The most fantastic theatrical fairy tale this winter in Kyiv
“A Minute Before Christmas”. That is the name of the ballet-journey presented to audiences by the “Kyiv Modern Ballet” team led by Radu Poklitaru.
The most fantastical theatrical fairy tale was staged to the music of C. Saint-Saëns and «Carol of the Bells». On the whole, as I see it, this is a journey into a world of magic and wonder, where the story begins with reality in one of the towns of 18th-century Europe. A family is preparing for Christmas, but at the very height of this festive bustle the unforeseen occurs. And then the world around begins to transform, and a great many trials arise along the way. And on the whole, truth intertwines with fiction, and the fantastical mingles with the everyday. In a word, it is both a fairy tale and the everyday, both a myth and reality.
And next comes the following century. And although it is the same house, in it a different family is now preparing for Christmas. And suddenly there are again some metamorphoses involving the clock, and thanks to this the children find themselves in the world of birds and even an underwater world, travelling there with the help of bikers.
And, to conclude, all the obstacles are overcome. The travellers triumph. So the moral of this story – is that all obstacles can be overcome if one does it together, as a single team, persistently advancing towards the goal. That is the meaning I saw embedded in this production, and even certain parallels with what we are living through now.
Perhaps some will have other impressions, but the ballet is bound to make an impression, with its captivating choreography, its fairy-tale video content, and, of course, its music. The wonderful and light music of Camille Saint-Saëns is here very organically combined with Carol of the Bells, or more precisely with our «Shchedryk» by Leontovych, and adds festiveness and helps one immerse in the magical world of the Christmas mood.
In a word, the ballet «A Minute Before Christmas» is for family viewing, so that in these difficult times you may charge yourself with emotions and understand that hard times will one day end and we will all be able to enjoy the enchantment of the holiday. And that holiday will be our Victory.
The performances are taking place on the stage of the Kyiv cultural cluster «Krakiv».
Maryna KRYVDA
Holos Ukrainy
