''La Vestale'' ( en. ''The Vestal'') is a ''grand

ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...

'' in three acts and four scenes with choreography by

Marius Petipa Marius Ivanovich Petipa (; born Victor Marius Alphonse Petipa; 11 March 1818) was a French and Russian ballet dancer, pedagogue and choreographer. He is considered one of the most influential ballet masters and choreographers in ballet history ...

and music by Mikhail Ivanov. The ballet was first presented by the

Imperial Ballet The Mariinsky Ballet () is the resident classical ballet company of the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Founded in the 18th century and originally known as the Imperial Russian Ballet, the Mariinsky Ballet is one of the world's ...

on at the

Imperial Mariinsky Theatre The Mariinsky Theatre (, also transcribed as Maryinsky or Mariyinsky) is a historic opera house in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music theatre of late 19th-century Russia, where many of the stage masterpieces ...

in St. Petersburg, Russia.

History

After the extraordinary success of the Italian ''Prima Ballerina'' Virginia Zucchi's performances in '' La Esmeralda'' in St Petersburg, Petipa went on to produce some of the finest ballets in his repertoire for Italian ballerinas. One of these great ballets was ''The Vestal'', which was created for the benefit performance of Elena Cornalba. The ballet was a phenomenal success and among ballet historians, it is considered the predecessor of '' The Sleeping Beauty''. Many critics who saw the première commented unanimously that the work was the epitome of the ''Ballet à Grand Spectacle''. Set in

Ancient Rome In modern historiography, ancient Rome is the Roman people, Roman civilisation from the founding of Rome, founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the Fall of the Western Roman Empire, collapse of the Western Roman Em ...

, the ballet was built on fantastical themes, complete with gods and goddesses, Emperors, and the like. The sets, costumes, and props were considered the best yet seen on the Imperial stage. Mikhail Ivanov's music proved to be the first successful score for the ballet that was provided by a symphonic composer. Although the ballet was not notated and is not performed today, at least two variations from the ballet's score are used in different pieces. One variation is that entitled ''L'Armour'', which was composed and added to the score by

Riccardo Drigo Riccardo Eugenio Drigo (; 30 June 1846 – 1 October 1930) was an Italian composer of ballet music and Italian opera, a theatrical Conducting, conductor, and a pianist. Drigo is most noted for his long career as kapellmeister and Director of Mu ...

as a variation for

Cupid In classical mythology, Cupid ( , meaning "passionate desire") is the god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection. He is often portrayed as the son of the love goddess Venus and the god of war Mars. He is also known as Amor (Latin: ...

, the God of Love. This variation was performed with great acclaim by the ballerina, Maria Anderson and appears in the Bolshoi Ballet's staging of the '' Paquita Grand Pas Classique'', staged by Russian choreographer, Yuri Burlaka. Burlaka also utilised another supplemental variation by Drigo for his ''Awakening of Flora Pas de quatre''; this variation is entitled ''L'Echo'' and was composed and added to the score by Drigo for Elena Cornalba.

Roles and original cast

References

External links

Yuri Burlaka's ''Awakening of Flora Pas de quatre'' featuring the supplemental variation ''L'Echo'' by Riccardo Drigo The Bolshoi Ballet's performance of the ''Paquita Grand Pas Classique'' featuring the supplemental variation ''L'Armour'' by Drigo
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vestal Ballets by Marius Petipa 1880s ballets 1888 works Ballets by Mikhail Ivanov Ballets premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre