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Spartacus

ballet in two acts

music by Aram Khachaturian

Duration

2 hours 10 minutes

1 act

50 min

interval 30 min

2 act

50 min

12+

for viewers over 12 years old

Cast

Imperial Rome, with its magnificent processions, orgies, and gladiatorial combats, provides a spectacular backdrop for this dramatic story of the fight for human dignity and freedom. The gladiators’ revolt is doomed to failure, but that does nothing to reduce the tension in the auditorium since in every scene, the characters give a full display of all the qualities of human nature in the face of brutal retribution.

Act one

Scene one. Roman Forum

A square in Rome. In the centre of the square there is a cage full of slaves. General Pompeius appears on a chariot pulled by the captives Crixus and Spartacus.

Scene two. Barracks

A barracks at the gladiator school. To entertain the slave warriors, the schoolmaster Ares brings in girls to entertain the slaves. Valeria is one of them. Spartacus is enchanted with her, and Valeria returns his affection. The servants interrupt the lovers’ rendezvous.

Scene three. Palace

General Crassus and the courtesan Sabina preside over a noisy, uninhibited bacchanalia. The guests demand new spectacles, and gladiatorial fights await them.

Scene four. Arena

Crixus defeats Pyrrhus the Nubian in a short-sword duel. Other gladiators enter the arena, Spartacus among them. At the climax of the fight, Spartacus refuses to kill his last opponent and walks off the arena. This breach of ritual provokes Crassus’s soldiers to attack Spartacus, but Crassus, impressed by his courage, stops them.

Scene five. Barracks

Crixus and Spartacus call for a rebellion: it is better to die as free men than to live as slaves. The gladiators attack the guards, seize their weapons, and break free.

Act two

Scene six. Feast at Sabina's place

The guards bring in the captured Crixus. Crassus challenges the gladiator to a duel and easily defeats him. Sabina charms Crixus. Pompeius, displeased with Sabina’s behaviour, leaves the villa. At this moment, Spartacus’s army bursts into the palace. Crixus pleads for mercy for those present. A quarrel breaks out between Crixus and Spartacus. Spartacus and his warriors return to the camp.

Scene seven. Woods

In the woods, shepherds and shepherdesses greet the brave rebels. Crixus leads the courtesans into Spartacus’s camp. Taking advantage of the gladiators’ revelry, Crassus’s forces encircle the camp. In despair, Crixus rushes to Spartacus and begs to be killed. Spartacus refuses, so Crixus seizes a dagger and plunges it into his own chest.

Scene eight. Battlefield

Word reaches Spartacus that a huge army is advancing to reinforce Crassus. Spartacus has no choice: it is better to die in battle than to become a slave again.

Scene nine. Battle

Surrounded by Romans, Spartacus dies in the battle. The rebels are defeated. Valeria mourns Spartacus and his fallen comrades.