"The Talisman" pas de deux 1/2 - Students of the Vaganova Academy

Special thanks to K. for this film & kind permission to upload it.


1/2 of a performance of "Le Talisman" pas de deux by Anastasia Nikitina & Masahiro Nakaya. Taken from the 2008 graduation performance of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg.



**History -
Although almost always attributed to Marius Petipa, this rarely performed pas de deux is likely a Soviet-era creation - perhaps it is the work of Pyotr Gusev, Konstantin Sergeyev or even Vaganova.

Marius Petipa & composer Riccardo Drigo produced the full-length "Le Talisman" in 1889 for the Italian ballerina Elena Cornalba, who created the role of the Goddess Niriti. The ballet was unique for its time: it featured 2 principal male roles. The first was the role of the young Maharajah Noureddin, a role created by Pavel Gerdt. The secondary male role, & certainly the "flashier" of the two, was the wind God Vayou, which was created by the great Enrico Cecchetti. Petipa produced only one major revival that I know of - in 1895 for Pierina Legnani.

In 1909 Nikolai Legat staged a new version of the ballet, with Olga Preobrajenska in the role of the Goddess Niriti & Vaslav Nijinsky in the role of the Wind God Vayou, which the danseur re-named "Hurricane". For this production Drigo created a new version of his score. Nijinsky caused a sensation in the role of the wind god.

In 1997 the Teatro Verdi di Padova presented a revival of "Le Talisman" in honor of the 150th anniversary of Riccardo Drigo's birth in a version by choreographer Paul Chalmers (I have uploaded this production, the first clip is here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISBU-oaE_UM&fmt=22 ).

The pas de deux shown in this performance utilizes the character deities Niriti & Vayou (or "Hurricane"). The music was obviously brought together from various pieces in the ballet.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Vaganova
• School
• Russian
• Ballet
• The
• Talsiman
• St.
• Petersburg
• Marius
• Petipa
• Cesare
• Pugni
• Riccardo
• Drigo
• Mariinsky
• Theatre

[Naminesfriend]

this was simply magnificent :)

[stacygable]

ya.its is cool!!

[maksimowawasiliew]

Yes, and she´s very skinny! I saw her in lesson in Vaganova school and she was the most skinny girl in her class. But she has power, so I think it´s o.k.

[palubob]

Lovely long legs indeed!

[Pearlaceous]

Her lovely long legs make gorgeous lines!

[Pearlaceous]

Nikitina is in the Corps de Ballet at the Mariinsky. Don't know about Nakaya.

[bachandbark]

Does anyone know where they are dancing now?