Leonid Yacobson Theatre to perform in Serbia
The Leonid Yacobson Ballet Theatre will bring two concert programmes to the Belgrade National Theatre, with shows scheduled for 24 and 25 October. These ballet galas will be part of a project called Hermitage Days in Serbia, co-run by the Serbian Ministry of Culture, Gazprom Neft, and the Hermitage, one of the world’s largest museums.
Our performance is timed to celebrate 100 years of Serbian ballet. Specially for our friends in Serbia, the troupe has prepared two programmes, showcasing the work of our company’s founder, Leonid Yacobson, along with the most beloved excerpts from classical masterpieces: Don Quixote (music by Ludwig Minkus) and Swan Lake (music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky).
The festival will culminate at the Belgrade National Theatre with a blend of art by two prominent modern directors: Igor Kirov from Serbia and Vyacheslav Samodurov from Russia. Igor Kirov will present his one-act ballet Poem, part of the Infinitas trilogy, performed by the Belgrade National Theatre’s troupe, while Vyacheslav Samodurov will respond with his Cheeky Chastushki, brought to life by the Leonid Yacobson Theatre. The story of both these creations began with the choice of music. Igor Kirov explains that this ballet visualises Violin Concerto No. 2 by Stanojlo Rajičić, an outstanding Serbian composer of the 20th century. This work searches for spiritual freedom and attempts to obtain it through the poetry of music and movement. In turn, Vyacheslav Samodurov’s Cheeky Chastushki were a gift for the 90th birth anniversary of Rodion Shchedrin, a living classical composer. Shchdrin’s concerto, with its reckless youthful energy, inspired the choreographer to stage a zestful performance that, when viewed from a distance, turns into countless splashes of vibrant colours.
‘This is the first tour to Serbia in our troupe’s recent history,’ confesses Andrian Fadeev, Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation and art director of the Yacobson Theatre. ‘We find it very important, and a great honour, to become part of such a large-scale inter-cultural project, which is designed to strengthen the ties between our nations and, of course, to get the Serbian public better acquainted with the masterpieces of Russian art. We are especially delighted to know that our shows will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Serbian ballet. After all, it is no secret that Russian ballet has helped shape global ballet overall, and Russian dancers were among those laying the foundation for this art in Serbia. Preserving the legacy of these historical ties is very important in many respects, including further collaboration between our theatres.’
