State Opera Prague

One hundred and twenty years after its first performance, on January 23, 2010, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Sleeping Beauty will reach the stage of the Prague State Opera, in the premiere of a new production choreographed by Youri Vàmos, subtitled eloquently The Czar’s Last Daughter. The leading role of Anastasia will be created by the company’s guest, Andrea Kramešová (alternating with State Opera soloist Rebecca King). Andrea Kramešová, who formerly worked with the National Theatre in Prague, Tulsa Ballet in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, is currently engaged with the Swedish Royal Ballet. Commenting on her new role in Prague, she said:

“The Sleeping Beauty has been with me ever since my school days, when I did it as my degree performance. I do like Petipa’s classic version, but I’ve found Youri Vàmos’ original adaptation even closer to my heart. I am fascinated by the story of the royal Romanov family, as well as by the choreographer’s approach to his staging. In terms of dancing technique, the character of Anastasia is on a par with, say, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, but what I believe is an even tougher nut to crack there is one’s having to convey some truly complex emotions in such a manner as to bring across to the audience the production’s message on all its planes of meaning. To me, this is a major challenge, and one I’m ever so keen to take up.”

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Preparations for the first night of the ballet, The Sleeping Beauty – the Czar’s Last Daughter, have made another important step forward. Rehearsals progressing under the supervision of the choreographer Youri Vámos and his assistants, Joyce Cuoco and Alexey Afanassiev (who will also dance the principal male part), have now been moved from ballet studios to the stage. The production poses great demands both on the artists cast for the many solo roles, and on the work of the corps de ballet. The Prague State Opera orchestra is conducted by Pavel Šnajdr. The premiere takes place on January 23, 2010.

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