Raymonda Act III: Grand Pas Hongrois & Firebird

New York City Ballet (David H. Koch Theater), Main Stage, New York, USA

Scene 9 from the ballet "Raymonda", photo 1

Scene 1 from the ballet "Raymonda", photo 2

Scene 2 from the ballet "Raymonda", photo 3

Scene 3 from the ballet "Raymonda", photo 4

Scene 4 from the ballet "Raymonda", photo 5

Scene 5 from the ballet "Raymonda", photo 6

Scene 6 from the ballet "Raymonda", photo 7

Scene 7 from the ballet "Raymonda", photo 8

Scene 8 from the ballet "Raymonda", photo 9

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7:30 PM

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US$ 131

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Important Info

Type: Ballet

City: New York, USA

Starts at: 19:30

Ticket delivery: E-Tickets

E-tickets: Print at home or at the box office of the event if so specified. You will find more information in your booking confirmation email.

Can I choose my seats?

Cast

Performers

Ballet company: American Ballet Theatre

Creators

Composer: Igor Stravinsky

Composer: Alexander Glazunov

Choreographer: Alexei Ratmansky

Music: Alexandre Glazounov

Librettist: Ivan Vsevolozhskiy

Author: Lidiya Pashkova

Choreography: Marius Petipa

Librettist: Marius Petipa

Overview

Raymonda: Grand Pas Hongrois and Firebird — a program pairing the grand Hungarian-style finale of Raymonda with Stravinsky’s enchanting tale of the magical Firebird.

Raymonda: Grand Pas Hongrois

The splendor of classical ballet shines in its most dazzling form in Raymonda: Grand Pas Hongrois. Brimming with the character of a Hungarian landscape and set to Alexander Glazunov’s radiant score, the Grand Pas Hongrois delivers a breathtaking display of virtuosic artistry, elegance, and joy. With intricate choreography, opulent costumes, and a spirited sense of celebration, this production offers the breathtaking grandeur of classical ballet at its finest.

Firebird

Alexei Ratmansky’s Firebird, a glorious interpretation of the classical fairy tale, is filled with mystery, enchantment, and heroic triumph. At the heart of the story is Ivan, a young man on a quest to find his lost love. His journey leads him into a strange and magical world, where he encounters the legendary Firebird—a radiant, supernatural creature whose help proves vital in defeating an evil sorcerer.

Raymonda was one of Petipa’s final, most successful ballets to be staged during the golden years of his career. The 1890s had seen some of the biggest highlights of Petipa’s career, which first emerged with the creation of The Sleeping Beauty. This late-era saw Petipa taking a slightly different step from what he had previously produced for the Saint Petersburg Imperial Ballet. He was now creating ballets that lacked dramatic plots and character development and were, instead, presenting new ballets that represented the grand spectacle. The ballet-féerie made its impact on the Imperial Ballet following the success of The Sleeping Beauty and materialized again in other ballets such as Cinderella and Bluebeard.

History

Premiere of this production: 19 January 1898, Imperial Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Raymonda is a ballet in three acts, four scenes with an apotheosis, choreographed by Marius Petipa to music by Alexander Glazunov, his Opus 57. First presented by the Imperial Ballet at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre on 19 January [O.S. 7 January] 1898 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The ballet was created especially for the benefit performance of the Italian ballerina Pierina Legnani, who created the title role. Among the ballet's most celebrated passages is the Pas classique hongrois (a.k.a. Raymonda Pas de dix) from the third act, which is often performed independently.

Synopsis

Act I
Scene 1: Raymonda's feast

At the castle of Doris, preparations are under way for the celebrations of the young countess Raymonda’s name day. Countess Sybille, her aunt, chides those who are present, including Raymonda's two friends Henrietta and Clémence, and the two troubadours Béranger and Bernard, for their idleness and their passion for dancing, telling them of the legendary White Lady, the protector of the castle, who warns the Doris household every time one of its members is in danger and casts punishment on those who do not fulfil their duties. The young people laugh at the countess’s superstitions and continue to celebrate. The seneschal of the Doris castle announces the arrival of a messenger, sent by Raymonda's fiancé, the noble crusader knight, Jean de Brienne, bearing a letter for his beloved. Raymonda rejoices when she reads that King Andrew II of Hungary, for whom Jean de Brienne has fought, is returning home in triumph and Jean de Brienne will arrive at the Doris castle the next day for their wedding. Suddenly, the celebrations are interrupted when the seneschal announces the arrival of an uninvited Saracen knight, Abderakhman and his entourage, who have stopped at the castle seeking shelter for the night. Captivated by Raymonda's beauty, Abderakhman falls in love with her at once and resolves to do anything to win her. The party lasts late into the night and, left alone and exhausted by the day, Raymonda lies down on a couch and falls asleep. As she sleeps, she begins to dream that the White Lady appears illuminated by the moonlight and, with an imperious gesture, orders Raymonda to follow her.

