…..SoSuterBill…..

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BY BILLY SUTER

THE Royal Moscow Ballet returns to South Africa in July with a programme entitled Crown of the Russian Ballet, which will have two performances only at Durban’s Playhouse Opera – at 2pm and 6pm on Saturday, July 28.

Even better news is that this site is giving away three double tickets to attend the evening performance in Durban. To enter the competition, see details at the end of this story.

In a country starved of professional ballet, the regular visits from dancers of the Royal Moscow Ballet are always a treat. The company arrives in the country in July for a  tour covering Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth.

Theatre of Marcellus at Johannesburg’s Emperors Palace is the first stop for the company, with performances scheduled for 3pm and 7pm on July 21, and 3pm on July 22.

After the Durban dates, the company performs at Bloemfontein’s Sand du Plessis Theatre at 7pm on July 30, then at the Port Elizabeth Opera House at 5pm and 8pm on July 31.

The Royal Moscow Ballet is to bring a ballet programme featuring new works not brought to Durban before – Paquita, with music by Ludwig Minkus, choreographed after Marius Petipa; and The Firebird,  a one-act ballet with music by Igor Stravinsky and choreography by Anatoly Emelianov.

Paquita is the creation of French composer Édouard Deldevez and Paris Opéra Ballet Master Joseph Mazilier. In 1847, Paquita was staged for the first time in Russia for the Imperial Ballet of St Petersburg by Marius Petipa and Pierre-Frédéric Malavergne, being the first work ever staged by Petipa in Russia.

In 1881, Petipa produced a revival of the ballet for which he added new pieces specially composed by Ludwig Minkus. This included the Paquita pas de trois for the first act and the Paquita grand pas classique and the Mazurka des enfants for the last act.

Petipa’s version of Paquita was retained in the repertory of the Mariinsky Theatre until 1926.

Petipa’s 1881 additions for Paquita survived long after the full-length ballet left the stage. Today these pieces, particularly the Grand pas classique, are major cornerstones of the traditional classical ballet repertory and have been staged by ballet companies throughout the world.

The Firebird is a ballet and orchestral concert work by the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky.  It was written for the 1910 Paris season of Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes company; the original choreography was by Michel Fokine, with a scenario by Alexandre Benois and Fokine based on the Russian fairy tales of the Firebird and the blessing and curse it possesses for its owner. When first performed at the Opéra de Paris on 25 June 1910, the work was an instant success with both audience and critics.

The ballet has historic significance not only as Stravinsky’s breakthrough piece, but also as the beginning of the collaboration between Diaghilev and Stravinsky that would also produce the acclaimed ballets Petrushka (1911) and The Rite of Spring (1913).

Royal Moscow Ballet has toured successfully around the globe presenting more than a thousand performances. The company, which consists of graduates of the best Russian choreography, ballet and dance schools, premiered as the Royal Moscow Ballet on August12,  2002. The founders are Anatoly Emelianov and Anna Aleksidze.

In 2018  the Royal Moscow Ballet will be celebrating its 16th anniversary. The company has created more than 20 modern and 15 classical ballets. The ballets were created by choreographers and founders Anatoly and Aleksidze.

The Royal Moscow Ballet has visited countries such as Tanzania, Zambia and Kenya – the first visit of a Russian ballet company to East Africa, The dancers performed on specially built stages near Victoria Falls.

In honour of their contribution to the furthering of Russian Culture both Anna Alexidze and Anatoly Emelianov were awarded the prestigious Knight of the Second Order of Dyagilev in 2007.

Royal Moscow Ballet is presented by Edouard Miasnikov Agency whose objective remains to widen cultural exchange and sharing between Russia and South Africa.

Booking is at Computicket outlets.

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WIN ONE  OF THREE SETS OF DOUBLE TICKETS TO THE ROYAL MOSCOW BALLET IN DURBAN

To put yourself in line to win one of three sets of double tickets to see the 6pm Saturday, July 28, performance – at Durban’s Playhouse Opera –  of the touring ballet by the Royal Moscow Ballet, you simply have to be a follower of my site. At no cost.

If you are not already a follower, simply leave your email address in the space provided towards the end of the cover page of this site, sosuterbill.com

You will then be a follower, and receive email notification whenever I file a new story.

Once you have subscribed (there is no cost), send your NAME and PHONE NUMBER via email (NOT THIS SITE’S CONTACT FORM) to sosuterbill@gmail.com and place the words ‘BALLET GIVEAWAY’  in the subject field. 

The THREE lucky winners of double tickets to the ballet will be chosen and notified after 6pm on Saturday, July 14. Good luck!

NOTE: PLEASE READ ENTRY DETAILS CAREFULLY AS SOME PEOPLE ARE ENTERING COMPETITIONS INCORRECTLY.

ALSO NOTE THAT ONLY ONE ENTRY PER SUBSCRIBER WILL BE CONSIDERED.

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