ROMEO AND JULIET

ballet to music by P. I. Tchaikovsky

Choreography Silviya Tomova
Scenography and Costumes Salvatore Russo

Juliet – Aneliya Dimitrova
Romeo – Daniel Tichkov
Signora Capulet – Joanna Vlaguli
Signor Capulet – Aleksandar Zhelev
Signora Montague – Romina Slavova
Signor Montague – Stanko Tanev
Friar Laurence – Dragomir Hristov

The story of Romeo and Juliet has been told and re-created, loved and sought, rediscovered and repeated with the passing of time. Many composers have answered with their music to the eternal themes of the Shakespearian drama about the forbidden adolescent love. Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy by Tchaikovsky is one of the highest achievements based on the classic tragedy by Shakespeare. During a period when Tchaikovsky had not yet established himself as a composer, Mily Balakirev, who was considered the mentor of the Russian composers, commissioned him to write a symphonic work on this theme. After the premiere presentation of the work /1869/, Balakirev advised the composer to revise it. This happened in 1880. In the first version Tchaikovsky starts with a tender romantic melody, which subsequently was removed. In the imagination of the composer Juliet emerges as a little girl whose character is developed and followed in the musical text. In the revised version – the Overture-Fantasy begins with Friar Laurence’s prayer as if all events had already happened. Choreographer Silviya Tomova leans on exactly this idea. The ballet ROMEO AND JULIET begins with Friar Laurence’s blessing, who already knows everything…

As in the legendary film by Zeffirelli, the characters of the Shakespearian drama line up on the stage – the picture is so impressive that for a moment the spectators forget that they attend a ballet spectacle. The soloists in the roles of Romeo and Juliet are like re-born heroes of Romanticism – tender, young, so pure in their love. The costume artist Salvatore Russo masterfully re-creates the authenticity of the epoch in every detail. And the dance is expressive, masterly, justified in each movement. Silviya Tomova skillfully and in-depth emphasizes the psychological development of the characters. In her entire conception she emphasizes the philosophical search of the rejected young people, who do not accept the limitations and prejudices.

“The desire of Romeo and Juliet to free themselves from these norms gets them to meet each other. Each one in their flight finds something or somebody… But they are children, they are still children! Their meeting is passionate, unconscious, but real… They are looking for their truth, looking for the love for which they are ready for everything – to even face death… Everyone has the right to choose, even in love! Their rebellion and rejection to acquiesce turn over the visions of the adults as well who are presumptuous in their artificial ostentation and false virtuousness… Why should we value love only when we have lost it…”

The ballet spectacle Romeo and Juliet does not have a sad end…Everyone can imagine what is going to happen later…

Duration: 30 minutes
Premiere: 28 February 2017