Scene 2: The Visions

The White Lady, without making a sound, advances along the terrace. Raymonda follows her in a state of unconsciousness. At a signal from the White Lady, the garden is wrapped in mist. A moment later, the mist vanishes and Jean de Brienne appears. Overjoyed, Raymonda runs into his arms and they are surrounded by glory, knights and celestial maidens. The garden is illuminated by a fantastic light and Raymonda expresses her joy to the White Lady, who interrupts her enthusiasm with a vision of what awaits her. Raymonda wants to return to her fiancé, but instead, she finds Abderakhman, who has taken Jean de Brienne's place. Abderakhman declares his passionate love for her, but Raymonda, though confused and upset, is quick to reject him. Imps and elves appear from everywhere surrounding Raymonda, who begs the White Lady to save her and Abderakhman tries to take Raymonda by force. Raymonda cries out and falls to the ground in a faint. The frightful vision disappears along with the White Lady.

Act II
The Courtyard of the Castle

The feast in honour of Jean de Brienne's arrival is taking place. Raymonda welcomes her guests, but cannot hide her uneasiness caused by Jean de Brienne’s delay. Abderakhman approaches her repeatedly and reveals his passion for her, but remembering the warnings of the White Lady, Raymonda rejects him with contempt. Abderakhman becomes even more insistent and realises the only way to possess Raymonda is by force. He calls his slaves to dance for her, after which he summons his cup bearers and they pour a potion into everyone’s cup, causing all the guests to become drunk. Seizing his chance, Abderakhman grabs Raymonda in an attempt to abduct her, but luckily Jean de Brienne arrives just in time, accompanied by King Andrew II and his knights. Jean de Brienne saves Raymonda from the hands of the Saracens and tries to seize Abderakhman. The King commands the two rivals to put an end to the matter in a duel, during which the White Lady appears on the castle tower. Abderakhman is dazed and dies, slain by Jean de Brienne's sword. Raymonda joyfully embraces her fiancé and the two reaffirm their love as the King joins their hands.

Act III
The Wedding

Raymonda and Jean de Brienne are finally married and King Andrew II of Hungary gives the newly wedded couple his blessing. In his honour, everyone at court is dressed in Hungarian fashion and perform a range of Hungarian-style dances, ending in an Apotheosis where everyone comes together in a knightly tournament.

Venue Info

New York City Ballet (David H. Koch Theater) - New York
20 Lincoln Center Plaza

The David H. Koch Theater is the major theater for ballet, modern, and other forms of dance, part of the Lincoln Center, at the intersection of Columbus Avenue and 63rd Street in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. Originally named the New York State Theater, the venue has been home to the New York City Ballet since its opening in 1964, the secondary venue for the American Ballet Theatre in the fall, and served as home to the New York City Opera from 1964 to 2011.

The New York State Theater was built with funds from the State of New York as part of New York State's cultural participation in the 1964–1965 World's Fair. The theater was designed by architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee, and opened on April 23, 1964. After the Fair, the State transferred ownership of the theater to the City of New York.

Along with the opera and ballet companies, another early tenant of the theater was the now defunct Music Theater of Lincoln Center whose president was composer Richard Rodgers. In the mid-1960s, the company produced fully staged revivals of classic Broadway musicals. These included The King and I; Carousel (with original star, John Raitt); Annie Get Your Gun (revised in 1966 by Irving Berlin for its original star, Ethel Merman); Show Boat; and South Pacific.

The theater seats 2,586 and features broad seating on the orchestra level, four main “Rings” (balconies), and a small Fifth Ring, faced with jewel-like lights and a large spherical chandelier in the center of the gold latticed ceiling.

The lobby areas of the theater feature many works of modern art, including pieces by Jasper Johns, Lee Bontecou, and Reuben Nakian.

Important Info

Type: Ballet

City: New York, USA

Starts at: 19:30

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