Gala Evening at the Kirov Ballet Raymonda
BBC2's Dance Month 1980, ends with a performance by one of the greatest Russian companies, the Kirov from Leningrad.
Raymonda, choreographed by MARIUS PETIPA to music by ALEXANDER GLAZUNOV , is a magnificent example of the classical ballet of the 19th century, danced tonight in the beautiful theatre that saw its first performance in 1898. Set in medieval Provence it tells the story of the wooing of Raymonda by the Crusader knight, Jean de Brienne , and his evil rival the Saracen Abderahman.
Conductor VIKTOR SHIROKOV Design SULIKO VIRSALADZE Production revived by KONSTANTIN SERGEYEV
Television director YURI BOGATIREV a SOVIET TELEVISION production
During the Interval:
John Drummond talks to
Dame Ninette de Valois, founder of the Royal Ballet.