Aide de Camp in "Scheherazade." Reproduction of Leon Bakst's Original Watercolor in Comoedia Illustre (June 15, 1910)

Based on the prologue to “The Thousand and One Nights,” the ballet Scheherazade premiered in Paris on June 10, 1910, at the Theatre National de l’Opera. Rimsky-Korsakov composed the music, Michel Fokine did the choreography and Leon Bakst was the stage and costume designer.

 

The story is about the Sultan of ancient Persia and his harem. Ida Rubinstein played the Sultan’s favorite wife Zobeide and Vaslav Nijinsky was the Golden Slave for the premiere. The Sultan suspects that Zobeide is unfaithful so he pretends to go on a hunting trip with his brother. Upon their departure, the concubines bribe the Chief Eunuch to free the slaves, which ignites an orgy. Zobeide chooses the Golden Slave with whom she falls into a passionate embrace. The Sultan returns unexpectedly and is enraged at the betrayal. He orders that all be killed. Zobeide begs the Sultan’s forgiveness but, when it seems futile, she stabs herself and falls to his feet.

 

Available on Youtube is a great performance of Scheherazade by the Kirov Ballet in 2007 with principal dancers Yulia Makhalina as Zobeide and Igor Kolb as the Golden Slave.

 

Part 1: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUXSL81owSg

 

Part 2: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl6wmMt3w_A

 

Part 3: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlzm1a0UUBw

 

Done