The Pharaoh’s Daughter performed by the Bolshoi Ballet. Will be shown Sunday November 23rd, 1:00pm.
Music Cesare Pugni Libretto Jean-Henry Saint-Georges and Marius Petipa Choreography, sets and costumes Pierre Lacotte.
Cast Svetlana Zakharova (Aspicia), Ruslan Skvortsov (Lord Wilson) and Nina Kaptsova (Ramze, Aspicia’s slave).
Young Englishman Lord Wilson is travelling through Egypt when a powerful storm breaks out. He is forced to take shelter in the nearest pyramid, where the daughter of one of Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs lies entombed. Lord Wilson falls asleep and begins to dream that the princess has come to life.
The plot of this lavish production is loosely based on Théophile Gauthier’s novel Le Roman de la Momie. French choreographer Pierre Lacotte was exclusively commissioned in 2000 by the Bolshoi Theatre to resurrect Marius Petipa’s mighty Egyptian fresco, and he succeeded brilliantly in giving new life to this forgotten masterpiece.
With its exotic setting, impressive parades, spectacular variations and crowd scenes, this grand 19th-century Orientalist fantasy is one of the most remarkable productions in the Bolshoi’s repertoire. The main roles are here danced by Bolshoi principals Svetlana Zakharova, Nina Kaptsova and Ruslan Skvortsov.