National Ballet Chisinau

National Ballet Chisinau

History of the National Ballet Choreography of the Republic of Moldova has got its roots and old traditions from the national dancing creation which had preserved the features of ancient Greek and Roman dances; it had felt the influence of the Balkan and Slavonian cultures as well.
There was always a great interest in opera and ballet in the Republic of Moldova, but the possibility to create a professional theatre appeared only in 1957. For this purpose, a Moldovan group of ballet dancers was taught in Leningrad, which graduated from the famous choreographic school after Vaganova returned to Chisinau and built the basis of the ballet group. At the same time, the young ballet dancer Galina Melentieva and the experienced ballet dancer Pavel Fesenco were invited to Chisinau. The first ballet performance was “The Fountain of Bakhchisarai” by B. Asafiev.
Soon after, the ballets “La fille mal gardee” by F.Herold, “Straussiana” by J.Strauss, “Swan Lake” by P.Tchaikovsky staged by L.Voskresenskaia appeared in the repertoire of the theatre.
Being in search of its own style, there have also been created national ballets. The Moldovan composer Vasile Zagorski composed the ballet “The Dawn”, which was staged by V.Varkovitski. The composer Eduard Lazarev created the ballet “Broken sword” after M. Eminescu’s poem “Ghosts”, staged by the ballet masters S.Drechin and N.Danilova. The first ten years were marked by new performances where each play was an event and a way of becoming a professional ballet group. The theatre toured in Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine. Then, many talented guests came to Chisinau in order to perform. Ballet-lovers were looking forward to see such ballet dancers as Vladimir Tihonov, Piotr Leonardi, Rozita Potehina, Alexander Mihalachi and others.
The ballet „Carmen-Suite” by R. Schedrin/G.Bizet was showing the tragically spirit of Galina Melentieva as an actress, who danced such parts as Odilia, Snow White, Cleopatra.
In 1964, Mihail Caftanat graduated from the Choreographic College in Moscow, came back and right away became famous, performing such difficult parts as Arald in “Broken sword”, Anthony in “Anthony and Cleopatra”, Sigrid in “Swan Lake”, Desire in “The Sleeping Beauty”. Mihail Caftanat became a real star of masculine dancing, showing to the audience his scenic charm and creative work.
Mainly, the ballet of the National Opera and Ballet Theatre aspired to increase its classical repertoire without which there is no genuine theatre. In that way, the basic repertoire of the theatre consists in ballets such as „Swan Lake”, „The Sleeping Beauty”, „Nutcracker”, „Giselle”, „La Silphide” etc.
The flourishing period of ballet in the Republic of Moldova is connected with the name of Marat Gaziev. In this period of time were played classical performances such as “La Silphide”, “Coppelia”, “La Bayadere”, the renewed “Anthony and Cleopatra”.
The ballet „La Bayadere” by L.Minkus was transferred by Tatiana Legat from the Theatre Mariinski to the National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Chisinau. The performance demonstrated that the theatre managed well the difficult work which has been needed in order to show the mastership.
The National Opera and Ballet Theatre Chisinau holds on carefully to the classical plays in its repertoire, side by side with modern ones. They are dancing the ballets „Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” by B.Pawlowski, staged by G.Maiorov, „Romeo and Juliet” by S.Prokofiev, „Prince and Poor” by N.Simonean, staged by E.Girnets.
Nowadays, the theatre is proud of dancers such as Cristina Terentiev – Master of Arts. She possesses an uncommon experience and a great acting talent.
It is very important to mention that the National Choreographic College had its contribution to the professional formation of the ballet dancers of the Republic of Moldova.
Along the years, being full of creative work and artistic discoveries of some artists and ballet master’s, the National Opera and Ballet Theatre has presented itself in a good way because of its highly professional ballet troupe. In evidence we can bring their tours to Russia, Laos, Vietnam, Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Nederland, Spain, France and Switzerland as well as the appreciation given to their performances by the theatre critics. The ballet group is full of energy, new artistic ideas, and desire to perform more and more original plays.

