GREAT PERFORMANCES: LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER: AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE: LA BAYADERE {TAPE 1 OF 2} (TV)
Summary
Tape one of two. One in this series on the performing arts. In this program -- one in a series of live broadcasts from the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City -- the American Ballet Theatre performs "La Bayadre" at the Metropolitan Opera House in a full-length production staged by dancer Natalia Makarova. Martin Bookspan notes as he opens the program that ABT is celebrating its 40th anniversary and gives a brief summary of the Ballet Theatre's history, naming many of the renowned choreographers who have been associated with the ballet over the years. Host Pia Lindstrom introduces the ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa (best known for his "Sleeping Beauty") and which has never before been produced in its entirety in the West. Makarova, who conceived and directed the production, is making her debut as a choreographer, reinserting the final act usually omitted from twentieth century productions and choreographing new material "after Marius Petipa." Lindstrom also summarizes the story of the ballet itself, which is set in India and deals with a love triangle between Nikiya, the temple dancer or "la bayadre" of the title, the warrior Solor, and the Rajah's daughter Gamzatti, and details the action of the opening scene. Act I, scene 1, begins outside the temple as Solor arranges for a secret meeting with his beloved Nikiya. At the temple ceremonies, the High Brahmin is overwhelmed by Nikiya's beauty and declares himself to her, but she rejects him. Later, Nikiya and Solor meet and pledge their love, but the High Brahmin spies on them and vows to destroy his rival. In scene 2 at the Rajah's palace (on-screen summary precedes the action), the Rajah decides to arrange a marriage between his daughter Gamzatti and Solor. Solor, initially taken by the beautiful princess, goes along. The High Brahmin intervenes, telling the Rajah of Solor's relationship with Nikiya, and the Rajah vows to kill Nikiya. Gamzatti, who has overheard, tries first to persuade Nikiya with bribes and threats, but Nikiya, pushed to extremes, attempts to stab the princess. In scene 3 at the palace garden (on-screen summary precedes the action), the court celebrates Solor and Gamzatti's betrothal. Nikiya performs a sorrowful adagio, after which she is offered a basket of flowers with a snake concealed within it. Fatally wounded by the snake's bite, Nikiya refuses the High Brahmin's antidote and dies convinced she has lost Solor forever. At intermission, Lindstrom interviews music director and conductor John Lanchbery, covering the following topics: conducting for ballet versus other venues, including who follows whose tempo; Lanchbery's tempered view of Minkus, especially as compared to Tchaikovsky; and the changes Lanchbery made to the score, particularly the additional scene change arrangements and bits in the last acts. Lanchbery also discusses some of his extensions of Minkus's themes; violinist and concertmaster Israel Chorberg joins them and helps by demonstrating the variations. Chorberg also contributes to the conversation about the relationships between the concertmaster and the conductor and between the orchestra and the dancers. The tape ends with the one-minute pause. Continues with T:77352.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by The Edward John Noble Foundation.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: May 28, 1980 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:27:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:77351
- GENRE: Dance
- SUBJECT HEADING: Ballet
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1973-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- John Goberman … Producer
- Mona Kligman … Associate Producer
- Kirk Browning … Director
- Alan Skog … Associate Director
- Natalia Makarova … Director, Choreographer, "La Bayadere"
- Lucia Chase … Director, American Ballet Theatre
- Oliver Smith … Director, American Ballet Theatre
- Pierluigi Samaritani … Production (Misc.), Scenery by
- Theoni V. Aldredge … Production (Misc.), Costumes designed by
- Toshiro Ogawa … Production (Misc.), Lighting by
- Tobi Tobias … Writer
- Ludwig Minkus … Music by
- John Lanchbery … Conductor, Music (Misc. Credit), Specially arranged by, Music Director
- Israel Chorberg … Music (Misc. Credits), Concertmaster
- American Ballet Theatre Orchestra … Symphony Orchestra
- American Ballet Theatre … Dance Company
- Anthony Dowell … Cast, Solor, Dancer
- Natalia Makarova … Cast, Nikiya (Act I), Dancer
- Alexander Minz … Cast, High Brahmin, Dancer
- Marianna Tcherkassky … Cast, Nikiya (Acts II & III), Dancer
- Victor Barbee … Cast, Rajah Dugmanta, Dancer
- de Ribere, Lisa … Dancer
- Kristine Elliott … Dancer
- Cynthia Harvey … Cast, Gamzatti, Dancer
- Lise Houlton … Dancer
- Yoko Ichino … Dancer
- Marie Johansson … Dancer
- Charles Maple … Dancer
- Ruth Mayer … Dancer
- Hilda Morales … Dancer
- Gregory Osborne … Dancer
- Michael Owen … Dancer
- Danilo Radojevic … Cast, Head Fakir/Bronze Idol, Dancer
- Richard Schafer … Dancer
- Janet Shibata … Dancer
- Frank Smith … Dancer
- Christine Spizzo … Dancer
- Pia Lindstrom … Host
- Martin Bookspan … Announcer
- Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky