The audacity of "La Traviata" by Kyiv Modern-Ballet: the language of dance is not afraid of expressions
Radu Poklitaru is a masterful improviser, able to look at a well-known theme from a special angle and create such a creation that at the end of the performance the audience jumps up excitedly from their seats and switches to ultrasound from delight. The old "Traviata", reanimated by the maestro's daring thought, shook off the 173-year-old dust, refreshed, blossomed and started dancing.
The plot has been renewed and transformed. Violetta finds herself in a dense male environment: all the other female roles, apart from the fleeting appearance of the count’s new favourite, have been ruthlessly cut from the production. Germont has been deftly turned from Alfred’s father into his jealous lover, and this additional line of love has added new piquant seasoning.
Violetta, like a light and bright butterfly at the end of summer, flits playfully among her enraptured admirers. And on the final stretch of her path, life offers her a love unknown before – one that both gives her strength and finishes her off. Violetta’s strong feminine nature awakens the macho in Alfred, and he leaves his lover. And from this passion there is no turning back! The love scenes in the production are rather immodest. The language of dance is not afraid of strong expressions, and the emotional fragments rivet the attention with their bewitching eroticism and beauty.
The production is saturated with the intriguing ideas of the entire team – a team of professionals and creatives. The costumes by Dmytro Kuriata are intellectual haute couture! The heroine’s dress cries out with fiery passion and bears the traces of greedy hands. The stylish and sexy nude bodysuit in which Violetta remains during the intimate scenes is like a scarred second skin. Her last dress (in burgundy) resembles the humble cocoon of a butterfly that will never again spread its wings but will keep its love. Or is it the image of her ardent heart, drenched in blood and giving its final pulsations to her beloved Alfred and to the world around her?
In the handsome dandy Alfred there is, you might say, the image of a white knight – a kind of ray of light in Violetta’s life. In his «undressed» state he remains exquisitely handsome too – in a refined corset and tights. The details of the costumes carry their own symbols. For example, the violet scarf the lovers use in the intimate scenes is like a thread binding them together. «Society» is dressed in formal black suits with changing accessories. I think that their giant brooches with patterns in the shape of ears, eyes and faces are about the fact that nothing can be hidden from a society greedy for gossip.
The unusual video content was created by Olha Nikitina. At first glance the sets seem like a row of simple geometric screens. But they are able to transform, to release and to «absorb» the characters. They come to life when fantastic video projections appear on them, which in the crowd scenes resemble the glowing bare nervous system of a great city, in the love scenes (depending on the act) pin-up pictures, floral compositions or… volcanic processes inside the body!
Everything has been thoughtfully conceived and masterfully realised. The bed of love suddenly becomes a mirror, then a bullfighting arena (an «Easter egg» – a reference to Kyiv Modern-Ballet’s first production, «Carmen TV») and from time to time turns into a chronometer that ruthlessly counts down the final hours of the beautiful, fading Violetta.
The emotions at the premiere went off the scale – both on the stage and in the full house. Kyiv Modern-Ballet knows how to «hook» you. Applause rang out after every scene. I noticed that there are always a great many young people at KMB’s performances, which undoubtedly shows that the theatre keeps pace with the times – and perhaps is even a few “pas” ahead!
It is interesting that the production was created in a very short time. At the end of June, in an interview for «Improvisator», Radu Poklitaru said that he had only just begun working on it; at the end of September, at a press conference, he said that the final scene was not yet ready; and in the middle of October there was already the premiere! And it is flawless! This is a brilliant combination of stunning creations – music, staging, costumes, sets – and performers. And just look at these magnificent photographs! Imagine – the whole performance is woven from moments of such breathtaking beauty.
The ballet «La Traviata» absolutely must be seen by the whole world – it is worth it!
Nataliia Kriazh
Improvisator
