THE MIGHTY MARIINSKY AND FABULOUS FOKINE

For more than two centuries, the Mariinsky Ballet, formerly known as the Kirov, has created classical dance at its best, a tradition that continues to this day.  This incredible company is coming to Segerstrom Center for the Arts for one weekend only, October 12-15, 2017, where they’ll pay tribute to Russian choreographer Michel Fokine with four of his early 20th-century works, accompanied by acclaimed conductor Valery Gergiev and the 66-member Mariinsky Orchestra. To whet your appetite, we’re presenting some clips.

The program begins with the soulful undertones of the 35-minute  Chopiniana, a gentle portrayal of romance and grace set to an ethereal score by Frédéric Chopin, a suite of piano pieces orchestrated by Alexander Glazunov and Maurice Keller:

The central act brings two show-stopping works. First is Le Spectre de la Rose, a tour de force created for the legendary Vaslav Nijinsky with music  by Carl Maria von Weber (Invitation to the Dance orchestrated by
Hector Berlioz):

Next is  The Swan, a virtuosic solo which Fokine choreographed for Anna Pavlova in 1907; it captures the essence of Russian romantic ballet. The famous music is  by Camille Saint-Saëns from Carnival of the Animals:

For the finale, the Mariinsky performs the exotic  Schéhérazade, a 45-minute seductive fable based on  the Arabian Nights fairy-tale from “One Thousand and One Nights’” set to Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s voluptuous score and brimming with theatricality and drama. Expect to be dazzled by dozens of dancers. Here is the Adagio:

photo by N. Razina

Mariinsky Ballet and Orchestra
all-Fokine program
Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa
Thursday October 12 at 7:30
Friday, October 13 at 7:30
Saturday, October 14 at 2 and 7:30
Sunday, October 15 at 1 and 6:30
for tickets, call 714.556.2787  or visit  SCFTA