Music by Louis Herold

Ballet in 2 acts

Choreography by  Oleg Vinogradov (St.-Petersbourg)

CREDITS

Musical Direstor: Victor Sobolev (St.-Petersburg)

Set Design by Vyacheslav Okunev (St.-Petersburg)

Costume Design by   Anna Kotlova (St.-Petersburg)

2002  PRODUCTION


Summary

In the story, young Lise, the ‘wayward daughter’ of the title, is determined to marry Colas, the son of a farmer, for love. But her mother Widow Simone would rather she married the child-like Alain for money and status. The battle of wits and wills that follows is full of humour — and at every turn, Lise manages to stay one step ahead of her watchful mother. There are no prizes for guessing what the happy ending will be. Whether in the expressive power of the lovers’ pas de deux, the quirky characterizations of Widow Simone and Alain, or the shared joy of the rustic dances, this is a work to coax smiles and leave indelible memories.

La fille mal gardée is one of the oldest surviving ballets; one might call it ‘the grandmother of contemporary ballet’. The ballet was originally produced and choreographed by the Ballet Master Jean Dauberval (born Jean Bercher) called by his contemporaries ‘Moliere of dance’, whose art was admired by Diderot and Beaumarchais. La fille mal gardée has been kept alive, throughout its long and complex performance history by way of many revivals, however the spirit and the style of the ballet is original.