"La Traviata" by "Kyiv Modern Ballet": the premiere of one of the main artistic events of this fall will take place in October
Audiences will be able to see the new ballet for the first time on October 16 and 17, 2025, in Kyiv.
The ballet in two acts «La Traviata», staged by Radu Poklitaru, is a contemporary choreographic interpretation of the world-famous opera by Giuseppe Verdi. Work on the production is currently being completed, and audiences will soon be able to see its premiere in the capital.
This was announced at the Kyivinform press centre by the participants of the official presentation of the new project of the Academic Theatre «Kyiv Modern Ballet».
The author of the libretto, choreography and staging of the new ballet, the principal balletmaster of the Academic Theatre «Kyiv Modern Ballet» Radu Poklitaru reported that «La Traviata» has become a kind of symbol of the theatre’s 20th anniversary, a special production directly connected with the theatre’s first ballet — «Carmen. TV».
“This year the theatre turns 20… It seemed entirely logical to me to add an «arch» from the theatre’s first production, from the ballet «Carmen. TV», which this year is already 20 years old, like the theatre itself — it is our first swallow — to the somewhat similar yet at the same time completely different opera-ballet «La Traviata». So this is such a «grand arch» between two great operas, with a 20-year span», — noted Radu Poklitaru.
Recalling his childhood years, the principal balletmaster of the Academic Theatre «Kyiv Modern Ballet» also said that «La Traviata» was among the first enchanting sounds of opera that once captivated his heart.
«I have grown up a little, — Radu Poklitaru continued, — I thought the time had come for me to „repay the debt“ to „La Traviata“ and Giuseppe Verdi. And, of course, first and foremost this is an homage (in art — a gesture of respect, — Ed.) to a great opera, to great music».
The ballet «La Traviata» is one of the key events of the theatre’s 20th season and an important part of the «20 Seasons of Sustainability and Innovation» initiative, implemented with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation within the competitive programme «Culture During Wartime. Lot 1. Creation of cultural product and content» and the budget of the city of Kyiv within the programme for providing financial assistance on a repayable, interest-free basis.
The chair of the standing commission of the Kyiv City Council on culture, tourism and public communications, deputy of the Kyiv City Council (UDAR faction) Viktoriia Mukha noted that culture during wartime is more relevant than ever, and the full halls at the artistic events of the city of Kyiv’s cultural institutions prove that people are seeking places and meanings that unite them.
«I am incredibly glad that here in Kyiv, since 2017, we have had a programme for providing financial assistance on a repayable, interest-free basis to municipal cultural institutions for the creation of cultural product. This is not the first year that «Kyiv Modern Ballet» has applied to take part in the programme. This year the competition commission supported «20 Seasons of «Sustainability and Innovation», — said Viktoriia Mukha.
She added that the new ballet «On the Beautiful Blue Danube», implemented with the support of the programme by the Academic Theatre «Kyiv Modern Ballet», which audiences have already been able to see, demonstrated the quality, innovativeness and high level of the cultural product.
«And, of course, we eagerly await «La Traviata» as well», — noted Viktoriia Mukha.
The costume designer of the Academic Theatre «Kyiv Modern Ballet» Dmytro Kuriata said that it is interesting to work on the new ballet and that, right now, the ballet artists are still having fittings for the new costumes.
«While I am talking with you, photo reports are being made for me», — added Dmytro Kuriata.
He also noted that the most emotional component of a costume is colour, and that is why the symbolism of colour has been very thoroughly worked out.
«It is a restrained colour scheme; there will be no „riot of colours“ here, as in the production „On the Beautiful Blue Danube“ — it will be very measured. But every colour that appears on stage carries many symbols», — said Dmytro Kuriata.
The costume designer of the new ballet «La Traviata» drew attention to the red dress of the main heroine, which audiences can see in the official teaser. He explained that even within a single colour, its palette makes it possible to convey to the audience a different emotional state, virtually on an intuitive level.
«When we see it, we do not even analyse what exactly we are seeing, but it already evokes emotions. That is why the colours that will appear in the performance are absolutely symbolic», — emphasised Dmytro Kuriata.
You can watch the official teaser of the new ballet by the Academic Theatre «Kyiv Modern Ballet» and learn more interesting details about the «La Traviata» project, a story about love and vulnerability told in the language of the present day, on the «Kyivinform» channel on YouTube.
Kyivinform Press Centre
