Productions

A ballet dream - "Swan Lake" with 48 swans!

International Festival Ballet presents a feery of beauty, elegance and grace. A consummate work of art with live orchestra accompaniment

The meeting of the composer Peter I. Tchaikovsky with the choreographer Marius Petipa was one of the most fortunate coincidences in ballet history. As the "father" of classical ballet, Petipa created the work "Swan Lake", which became the myth and epitome of all ballet art. Tchaikovsky made himself immortal with the compositions for his famous stage work, while Petipa's sensual portrayal of the wing-beating white birds became synonymous with elegance and grace.

Petipa once envisaged 24 swans for the realisation of the fairy-tale material. The new production of the International Festival Ballet doubles the number of dancing swans to 48 and thus presents a unique aesthetic feast for the eyes. In the production, the ensemble relies not only on the visual appeal of a double-sized flock of swans, but also on magnificent images and top dance performances by the protagonists.

Shocked and affected by Russia's inhumane war of aggression against Ukraine, the famous ballet changes its name to International Festival Ballet.

International Festival Ballet

With this change, the artists express their crystal-clear point of view. The Festival Ballet is an International Ballet that thinks beyond national borders and stands for understanding and coexistence in the poetry of art, music and dance. Since the beginning of the war, the artists have expressed their position against Russian aggression through numerous protests before each of their performances. That is why they are now also being threatened by Russia. The team, which also includes numerous Ukrainian dancers, naturally sees itself as a ballet of peace and cohesion between all peoples.

Artistically, the ballet represents the Russian school of classical ballet in its purest form. Strict elegance combined with modern and 21st century influences, in other words, a dance performance in a class of its own - and all this in combination with magnificent costumes and splendid stage sets.

The immortal ballet classics by Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky are known throughout the world and enchant people of all ages. Everyone knows the romantic story of "Swan Lake" with the white and black swans, which has become synonymous with the elegance of classical ballet at the highest level. The centuries-old sleep of Sleeping Beauty, from which only the love of a prince can deliver her, has captivated audiences for generations. And the story of the Nutcracker ballet offers the perfect winter and Christmas magic for the whole family. The International Festival Ballet's unique performances bring beloved ballets to life with ravishing beauty and perfection.

Classical ballet has a long tradition in Eastern Europe, which is still cultivated today. The country has produced many famous prima ballerinas, dancers and choreographers. The renowned Russian ballet schools are known for their high level and rigour, and the students for their will to perform, ambition and enormous talent. The 42 dancers of the International Festival Ballet have also gone through this tough school, be it the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg, the Moscow Choreographic Academy, the Kiev State Choreographic Academy, the Ballet School in Ufa or the Ballet Academy in Perm. They have all worked at the most important ballet theatres in Russia, Ukraine and Moldova and have won numerous prizes at international ballet festivals and competitions. Together they have become one of the most aesthetically and technically successful ballet companies not only in Eastern Europe, but also worldwide as part of the International Festival Ballet. In addition to an absolutely precise dance technique, this high-level ballet is characterised by a harmonious and coherent overall picture and elegant lightness. The International Festival Ballet shines with a perfect dance performance that takes the audience's breath away.

Festival Orchestra

The Festival Orchestra was founded by talented musicians from Moldova, Hungary, Ukraine and Latvia. The artistic director and principal conductor is the renowned conductor Normunds Vaicis. The orchestra's repertoire includes works by Ravel, Debussy, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, Massenet, Faure and Albegis, Gounod and many others. Music from classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Don Quixote and many others is a central part of the repertoire. The orchestra has collaborated with renowned ballet companies from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. The Festival Orchestra has performed with great success in France, the UK, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and other European countries and, despite its relatively small size, has established itself as one of the best ballet orchestras in Europe. In the near future they will be performing Russian ballet seasons for the prestigious International Festival Ballet in Baltic countries, Scandinavia, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Germany and Austria.