Production by the National Ballet of China

Producer: Feng Ying

Production Conceived and Directed by Natalia Makarova

Choreography by Natalia Makarova after Marius Petipa and Vakhtang Chabukiani

General Répétiteur:Olga Evreinoff，Julio Bocca

Music by Ludwig Minkus,specially arranged by John Lanchbery

Set and Costume Design by Jadwiga Maria Jarosiewicz

Stage Cooperation by Gong Xun

Lighting Design by Liu Zhao

Costume Cooperation: Yue Songshan

NBC General Répétiteur: Zhu Yan，Xu Gang

Production Coordinator: Dina Makaroff, Qin Xi

Répétiteurs:  Zhang Jian, Wang Qimin,Wang Hao,  Wang Qi, Zhang Huafang(Guests)

Piano Accompaniment: Yin Yue, Wang Jinyi, Bai Yijie，Sun Xiaosong

Video SpecialEffect: Wang Yi, Wang Liqiang (Guests)

World Premiere:Imperial Ballet, Imperial Theater, St. Petersburg, Russia, February 4th, 1877

China Premiere:National Ballet of China, Poly Theater, Beijing, October 11th, 1996

Premiere of Natalia Makarova's Production by NBC: Tianqiao Theater, Beijing, September 17th,2016

Synopsis of La Bayadère

ActI

Scene1

The Sacred forest, outside the temple

Warriorsenter in the sacred forest following the great tiger hunt and are joined bySolor, the noblest of warriors in the land. Solor asks to be left along to offerprayer for celebration of sacred fire, but once alone he calls the Head Fakir(Magdaveya) to arrange a midnight rendezvous for him with Nikiya, one of thetemple dancers.

Priestsled by the High Brahmin enter and the Head Fakir is ordered to call the otherFakirs to build up the sacred fire for the coming celebration. The High Brahmincalls for Nikiya, who has been chosen to be consecrated as the head templedancer (bayadère). As she prepares for the rite, the High Brahmin overwhelmed byher beauty and declares his love. He is rejected by Nikiya as he is a man ofGod—and though he offers the crown of his position toprove his love, she refuses and leaves the High Brahmin deeply hurt.

Theceremony begins as temple girls bring water to the Fakirs, and the Head Fakirhas the opportunity to give Solor’s message to Nikiya. Nikiyaagrees to the tryst, but the High Brahmin is suspicious. The celebration endsand all leave.

TheHead Fakir calls Solor and tells him to hide at the edge of the forest, forNikiya will meet him. Nikiya comes from the temple and as she dances a loveadagio, Solor joins her and swears eternal love over the sacred fire. The HighBrahmin has been watching the lovers from within the temple, and after the HeadFakir, suspecting danger, separates the pair. The High Brahmin enters in furyand invokes the gods to help him kill Solor.

Scene2

A Room in the Palace

TheRajah invites warriors to the Palace to honor Solor and drink to his fame.Solor arrives and Rajah announces that his reward will be marriage to hisdaughter Gamzatti. When the Rajah presents his child to Solor and lifts herveil, Solor is stunned by her beauty; and though he has sworn eternal love tothe bayadère Nikiya, cannot refuse the offer of the Rajah.

Themaid Aya announces the arrival of the High Brahmin who requests a privateaudience with the Rajah. He tells the Rajah of Solor and Nikiya’slove in hopes that the Rajah will kill Solor, but instead the Rajah decides toeliminate Nikiya, to the dismay of the High Brahmin.

Gamzattioverhears this conversation and summons Nikiya to her presence. She offers herrival jewels and gifts to leave Solor, but Nikiya refuses and ultimately isprevented from killing Gamzatti by the attendant Aya. Gamzatti now, like herfather, decides to kill Nikiya.

Scene3

The Garden of the Palace

Entertainmentsare given to honor the betrothal of Gamzatti and Solor. The High Brahmin bringsNikiya, who is to dance for the ceremony. She cannot face the truth of theengagement and dances a very sad adagio. During her variation, the maid Ayabrings her a basket of flowers says that they are from Solor. Nikiya’sspirits rise and as she dances she throws flowers to the crowd. But the flowerswere sent by Gamzatti and the Rajah and contain a poisonous snake. As Nikiyalifts the flowers to smell them, she is fatally bitten. The High Brahmin has anantidote for the poison, but Nikiya, as she sees Solor led away from the sceneby Gamzatti and the Rajah, resolutely decides to die and expires as the HighBrahmin mourns.

ActII

Solor'sTent

Soloris completely despondent and the Head Fakir gives him some opium which hesmokes. As he hallucinates, he sees a vision of Nikiya which will not leavehim. He sees a reminiscence of the love dance he shared with her.

As his vision enlarges, he imagines many Nikiyas in the Kingdom of the Shades.

He remains in a trance in his tent as the warriors come to prepare him for hiswedding to Gamzatti. Solor cannot separate reality from fantasy, and the Rajahand Gamzatti come to remind him of his duty.

ActIII

Thetemple

Inthe shadow of the Great Buddha, a bronzed idol dances as the High Brahmin andpriests prepare for the wedding of Gamzatti and Solor. Solor and his friendsarrive, followed by Gamzatti and two attendants. Gamzatti dances a variation todisplay her beauty and love for Solor. The Temple dancers (bayadères)perform a ritual candle dance and form a ring around the couple, reminiscent ofthe sacred fire which burns outside the temple.

Apas de quatre between Gamzatti, Solor, the Rajah and Nikiya follows, but Nikiyais a vision seen only to Solor. During the dance, mysteriously a basket ofgolden flowers appears to Solor as a gift for Gamzatti. It is the same basketin which the snake that killed Nikiya was hidden. Gamzatti is terrified andconsumed with guilt, and as Solor behaves strangely, she urges her father tofinish the marriage ceremony, herself filled with feelings of impending doom.

Gamzattiand Solor climb the altar where the High Brahmin performs the wedding. Gamzattihas said yes to the vows, but Solor cannot bring himself to answer. He sees avision of Nikiya and answers yes to the apparition and all are killed. It isthe vengeance of the gods on all evil-doers, and through the destruction, wesee a vision of Paradise where Nikiya and Solor are united in eternal love.