Russian ballet stars of Diaghilev Festival are set to enthral Doha with a rich repertoire from world-famous ballets when they stage their first-ever performance in Qatar on October 26 at the Qatar National Convention Centre Theatre.
“This visit will be a discovery for us, as it is the first time we are performing in Qatar,” Andris Liepa, founder of Maris Liepa Charity Foundation, told The Peninsula.
Maris Liepa Charity Foundation together with Gazprom, Olympic City and the Russian Embassy in Doha are bringing the troupe to Qatar, which is only the second time it would be performing in the Middle East, the first of which was in Abu Dhabi’s Emirates
“From our previous experience in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi last year we found that Middle Eastern audience is very much intrigued about Russian Ballet Performance and excited to attend Russian Seasons of the XXI Century,” observed Liepa.
The show’s repertoire includes masterpieces of Diaghilev’s repertoire divertimento from world famous ballets such as Giselle, Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Sheherezade and Swan Lake.
The ballet troupe has already performed in Paris at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, in London at London Coliseum as well as in the biggest cities of Russia, Belorussia and Ukraine.
Russian Ballet stars from Mariynsky Theatre and the Kremlin Ballet Theatre will be performing in lebra-
tion of the legendary impresario Sergei Diaghilev (1872-1929), founder of the Ballets Russes company – an extraordinarily gifted impresario, curator and director pushing the boundaries of all the art forms he worked within.
Although Diaghilev masterpieces were created in the 1900s, they are much applauded receiving colades from audiences around the world in the present time.
“Diaghilev ballet had always been ahead of its time. The concept was more futuristic within 1900s and applies itself more on modern society than the past,” said Liepa. “For example, The Rite of Spring (Vesnasvyashchennaya,written for the 1913’s Paris Seasons of Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, with choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky, orchestral concert work by the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky) had not been well accepted and appreciated a century ago but in May 2013 we will celebrate its jubilee year. Only after 100 years the public’s cultural awareness has grown to the level when this piece of art presented by Russian artists can be appreciated,” he added.Aside from yearly running projects, the Maris Liepa Charitable Foundation is preparing for yet many future projects in prominent venues around the world.
“In summer 2013 we will be presenting the fourth season of Russian Seasons of the XXI Century in Paris in Théâtre des Champs Elysées with premiere of opera-ballet by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov The Golden Cockerel. After Paris we will tour the second season in London Coliseum Theatre. The experienced London audience will witness the best ballets including the premiere of 2012 –Ida Rubinstein with magnificent Ilse Liepa in the demanding role as Cleopatra staged by Patrick de Bana — a famous European choreographer.”
But Qatar is definitely on the list of countries where the company would love to possibly present more performances in the future.
“I am dreaming to see Qatar theatres. I have heard so much of them. Upon arriving there I would be
delighted to discuss possible performances in the next year,” said Liepa.
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