Credit Photo: Serghei Gherciu
There are just a very few works occupying such a special position in the history of art such is the romantic ballet La Sylphide. The fairy in a muslin costume and with a new technique of dancing on reinforced toes was able to bring completely new experiences to the audience – the embodiment of the magic of supernatural beings, the desire to fulfill dreams.
Does the same apply to us as it did to viewers a hundred and ninety years ago? Can we still be moved by the story of the fairy Sylphide and young James? Definitely yes. We too have our dreams and desires; we run away from our lives and are afraid of fateful decisions. After all, our hearts are always in the same place. We can perceive the ballet La Sylphide as a fairy tale, but also as a symbolic image, a reflection of our inner world…
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Danish choreographer August Bournonville presented his version of the ballet with music by Norwegian composer Herman von Løvenskjold in Copenhagen in 1836
The world premiere of the ballet La Sylphide took place in 1832 at the Paris Opera, choreographed by Filippo Taglioni. Four years later, Danish choreographer August Bournonville presented his version of the ballet with music by Norwegian composer Herman von Løvenskjold in Copenhagen. Lucile Grahn starred and Bournonville himself portrayed the character of James. Since then, La Sylphide has become the pearl of the romantic repertoire.
Johan Kobborg was the first soloist of the Royal Danish Ballet and the Royal Ballet in London. He is dedicated to choreography and direction. His La Sylphide is a tribute to Auguste Bournonville and his style, which we rank among the world’s cultural treasures.
The ballet La Sylphide tells the story of a young Scot James, whose mind is divided, he is restless. Although he adores his gentle Effie, he longs for another world; his dreams go beyond earthly existence. Is it right to dream of sylphs on your wedding day? And the fairy comes, becomes an elusive symbol of his desires, and lures him into the forest. But the fairy cannot be caught, every time James reaches for it, it escapes. And when he finally embraces her, the fairy dies. Sylphs cannot live human love…
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In 2014, Johan Kobborg’s La Sylphide production in Bucharest was named “Performance of the Year” in Romania
Few works occupy such an exceptional position in the history of art as the ballet La Sylphide. A fairy who, in a muslin costume with wings and with a new unique dance technique, was able to bring a completely different world to the audience – the magic of otherworldly beings, the desire for a dream. The ballet La Sylphide contains the clash between the unreal and the real world, the chemistry of destructive love and strong emotions.
Johan Kobborg’s La Sylphide has been staged on a number of prestigious stages around the world. The premiere took place in 2005 at the Royal Ballet in London and Johan Kobborg was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award. The production from 2008 at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow was also successful, receiving three nominations for the 2009 Golden Mask awards (for the best production of the year, for the best choreographer and for the main couple).
In 2014, the Bucharest production was named “Performance of the Year” in Romania. Kobborg’s La Sylphide has also been performed by famous ballet companies such as the Zürich Ballet, the Lithuanian National Ballet, the Canadian National Ballet, the Atlanta Ballet – and Florida’s Sarasota Ballet is also planning a premiere in 2023.
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Among the main features of the Bournonville style are grace, lightness and harmony
The Bournonville phenomenon is timeless. It is an unmistakable, distinctive style that sets the tone for the Danish dance school and has hardly changed since its inception. Nevertheless, he influenced the technique of classical dance, the ballet repertoire – directing and staging procedures, dance teaching. Bournonville’s manuscript differs from other ballet dictionaries, among other things, in that it contains special enchaînements. Among the main features of the Bournonville style are grace, lightness and harmony.
Sylfida
Alina Nanu
Aya Okumura
Ayaka Fujii
James
Paul Irmatov
Erivan Garioli
Oleg Ligaj
Effie
Irina Burduja
Olga Bogoliubskaia
Alexandra Pera
Gurn
Matěj Šust
Giacomo De Leidi
Francesco Scarpato
Danilo Lo Monaco
Madge
Tereza Podařilová
Miho Ogimoto
Kristýna Němečková
Jamesova matka
Monika Hejduková
Sophie Benoit
Choreografie
Johan Kobborg
Hudba
Herman von Løvenskjold
Scéna
Martin Černý
Kostýmy
Barbora Maleninská
Světla
Pavel Dautovský
Hraje
Orchestr Státní opery
Hudební nastudování a dirigent
Piotr Staniszewski
