Details

The beautiful Russian city of St Petersburg is the cradle of Russian classical ballet and has produced some of the world's greatest ballet dancers. The St Petersburg Ballet Theatre was formed in 1994 and includes graduates from the Vaganova Academy and other leading companies. Her Name Was Carmen is a deadly cocktail of passion and tragedy. After her family becomes a target for cruel people smugglers, the free spirited and feisty Carmen finds shelter in a refugee camp. Against this backdrop of despair, the na?ve camp guard Jose and the local smuggler's boss both fall under her spell and so the love triangle implodes. This new full-length ballet is in two acts brought to life by 50 dancers in modern dress, set to a re-orchestrated version of Bizet's much-loved score played live by the orchestra of the English National Opera. The St Petersburg Ballet Theatre aims to show how art can respond to one of humanity's most urgent crises. The ballet has drawn on Irina's recent experience visiting refugee camps in the Balkans to express timeless themes of hope, despair, suffering and a desire for a better life.

Cast/Performers

Irina Kolesnikova

Creatives/Company

Choreographer: Olga Kostel
Company: Orchestra of English National Opera
Music(s): Georges Bizet, Murat Kabardokov (orchestraion)
Design: Vladimir Firer
Costume: Vladimir Firer