May 8, 2018 – The audience in Zagreb can look forward to two exceptional ballet treats in June
St Petersburg and Zagreb truly seem to be sharing a special bond these days: part of the collection from the Hermitage Museum is currently on display at the Klovićevi Dvori Gallery, at a major exhibition dedicated to Catherine the Great. Zagreb will soon get another taste of culture coming from Russia, courtesy of the St Petersburg State Academic Ballet Theatre of Leonid Yakobson.
The Croatian National Theatre (HNK) in Zagreb will host two guest performances from the St Petersburg ballet theatre on June 7 and 8, reports Novi list. The renowned Russian ballet house will stage two exceptional productions in the Croatian capital: Don Quixote by Ludwig Minkus and Giselle by Adolphe Adam.
The Ballet Theatre of Leonid Yakobson is paying a visit to Croatia as part of the celebration of the long friendship between the two cities. This year, Zagreb and St Petersburg are marking the 50th anniversary of having become sister cities in 1968.
HNK Zagreb / Roberta F, Commons
This particular rendition of Don Quixote was created by the Danish dancer and choreographer Johan Kobborg, a world-famous ballet icon. Don Quixote is the first in the line of jubilee plays prepared by the State Academic Ballet Theatre of Leonid Yakobson that are meant to mark the 100th anniversary of birth of Marius Petipa, one of the most famous ballet artists of all time.
A classical ballet in two acts, this special version of Giselle was devised by choreographers Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, with the original music of Adolphe Adam and a libretto penned by the renowned French writers of the Romantic period, Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Théophile Gautier.
The State Academic Ballet Theatre of Leonid Yakobson is one of the most distinguished ballet theatres not only in Russia, but on the international cultural scene as a whole. It was named after the famous Russian ballet choreographer Leonid Veniaminovich Yakobson (1904-1975). Since 2011, the theatre has been managed by Andrian Fadeev, an acclaimed Russian artist whose vision is to lead a unique theatre that successfully unites the classical and the modern, the traditional and the innovative.
The Artistic Director of Ballet of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb Leonard Jakovina remarked he’s exceptionally pleased the HNK has again been provided an opportunity to host some of the best ballet dancers on the international scene. He also reiterated the State Academic Ballet Theatre of Leonid Yakobson is known as one the most prestigious art institutions in the world. “The audience in Zagreb has already had a chance to see two Gala concerts marking the Zagreb-St Petersburg friendship anniversary. This time around, as the cherry on the cake that is this year’s theatre season, we’re presenting a priceless cultural event – Don Quixote and Giselle, which I consider to be the pinnacle of ballet art”, Jakovina said.
Click here to get the tickets for Don Quixote and here for Giselle.
