Natalia Makarova’s La Bayadère

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.

“The Royal Ballet’s revival of La Bayadère is lit up by starry casting. Two of the company’s reigning ballerinas, Marianela Nuñez and Natalia Osipova, face off as the temple dancer Nikiya and her rival, the princess Gamzatti. It makes for a night of powerful personalities and blazing dancing. The Royal Ballet dance Natalia Makarova’s production with complete conviction” (The Evening Standard ★★★★)

Genre Ballet
Stage Director Natalia Makarova
Choreography by Natalia Makarova; Marius Petipa
Production year 2018-2019
Duration 137 minutes
Audio format LPCM 2.0 & DTS Digital Surround 5.1 (DVD) LPCM 2.0 & DTS Master Audio 5.1 (BLU-RAY)
Dance Company The Royal Ballet
Costumes Yolanda Sonnabend
Soloist Vadim Muntagirov
Soloist Natalia Osipova
Soloist Marianela Nuñez