Two upcoming evening performances of the ballet “La Bayadere”
On the 14th of February, the Croatian national ballet star Guilherme Alves will perform the role of the army chief Solor in the ballet “La Bayadere” by Ludwig Minkus. Guilherme Alves is known to the audience with his performance of Karenin in the ballet “Anna Karenina” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreography by Leo Mujic. Now, our viewers will be able to see him perform a classic ballet role for the first time, with Marta Petkova performing together with him in the role of Nikia. This performance of “La Bayadere” will also feature the debut of prima ballerina Boryana Petrova in the role of Gamzatti.
We will also see Matthew Whittle as the Great brahmin and Anna Gicheva as the Water carrier for the first time. Anna is a laureate of the international contest “Sara-Nora Prima” and is still a student at the National Dance Art School, in Lora Boshnakova’s class.
On the 15th of February, Katerina Petrova and Tsetso Ivanov will perform as Solor and Nikia. There will be another debut on this night: Elena Petrova in the role of Gamzatti. Since the last season of 2023/24, Elena has been a Sofia Opera lead singer.
Also starring: Rumen Bonev, Simeon Atanasov, Kristina Tchochanova, Francesco Congiusti, Vincenzo Caruana, Vyara Ivancheva, Maria Yordanova, Agnes Keele and Sofia Opera lead ballet dancers and corps de ballet.
Students from the National Dance Art School will participate in both performances, with pedagogues and tutors Yana Marinova, Yoanna Stoyanova and Lora Bosnakova.
“La Bayadere” is performed following Marius Petipa’s choreography. Pavel Stalinskiy created the complete original version of the piece for the Sofia Opera in 2012. Ballet tutors: Yasen Valchanov, Maria Ilieva, Trifon Mitev, Katya Petrovska, Ivanka Kasabova, Georgi Asparuhov.
Conductor: Grigor Palikarov.