On Tuesday 17th June at 8.30pm (session A), for the 2008 Opera and Ballet Season at the Teatro Lirico, Cagliari, the National Theatre Brno Ballet Company, one of the most renowned and prestigious dance companies in the world, will be performing La Bayadère, grand ballet in four acts with libretto by Sergej Chudekov and Marius Petipa, music by Ludwig Minkus, a new elaboration by John Lanchbery.

The Teatro Lirico Orchestra will be conducted by Jan Zbavitel. The memorable original choreography is by Marius Petipa, the new elaboration of the libretto, production and choreography is by Jaroslav Slavický, staging by Ivo Židek and costumes by Josef Jelínek.

There will be some of the most famous international stars among the cast of La Bayadère, who will be alternating for the performances: Ivona Jelicova, Maxim Chashchegorov, Daria Sukhorukova.

The National Theatre Brno Ballet Company is one of the Czech Republic’s most important and prestigious ballet companies enjoying a rich artistic tradition. The high professional standard achieved both by the company itself and by the solists, allows the team to perform a repertoire that ranges from classical to contemporary choreography. Several of the solists have been awarded prizes in national and international competitions.

La Bayadère will also be shown on Wednesday 18th June at 8.30pm (session B), Thursday 19th June at 8.30pm (session G), Friday 20th June at 8.30pm (session C), Saturday 21st June at 7pm (session D), Monday 23rd June at 8.30pm (session E), Tuesday 24th June at 8.30pm (session F).

The ballet La Bayadère, by L.Minkus, was first staged in the St. Petersburg`s Mariinsky Theatre on 5th February 1877 and proved to be the turning point in the career of its creator, Marius Petipa and for Russian ballet. In the academic repertoire it is not to be ignored and can only be performed by a dance company of superb artistic standard. La Bayadère has all the characteristics of a classical ballet, as well as a strong exotic side. In fact the inclination of the era was for luxurious oriental scenery and fairy tale settings. The ballet which was inspired by the drama Shakuntala by Kalidasa, tells of the Bayad`re Nikiya’s love for Solor, who in turn loves her, but has been promised to Gamzatti, the daughter of a Rajah. Gamzatti sends Nikiya a basket of flowers in which a poisonous snake is hidden. The snake bites Nikiya and kills her. Solor dreams of meeting Nikiya in the Kingdom of Shadows, but later during Solor and Gamzatti’s wedding the temple collapses and they are buried under the rubble. It is a tale of love, faithfulness and betrayal, sincerity and treachery.

The 2008 Opera and Ballet Season is subsidized by the Fondazione Banco di Sardegna, Poste Italiane, Energit S.p.A., Deutsche Bank S.p.A. and is accomplished in collaboration with the Azienda e Vigneto Feudi della Medusa.