SWAN LAKE
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Libretto: V. Berghicev, V. Gheltser
Choreography: M. Petipa, L. Ivanov, Constantin Sergheev
Set Designer: Veaceslav Ocunev
Costume Designer: Irina Press
Music Director: Albert Mocealov


THE NUTCRACKER
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreographer and director: Yurii Grigorovich
After the story by Alexandre Dumas and the tales by E.T.A. Hoffmann
Choreography: Yurii Grigorovich
Set designer: Simon Virsaladje
Costume designer: Simon Virsaladje


SLEEPING BEAUTY
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Libretto: I. Vsevolojski, M. Petipa
After the story by Charles Perault
Choreographer: Marius Petipa
Editor Constantin Sergheev
Set Designer: Veaceslav Ocunev
Costume Designer: Irina Press
Music Director: Albert Mocealov


DON QUIXOTE
Music: Leon Minkus
Libretto: Marius Petipa
After a part of the story Don Quijote from Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Choreography: Alexandr Gorski after original version of Marius Petipa
Editor: Marat Gaziev
Set Designer: Veaceslav Ocunev
Costume Designer: Irina Press
Music Director: Lev Gavrilov


GISELLE
Music: Adolphe Adam
Libretto:Vernoy de Saint-Georges, Théophile Gautier and Jean Coralli
After the story by Heinrich Heine
Choreography: Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot and Marius Petipa
Set Designer: Veaceslav Ocunev
Costume Designer: Irina Press
Music Director: Lev Gavrilov


COPPÉLIA
Music: Léo Delibes
Libretto: Charles Nuitter and Arthur Saint-Léon.
After the story by Amadeus Hoffmann „The man of sand”
Choreography: Marius Petipa and Enrico Cecchetti
Editor: Marat Gaziev
Set Designer: Marina Sokolova
Costume Designer: Marina Sokolova
Music Director: A. Mocealov

ROMEO AND JULIET
Music: Sergei Prokofiev
Idea, Stage Director, Choreography: Eugen Garnets Master of Arts RM
Set Designer: Veaceslav Ocunev
Costume Designer: Irina Press


CARMEN-SUITE
Music: Georges Bizet-Rodion Shchedrin
Libretto: A.Alonso
After the story by P. Merime
Scenario, Choreography: P. Ivanova
Set Designer: D. Kirov
Costume Designer: D. Kirov
Music Director: L. Hudolei


SPARTACUS
Music: Aram Il’ič Chačaturjan
Libretto: Nicolai Volcov, editorship Igor Cernîșiov
After the novel ”Spartacus” by Raffaello Giovagnolli.
Scenography: Iurie Matei
Costume Designer: Anastasia Spataru
Choreographic adaptation: Natalia Korotkova
Conductor: Dumitru Cârciumaru


LA FILLE MAL GARDÉÉ (THE WAYWARD DAUGHTER)
Music: Peter Ludwig Hertel
Libretto: A. Dobervalle
Choreography: Marat Gaziev
Set Designer: Marina Sokolov
Costume Designer: Marina Sokolov
Music Director: Igor Ersac


SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS
Music: Bogdan Pawlowski
Libretto: V Bobrovskii and S.Piotrovskii
After the homonym stories by Grimm brothers
Choreography: G. Maiorov
Set Designer: A. Kajdan
Costume Designer: A. Kajdan
Music Director: I. Ianachi


REQUIEM
Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Choreography: Boris Eifman
Set Designer: Semion Pastuh
Costume: Ecaterina Rapai
Music Director: Alexandru Samoilă


CHIPOLLINO
Music: Karen Khachaturian
Libretto: Gennady Rihlov, version Genrikh Mayorov
After Gianni Rodari’s tale Adventures of Chipollino
Choreography: Genrikh Mayorov
Set design: Elena Rapay
Music Director: Alfred Gershfeld

National Ballet Chisinau

National Ballet Chisinau

National Ballet Chisinau