Dafina Daniloska
CAST:
Marguerite: Marija Kichevska Shokarovska / Natasha Trendafilova Gicev
Аrmand: Francisco Jimenez Ruiz (Spain), Valery Lyubenko (Ukraine)
Performing: Soloists, Corps de Ballet and the Orchestra of National Opera & Ballet
Duration: 1 hour and 20 minutes (without intermission)
“The Lady of the Camellias” is a ballet production that received the biggest ovations and great reviews from the audience at its premiere on October 31, 2014. The music is from the world’s famous Giuseppe Verdi and the dramaturgical background is taken from his popular “Travia”. Choreographed by Russian guest Vasily Medvedev and gorgeous costumography and scenery work of Pavol Jurash, a guest from Slovakia.
I ACT
1st Picture
A Ball. Ladies and gentlemen, including escort ladies with their clients who play and talk. Couples leave and return. Armando a naive young man. Margarita catches his attention immediately, at first glance and he falls in love with her. He tries to reach her. Margarita accepts his courtship. Armando is excited. He learns that Margarita is sick. He helps her. He admits he loves her and they leave the ball together.
2nd Picture
Armando and Margarita are in Paris. The street is crowded with passengers. The flower ladies approach the couple and offer them different flowers: roses, lilies … Armando buys camellias. Margarita is overjoyed. She carries the bouquet of camellias knowing that Armando loves her. She puts camellias in her hair, on her dress, in Armando’s pocket. They are happy and in love … The camellias become a symbol of their love.
3rd Picture
Margarita’s room. Margarita says goodbye to Armando after spending the night together. She is alone but happy and dreaming about her love. The maid announces a visitor. Her guest is one of her former clients. He offers her money in exchange for love. Margarita refuses. She no longer wants to sell her love. Armando returns unexpectedly and chasses the intruder. Margarita admits she only loves him. Armando begs her to leave her former life and leave Paris together. The will live in the countryside and be happy. Young and in love, full of hope boundlessly they want to start a new life.
II ACT
4th Picture
Armando and Margarita are in the village. The maid announces people who have come to collect their debt. Armando quickly goes out to meet them.
5th Picture
Armando’s father appears. He tries to persuade Margarita to leave Armando. And he offers her a diamond bracelet. Frantic, Margarita refuses and throws the bracelet to the floor. She gets sick. And Armando’s father understands the situation – that she really loves his son and is very sick. Margarita disappointedly promises Armand’s father to leave her lover. She writes a farewell letter to him, puts a camellia flower in the letter and returns to Paris to her former life. Receiving Margaret’s letter, Armando is devastated.
6th Picture
The usual Paris. A ball again … Margarita is surrounded by her fans and clients. Her love left a deep mark on her – she is different, sad and nothing amuses her. Armando arrives. He wants to forget Margarita and does not expect to meet her. She approaches and he accuses her of being with him for money. In order to humiliate her, he throws money. Humiliated and desperate she leaves the ball.
7th Picture
Margarita’s room. Back from the ball, pain-stricken and humiliated. She is very sick. She mourns in solitude, predicting her death. The maid prepares her bed. Margarita is getting worse. In her dying agony she sees Armando – returning to the happy days of their love. Unfortunately, the mirage disappears. Margarita is exhausted, unhappy and alone. She hugs the bouquet of camellias that awaken her memories. Her force leaves her and she dies.