Cinderella
ballet in three acts
music by Sergey Prokofiev
A modern version of the classic play from 1945, resurrected in a style fit for a digital-age audience. This production’s calling card has become its successful marriage of lovely ballet from years gone by and modern stage technology. Visual computer effects peacefully coexist with traditional costumes and props. Rostislav Zakharov, to whom the premiere is dedicated in celebration of the 110th anniversary of his birth, described his production as „a song about the spring of human life, youth, happiness and dreams“. While working on the new version, Mikhail Messerer followed the mood set by the ballet’s creator.
Act one
A room in a wealthy house. Cinderella is sitting by the hearth while her stepmother and stepsisters prepare for the ball. Suddenly, an old woman appears at the door, asking for alms. The stepmother and stepsisters turn away from her, but Cinderella extends a piece of bread to the beggar. Grateful, the old woman disappears. The dance master arrives with a violin to rehearse the dance steps and curtsies. At last, they are ready to leave — the stepmother and stepsisters set off for the ball. Cinderella is left alone with her thoughts. She recalls her mother and dreams of attending the ball. The old woman reappears: it turns out she is a fairy godmother. She promises to grant Cinderella’s wish to go to the ball. The fairies of the seasons dress Cinderella for the event. However, she must remember that the magic will vanish at midnight. A golden carriage takes Cinderella to the palace.
Act two
A grand ball at the palace. Among the guests are Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsisters. Everyone is excited, awaiting the arrival of the prince. At last, he lightly ascends the throne steps and asks everyone to keep dancing. At that moment, Cinderella appears. She is so beautiful that all eyes turn to her, and her stepsisters and stepmother fail to recognize her. Enchanted, the prince cannot take his eyes off her, and Cinderella falls in love with him as well. Amidst the merriment and dancing, Cinderella completely loses track of time. The clock strikes midnight, and Cinderella runs away, losing one of her slippers in her haste. The prince finds the lost shoe: perhaps now he will be able to find the runaway girl.
Act three
The prince is beside himself. He orders to find the shoemaker who made the slipper, but no one knows anything about him. The prince decides to search for the mysterious girl himself. He meets many beautiful women, but slipper does not fit any of them. Disheartened, he returns home.
Cinderella’s room. She sleeps, holding the other slipper to her chest. Upon waking, she immediately recalls the wonderful events of that unforgettable evening: the ball, the kind fairy, and the handsome prince.
The prince appears. He still hopes to find the girl he fell in love with at first sight. The stepsisters and stepmother also try on the slipper, but in vain: it does not fit any of them. The stepmother even decides to cut off her big toe, but unexpectedly Cinderella drops the slipper—exactly the same one the prince found on the palace stairs. The stepmother and stepsisters are stunned in disbelief. Outside the window, the fairy slowly passes by, as though blessing Cinderella and the prince.
Cinderella and the prince are in a magical garden, they have finally found each other. They have a long, happy life ahead of them.
Premiere of the production: 14 September 2017
Libretto by Nikolay Volkov after the fairytale of the same name by Charles Perrault
Choreography by Rostislav Zakharov revived by Mikhail Messerer
- Stage and Costume DesignPyotr Williams
- StagingMikhail Messerer
- Musical Director of the productionMikhail Tatarnikov
- Stage Designer of the revivalVyacheslav Okunev
- Multimedia director, author of lighting designGleb Filshtinsky
- Production of the video contentShow Consulting studio, St Petersburg
- Realization of the lighting designAlexander Kibitkin
- Ballet Master’s AssistantAnna Razenko
- Musical Director’s AssistantIgor Tomashevsky
- Stage Designer’s AssistantsSergey Novikov, Anna Kotlova
- PianistNatalia Spichka
- Stage ManagerSasha Kononenko