Ludwig Minkus (1826-1917)
La Bayadère, ballet en 4 actes et 7 tableaux

Marianela Nuñez (Nikiya)
Natalia Osipova ( Gamzatti)
Vadim Muntagirov (Solor)
Gary Avis (The High Brahmin)
Christopher Saunders (Rajah)
Alexander Campbell (The Bronze Idol)
The Royal Ballet
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Boris Gruzin, direction
Natalia Makarova, chorégraphie (d'après Marius Petipa)
Pier Luigi Samaritani, scénographie
Yolanda Sonnabend, costumes

Natalia Makarova's acclaimed production of this 19th-century classic ballet brings an exotic world of temple dancers and noble warriors to life. Featuring opulent sets by Pier Luigi Samaritani and beautiful costumes by Yolanda Sonnabend, it stars Marianela Nuñez as the Bayadère (temple dancer) Nikiya, Vadim Muntagirov as Solor, and Natalia Osipova as Gamzatti, whose alluring presence challenges Solor’s love for Nikiya. The Kingdom of the Shades scene in Act II is one of the ballet's highlights, in which a series of arabesques across the moonlit stage demonstrates the strength of the corps de ballet and the beauty of Marius Petipa's choreography. The ballet also contains roles of very different styles for two ballerinas in Nikiya and Gamzatti, a spectacular virtuoso solo for the Bronze Idol (Alexander Campbell), and stunning pas de deux for Solor with both Nikiya and Gamzatti.