Paquita
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Paquita is a ballet in two acts and three scenes, with libretto by Joseph Mazilier and Paul Foucher. Originally choreographed by Joseph Mazilier to the music of Edouard Deldevez. First presented by at the Salle Le Peletier by the Paris Opera Ballet on 1 April 1846. The work was retained in the repertory of the Opéra until 1851.
In 1847, Paquita was staged for the first time in Russia for the Imperial Ballet of St. Petersburg by Marius Petipa and Pierre-Frédéric Malevergne, being the first work ever staged by Petipa in Russia. In 1881 Petipa produced a revival of the ballet for which he added new pieces specially composed by Ludwig Minkus. This included the Pas de trois (a.k.a. the Minkus Pas de trois or Paquita Pas de trois) for the first act, and the Paquita Grand pas classique and the Mazurka des enfants (Children's mazurka) for the last act. Petipa's version of Paquita was retained in the repertory of the Mariinsky Theatre until 1926.
Marius Petipa's 1881 additions for Paquita survived long after the full-length ballet left the stage. In 1896 prima-balerina Mathilde Ksheshinskaya (Princess Romanov) was behind the Grand Pas re-staging, for the occasion of the Centennial celebrations of Catherine the Great death. Today these pieces, particularly the Pas Grand pas classique, are major cornerstones of the traditional classical ballet repertory, and have been staged by ballet companies throughout the world.
In 2001, the Ballet Master Pierre Lacotte produced a revival of full-length, two act Paquita for the Paris Opera Ballet. Although Lacotte re-choreographed most of the ballet himself, he restored Joseph Mazilier's original mime sequences and mise-en-scène, as well as Marius Petipa's 1881 additions.
Performance history
Other notable productions
- Marius Petipa and Pierre-Frédéric Malevergne for the Imperial Ballet. Musical orchestrations by Konstantin Liadov. First presented at the Imperial Bolshoi Theatre on 8 October [O.S. 26 September] 1847.
- Marius Petipa for the Imperial Ballet, staged for the benefit performance of Ekaterina Vazem. Musical additions and revisions by Ludwig Minkus. First presented at the Imperial Bolshoi Theatre on 8 January [O.S. 27 December 1881] 1882.
Original Interpreters
| Role | Paris, 1846 | St. Petersburg, 1847 | St. Petersburg, 1881 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paquita | Carlotta Grisi | Yelena Andreyonova | Ekaterina Vazem |
| Lucien d'Hervilly | Lucien Petipa | Marius Petipa | Pavel Gerdt |
Plot Outline
The plot takes place in Spain during the occupation of Napoleon's army. The heroine is the young Gypsy girl, Paquita. Unbeknownst to Paquita, she is really of noble birth, having been abducted by Gypsies when she was an infant. She saves the life of a young French officer, Lucien d'Hervilly, who is the target of a Spanish governor who desires to have him killed by Iñigo, a gypsy chief. By way of a medallion she discovers that she is of noble birth, being in fact the cousin of Lucien. As such, she and the Officer are able to wed.
History of the Paquita Grand pas classique
The Paquita Grand pas classique was featured in the farewell gala of Enrico Cecchetti in 1902, where all of the leading ballerinas of the Mariinsky Theatre participated by performing their favorite solos from various ballets. Thus, the tradition of including an entire suite of solos for various ballerinas began, a tradition which is still in place today.
Anna Pavlova included the Grand Pas classique in her company's repertory.
Rudolf Nureyev staged the piece in 1964 for the Royal Academy of Dancing, and at La Scala in 1970. Nureyev also staged it for the Vienna State Opera Ballet and American Ballet Theatre in 1971. For all of his productions of the work Nureyev used John Lanchbery's adaptation of the music. In 1984 Natalia Makarova staged a new version of the Paquita Grand pas classique for American Ballet Theatre with music again arranged by Lanchbery. To date the company still retains Makarova's staging in their repertory, and many companies throughout the world have staged her version of the piece.
In 1974 the Ballet Master Nikita Dolgushin produced a staging of the Paquita Grand pas classique for the Maly Theatre Ballet of St. Petersburg. For his production Dolgushin called upon the former ballerina Elizaveta Gerdt—who performed in Marius Petipa's original version of the piece— to assist in restoring the Paquita Grand pas classique to its form as performed during the early 20th century.
In 1978 the Kirov/Mariinsky Ballet's newly appointed artistic director Oleg Vinogradov staged a new version of the Paquita Grand pas classique for the company, a staging largely based on the version Pyotr Gusev staged for the Maly Theatre Ballet in 1952. The Kirov/Mariinsky Ballet still retain Vinogradov's version in their repertory, and many companies throughout the world include his version of the piece in their repertories.
Gallery of historical images
-
Published piano reduction of the Valse favorite from Deldevez's original score. London, 1847 -
(left to right)Georges Ellie as Iñigo, Carlotta Grisi as Paquita, and Lucien Petipa as Lucien d'Hervilly in Act I-Scene 2. Paris, 1844 -
Ekaterina Vazem in the title role of Petipa's revival of Paquita. St. Petersburg, 1881 -
Students of the Imperial Ballet School in the Mazurka des enfants from Petipa's revival of Paquita. St. Petersburg, 1881 -
Virginia Zucchi in the title role of Paquita. St. Petersburg, 1886 -
Mikhail Fokine costumed for the role of Lucien d'Hervilly in Paquita. St. Petersburg, 1898 -
(left to right) Elsa Vill, Pierre Vladimirov and Elizaveta Gerdt in the Pas de trois from Paquita. St. Petersburg, 1909 -
Pierre Vladimirov in the Pas de trois from Paquita. St. Petersburg, 1909
