Choreography and stage direction MAŠA KOLAR ⁄ EDWARD CLUG
Conductors VALENTIN EGEL, VJEKOSLAV BABIĆ
Two ballets that were a turning point in dance art had their first opening nights in Paris in 1910 and 1911. The composer Igor Stravinsky and choreographer Mikhail Fokin presented works inspired by Russian folklore, impressing, and enchanting the European and world audiences. The Firebird is a magic creature that brings luck but also misfortune to anyone who catches her. The plot follows the journey of the main hero, Prince Ivan who comes to the magic garden of the immortal Kastchei where he meets the Firebird. He captures her, but she convinces him that she will help him if he frees her... With a story full of unexpected turns and a rich music score, this ballet has become one of the most popular works of the 20th century. This work had a revolutionary influence on the development of ballet and has shown how dance art is open to new composers and choreographers, and it presented to the world the young musician Stravinsky. This premiere will be choreographed by Maša Kolar, a contemporary Croatian choreographer. Petrushka is also another ballet title that is significant in the context of ballet history since it was in this work that Mikhail Fokin carried out his reform of ballet art, respectively, he changed some of the rules and conventions that were until then established in classical ballet. This ballet talks of the traditional Russian puppet Petrushka that is made of straw and sawdust and apparently is not alive. But the puppet can come to life and even feel love. The music score is interlaced with grotesque and fantastic elements illustrating the colour and bustle of a fair, folk joy and passion. The world opening night of this ballet followed one year after the successful staging of The Firebird, confirming the revolutionary turn in comprehending, and creating ballet art. Edward Clug is the guest choreographer for this production on the stage of the CNT in Zagreb.
