Featuring the Stars, principal dancers and dancers of the Paris Opera National Ballet

By Paul Foucher et Joseph Mazilier

Music : Edouard-Marie-Ernest Deldevez et Ludwig Minkus

Produced by David Coleman

Adaptation and choreography: Pierre Lacotte (2001) from versions of Joseph Mazilier (1846) and Marius Petipa (1882)

Stage Design and Costums: Luisa Spinatelli

Lightings: Philippe Albaric

Orchestra of the Chinese Central Ballet company

Musical Director : Philippe Béran

With the support of

BNP PARISBAS   EADS   ERNST&YOUNG   DANONE   GROUPAMA   REMY COINTREAU   SAINT-GOBAIN   TOTAL

The colours of 19th century Spain set the scene at the National Grand Theater! Pierre Lacotte has succeeded triumphantly in putting together this romantic ballet enriched with a brilliant finale by Petipa. In this story of brigands and the military, love is governed and ruled by social conventions and an inspired revelation leads to an unexpected happy ending. A giddy performance full of life.

The Paris Opera Ballet Company

The Paris Opera Ballet company is today considered to be one of the most prestigious and accomplished in the world. With an average dancers age of 25, it is also one of the youngest companies performing today. The company has a wide repertoire, from the romantic ballets and classics to contemporary creations. Brgitte Lefèvre is the Dance Director.

Marius Petipa, Choreographer

Petipa took his first steps on stage at the tender age of 5.  In 1847 he became principal dancer of the Imperial Ballet of St Petersburg, in 1869 he was awarded the title of Ballet Director.  He created around 60 ballets most of them becoming the most celebrated in the history of ballet ("Sleeping Beauty", "The Nutcracker", "Sweet and Swan Lake" among them…….)

Pierre Lacotte, Choreographer

Having trained at the Paris Opera school of dance, Pierre Lacotte was named Principal dancer in 1951 and in 1956 he founded his own ballet company.  He is widely acknowledged and considered to be a specialist in the reconstruction of the classic romantic ballets ("Coppelia", "La fille Du Danube" and "Swan Lake"……).  After having taught at the Superior National Conservatory and the Paris Opera, he was named co-director of the Monte Carlo Ballet company.

The Story

The story is preposterous nonsense, but the final-act wedding festivities make for a happy ending with lots of anything-you-can-dance-I-can-dance-better splash and dash. Much of Marius Petipa’s trademark choreography is included, the fouettés ad infinitum, so the viewer is assured of a visual spectacle. The Paris Opera Ballet has not only rescued this work from near extinction, but has given it a first-class production.

Synopsis:

Lucien is obligated to marry Serafina, who’s considered a good match. A band of gypsies arrives. Their leader, Igo, wants to marry Paquita, but Paquita has some mystery concerning her uncertain past. She has a locket containing the portrait of her deceased father, a man she never knew. Igo steals the locket so no one will discover her true identity, especially Lucien, who is much more interested in Paquita than in his fiancée Serafina. Let’s skip to the end: the locket is recovered (people in plays never destroy incriminating evidence), and lo and behold, Paquita is not a gypsy after all. She’s the daughter of Charles d’Hervilly, a nobleman who was slain in a massacre precedent...

Remarks: Tickets for Paquita by Paris Opera Ballet are available now!