Back

Cipollino

ballet in two acts

music by Karen Khachaturian

Duration

2 hours

1 act

40 min

interval 30 min

2 act

50 min

for viewers over 6 years old

This ballet enchants you from its very first minute. The harmony of the melodic and ear-catching music by Karen Khachaturian, bright sets and costumes by Valery Levental and vivid choreography by Genrikh Mayorov, perfect both for children and for grown-ups, made it a real blockbuster. The fairy-tale story by Italian author Gianni Rodari tells of the adventures of the Little Onion boy (in Italian, Cipollino), who fights the unjust treatment of his fellow vegetable folk (his little girlfriend Radish, old Mr Pumpkin, handyman Master Grape) by the fruit �aristocracy� (foppish Prince Lemon, martinet Signor Tomato and twin Countesses Cherries). Even though the ballet was created especially for young people, it never lacks �serious� choreography of classical ballet. The principal dancers of the Mikhailovsky Ballet really enjoy themselves turning from Siegfrieds and Odettes into �vegetables� and �fruits�. The rhythms of dance, the portrayal and humour of the characters, and the exceptional performances will keep everyone enthralled.

Act one

A square in a fairytale town. It seems there are only vegetable baskets and fruit cases. However, in fact those are big and small houses where fruits and vegetables live. All of them resemble people so much...
The Radishes meet the family of the Onions. Mother Cipolla and father Cipollone are trying to cope with naught Cipollino, who is tired of nursing his little sister Cipolletta. Master Grape is mending shoes, uncle Pumpkin is looking for bricks to build his house. Professor Pear is playing the violin and all the citizens are dancing. Suddenly signor Tomato appears in the square and announces the visit of Prince Lemon, who would like to talk to his subjects. Prince Lemon has just issued a new law: it must be paid for the sunshine, the rain and the wind. Vegetables and fruits are indignant. In the stampede, Cipollino has stepped on Lemon’s foot. The guards are outraged: Prince Lemon has been insulted. The “rebel” must be punished. However, Cipollone makes Cipollino disappear and father goes to prison instead of his son.
The Onions are grieving. Other families are in trouble, too. Uncle Pumpkin cannot build a house. All the citizens united by Cipollino are trying to help him. No sooner than the house has been built, signor Tomato arrives. He is bursting with anger: the Pumpkin’s house has been built on the land of Countesses Cherries. It is private property and nobody can use it. Prince Lemon’s guards destroy the house. The poor old Pumpkin is desperate. Cipollino decides to revenge the aggressors.

Act two

Cipollino and his friend, little Radish, are heading to the place to find old Cipollone. On their way, they meet a young Count Cherry, who feels very lonely in the palace. Cipollino, Radish and Cherry make friends. Trying to find the imprisoned Cipollone, they are nearly caught by signor Tomato but they manage to escape. The Countesses Cherries are throwing a lavish ball party. While all the guests are dancing, friends set Cipollone free. The police is looking for the runaways. Cipollino hides his father and his friends, but the guars arrest the little onion boy.
Count Cherry and beautiful Magnolia have found Cipollino. Magnolia with her magic fragrance sends the guards to sleep; Count Cherry ties them up and sets his friend free. Prince Lemon comes to the prison to punish the “rebel” but finds only the guards tied up. The enraged Prince orders top shoot the cannon, but Cipollino and his friends push the Prince into the cannon. When the smoke rolls away, there is no Prince Lemon, no cannon, and no guards. From now on, everybody will live happily in the fairytale town. There will be a new town under the blue sky — a town of friends.