La Bayadère: Finnish National Opera Ballet

About the Event

La bayadère is one of the masterpieces of 19th‐century Russian ballet, a brilliant example of a grand spectacular production with huge crowd scenes, colourful costumes and beautiful sets. Enjoy this production at the Finnish National Opera Ballet.

Nikiya is a bayadère, or temple dancer. She is in love with a warrior named Solor, but he ends up in an arranged marriage with the lovely Princess Gamzatti. The Princess sees Nikiya as a threat, so she must die. The wedding of Solor and Gamzatti ends in chaos, as the enraged gods intervene.

The best‐known scene in La bayadère is the Kingdom of Shadows, where Solor has a vision of the dead Nikiya, multiplied by the corps de ballet. This lovely and entrancing scene is often performed separately.

Choreography: Natalia Makarova (after Petipa)
Music: Ludvig Minkus
Conductor: Philip Ellis
Sets: Pier Luigi Samaritani
Costumes: Anna Kontek
Lighting design: John B. Read