Swan Lake
Pas de trois - Acte III
Premiere by the Ballet du Capitole on 28 November 2013
Music Piotr Ilyitch Tchaïkovski
Choreography Rudolf Noureev, adapted from Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
Costumes Franca Squarciapino
Lighting Vinicio Cheli, adapted by Patrick Méeüs
The pas de trois in Act III of Swan Lake doesn't exist in the original version by Petipa and Ivanov. This pas de trois between Odile, the Black Swan, Prince Siegfried and the Magician Von Rothbart is an innovation by Nureyev who, concerned with bringing balance to the characters, gives von Rothbart an opportunity to stand out in a brilliant variation.
Don Quixotte
Acte III - Scène 2
Premiere by the Ballet du Capitole on 28 November 2013
Music Ludwig Minkus Arrangements John Lanchbery
Choreography and staging Rudolf Noureev, adapted from Marius Petipa and Alexandre Gorski
Sets Emilio Carcano
Costumes Joop Stokvis
Lighting Vinicio Cheli, adapted by Patrick Méeüs
With Don Quixote, we again salute the choreographer but also the dancer: the role of Basilio had always been Nureyev's signature role because, unlike the roles of princes of the repertoire, it gives him an opportunity to express his core personality with his sense of humour, vivacity and love of life. This Act III, which closes the ballet, is the Fiesta Act with, among others, the wedding of the two protagonists, the barber Basilio and the innkeepers' daughter Kitri, after they have deceived their "opponents".
Against the backdrop of local colour and ornate costumes designed by Nicholas Georgiadis, Rudolf Nureyev weaves a talented, vivacious and playful choreography. Rudolf Nureyev brought a breath of new life to the ballet of the second half of the 20th century. His precepts and intentions still hold true today. He sometimes admitted: "when evening comes, I don't know what to do with myself if I'm not on stage". This ballet evening is an appointment with Nureyev and an important event for the Ballet du Capitole.