Bedrich Smetana decided to compose his second opera in a lighter vein than the theme he chose for his first one "The Brandenburgers in Bohemia". One hundred and thirty years ago he composed the two-act version about the faithful love between Maoenka and Jenk, which also included spoken dialogues. In the course of another four years the Bartered Bride gained its definitive form in three acts, a work which fills opera houses again and again; it impresses, amuses, and enchants not only the justly proud Czech patrons, but has also managed to overcome language barriers and irresistibly also attracts discriminating foreign audiences.
Rusalka- Antonin Dvorak
A lyrical fairy tale to a libretto by Jaroslav Kvapil, full of poetry and drama, narrates the story of the ill-fated water nymph, who falls in love with a prince and out of love for him longs to be a human. She suffers the pain of being a mute and the threat of damnation, and when her lover abandons her, she refuses redemption at the expense of his blood. The story tends more toward the symbolic than toward a fairy tale, but the setting in the countryside peopled with nymphs, a wafer gnome and a witch, combined with Dvork's music, creates a magic impression.
Swan Lake- Pyotr Ilyic Tchaikovski
The Swan Lake belongs to the most popular and renowned titles of the classical ballet. We can find it on repertoire of any world scene. The story of the princess odetta whos been enchanted into a swan, has earned its eternity thanks to the beautiful music by the ingenious composer P. I. Tchaikovsky.
Americana
After the success of the performance of Americana, the National Theatre ballet ensemble returns to the creation of overseas choreographers of the twentieth century. The domestic viewer will again have the opportunity to become familiarised with the artistic handiwork of the foremost personalities of American dance art, in whose works ballet expanded its language with modern means of expression and jazz elements. Balachines choreography of Who cares? represents a fresh ballet variation to the rhythm of the jazz music of George Gershwin, Tarantella to the music of L. M. Gottschalk is in turn inspired by an Italian temperament. From the workshop of Glen Tetley the work Sphinx was chosen a ballet drama of love and death according to Jean Cocteau. In the concluding River, under the choreography of Alvin Ailey, a fantastical river of movement is danced out to the music of Duke Ellington.