The ballet “Rodin” is a choreographic embodiment of the story of the unhappy passion of the greatest Master and his student. The frozen movements of the sculptures come to life accompanied by melodies. However, first things first.
The history of the creation of "Ballet Theater" by Boris Eifman
The Ballet Theater dates back to 1977, when a young fan of emotion choreography Boris Eifman decided on a crazy idea. The choreographer’s dream was to create a special union of talented people who could express any mood or venture with a combination of classic and avant-garde pa. Through careful selection of like-minded dancers, the foundation of the theater was created - the ballet studio of the original choreography. Brought up in the best traditions of the Russian classical ballet school, the performers at first hardly mastered the new plastic. But the perseverance and hard work of the team led to the transformation of a simple ballet ensemble into the magnificent “Ballet Theater”.
Soon, Eifman's brainchild, thanks to unique productions and sketches, gained immense popularity not only at home, but also abroad. Avant-garde choreography forced to take a fresh look at the well-known literary classics from childhood - Anna Karenina, Eugene Onegin, The Seagull, which was preferred by director Boris Eifman.
The ballet “Roden” is a choreographic monument to the legendary sculptor
The Ballet Theater specializes mainly in the production of classical works. Thanks to unexpected plastic tricks, the emotions and feelings of the characters are painted in new, sharp colors. The exception to the plot is the ballet "Rodin" at the Bolshoi Theater. The performance is a real choreographic monument to the greatest Master of his era, or rather, the personification of his difficult relationship with his follower and beloved model Camilla Claudel. A devoted student accompanied the Master for 15 long years and was his constant muse. Fatal passion cost the peace of mind of a young woman who ended her days in prison in a mental institution. The sculptor, until his last breath, remembered his beloved, embodying her image in his works.
Short play libretto
This is another choreographic performance about the bright moments of Rodin's life. With the help of plastic vocabulary, the viewer is presented with the difficult relationship of the Master with his lover Camille Claudel. The duration of the Rodin ballet is two acts, each of which is a separate story.
The first act includes pictures of Camilla's last refuge - a hospital for the mentally ill and memories of aging Rodin about the bright past passion. With the last passion of the Master, his legal wife Rosa hardly put up. Madness rival and imprisonment in a yellow house bring unbearable relief to his wife. But the sculptor remains cold to the caresses and care of Rosa, increasingly recalling the inspirer and sorceress Camilla.
The second action of the ballet begins with the sculpting scene of the legendary Rodin pantheon “The Gates of Hell”. The process of creating a masterpiece is intertwined with the ambivalence of the feelings of the sculptor. The immeasurable fidelity of his wife fights a fatal passion for a young model. The loss of mind mademoiselle Claudel and the eternal spiritual loneliness of a genius - the result of this ruthless struggle.
The last scenes of the performance embody the path to nowhere of the patients of the hospital and the eternal triumph of the talent of Genius.
Place and time of the premiere of the performance "Roden"
The performance of Boris Eifman is unique not only in his stage decision. The play uses the music of famous 19th-century writers - Jules Massenet, Maurice Ravel, Camille Saint-Saens. The main parts - Auguste Rodin himself, his wife Rosa Bere and Camilla Claudel - are performed by the young talents of the Ballet Theater Oleg Gabyshev, Nina Zmievets and Lyubov Andreeva.
The first performance of the ballet "Roden" took place on November 22, 2011 on the stage of the Alexandria Opera and Ballet Theater in St. Petersburg. A little later, the production was presented to residents of the capital on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater as part of the Cherry Forest Festival of Arts (mid-May 2012).
The popularity of ballet has spread not only to the cities of Russia, but also beyond its borders. For several years, the production has been successful in New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Paris, London, Berlin, Vienna, Shanghai and other cities of the world.
According to reviews, the Eifman ballet “Roden” became a true breakthrough of non-standard choreographic thought.