'La Esmeralda - Grand Pas classique - 2/2 - The Mikhailovsky Ballet

1/2 of the Grand pas classique taken from the Mikhailovsky Ballet's (formerly known as the Maly/Mussorgsky) production of the full-length "La Esmeralda".


NOTE - Ive corrected the title of this piece (I recently got a hold of the 1899 list of dances, & these pieces were known as the "Grand pas classique" then)


Grand Pas classique -
1. Variation II (Drigo)
2. Variation de Phœbus de Châteaupers (Drigo)
3. Variation de Fleur-de-lys—Pizzicatto (Drigo)
4. Grand coda (Pugni)


**NOTE - many dancers & balletomanes will recognize that the first solo in this clip is also found as a variation for the character Diana in the so-called "Diane et Actéon pas de deux". Although almost always erroneously credited as being an extract from Petipa's 1886 revival of "La Esmeralda", the "Diane et Actéon pas de deux" is actually derived from the "Pas de Diane" from Petipa's 1868 "Le Roi Candaule" (known in Russian as "Tsar Candavl"). It was Agrippina Vaganova who inserted the pas into her 1935 revival of "La Esmeralda" for Galina Ulanova & Vakhtang Chabukiani. I have a hunch that this variation was never intended to be performed by Diana at all, & is shown here in its original context as one of Drigo's interpolations, likely for Petipa's 1886 revival of "La Esmeralda". This may very well be the source of the misconception concerning the origins of the "Diane et Actéon pas de deux". But, even without considering all of that, Petipa would have never added such a piece to "La Esmeralda".


This production was staged by Pyotr Gusev & the great ballerina Tatiana Vecheslova, who both remembered the ballet as it was danced before the choreography & mise-en-scène became heavily revised by Soviet-era ballet masters.

Recently, this production was released onto DVD, but unfortunately it was severly edited, leaving only about 55 minutes.


--ENJOY!!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• La
• Esmeralda
• Mussorgsky
• Maly
• Mikhailovsky
• Ballet
• St.
• Petersburg
• Russia
• Russian
• Drigo
• Pugni
• Petipa

[Mireilka]

Thank you so much for posting this scene, what a treat! Definitely one of my favorite ballets and this scene is omitted from the available Maly version - as well as an important scene between Esmeralda and Frollo. Can't wait to see and read more!

[mrlopez2681]

what scene between Esmeralda & Frollo was left out?

[palubob]

Once again, thank you for the invaluable history lesson.

[mochabubble]

thank you so much for posting this and you wonderful explanations! I love reading all of your ballet history and us young dancers really need to be educated on these matters. Thank you as always!

[twirln55]

What ballet is this? because I recognize Diana's variation, but this is def not Esmeralda or Diana and Acteon