Russian Grand Ballet brings ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ to live at Byham
Submitted photo
The Russian Grand Ballet will bring to life “The Sleeping Beauty” Sept. 28 at the Byham Theater.
Submitted Photo
“The Sleeping Beauty” from the Russian Grand Ballet.
‘In a magical Fairy Kingdom, a Princess named Aurora was born to a wonderful King and Queen…’
The Russian Grand Ballet will bring Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet “The Sleeping Beauty” to life at the Byham Theater, Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28, presented by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.
The Russian Grand Ballet has established a reputation for talent and versatility by touring the world with both full-length traditional ballets and shorter ‘divertissements.’ Its Ballet Master, Honored Artist of Russia, Vladimir Troschenko, is highly dedicated to the timeless tradition of classical Russian Ballet. The Honored artist of Ukraine Olga Kifyak will be dancing Princess Aurora, with The Honored Artist of Ukraine Eugeniy Svetlitsa as Prince Désiré.
Russia’s brightest stars return to the U.S. with one of the worlds favorite fairy tales set to Tchaikovsky’s score–a prologue and three acts.
“There’s a good reason why ‘Sleeping Beauty’ is so often called the ‘ballet of all ballets.’ The combination of pure romanticism, the story about love and deception and Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet music all continue to reach new generations of audiences,” says Troschenko.
Tchaikovsky finished “The Sleeping Beauty” score in 1889. ‘
He wrote to a benefactor about his love of the project, that took him just 40 days to complete. “The subject is so poetic, so inspirational to composition, that I am captivated by it,” Tchiakovsky wrote.
From young to old, many generations have waited for the moment of true love, when Sleeping Beauty opens her eyes, awakened by a kiss from her prince.
The ballet is performed in three acts with two intermissions, with music by Tchaikovsky, choreography by Marius Petipa, revised by Troschenko, and libretto by Ivan Vsevolozhskiy and Marius Petipa.
Featuring majestic sets and Renaissance-inspired costumes, technical brilliance and bravura dancing, Tchaikovsky’s glorious score and a cast of fantastical characters — the Sleeping Beauty would captivate the hearts and imagination of all generations of ballet enthusiasts, Troshchenko explains.
Russian Grand Ballet was founded by and incorporated graduates from the Great Russian choreographic schools of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kiev. The principal dancers of the company came from the upper ranks of the great ballet companies and academies.
Today, the Russian Grand Ballet Theatre is its own institution, with more than 50 accomplished dancers.
Troschenko is anxious to bring the troupe’s current tour to the city.
“Pittsburgh’s blooming art scene makes it the perfect location for the Russian Grand Ballet’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’ performance,” he said.
Tickets ($29.25-$79.25) are available now and can be purchased through TrustArts.org or 412-456-6666.