Kharkiv National Opera and Ballet Theater Swan Lake & La Bayadère

- About
- Synopsis
- Artist
- Presenter
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About

The two ballets brought by the Kharkiv National Opera and Ballet Theatre occupy a decisive position in the history of ballet, even regarded as two of the first three ballets in many people’s hearts.

Tchaikovsky’s four-act ballet Swan Lake is recognized as the most famed ballet, which premiered in 1877. As Tchaikovsky’s best-known masterpiece, Swan Lake is the first ballet to be performed with two people dancing together. Today, Swan Lake remains a model for dancers and a paragon of realist ballets.

La Bayadère is a classic work created when classical ballet was at its heyday, a period earlier than the composition of Swan Lake and it was based on this work that many classics were produced. The music in La Bayadère sets a precedent for ballets based on its symphonic structure, which is also considered the hardest-to-perform ballet in the circle, that reflects a ballet ensemble’s comprehensive strength. Well-designed are both the solo and group dances, of which the “Specter Kingdom” is a rare pas.

Synopsis

Swan Lake

Act I

Prince Siegfried is celebrating his birthday with his tutor, friends and peasants. The revelries are interrupted by Siegfried's mother, the Queen, who is concerned about her son's carefree lifestyle. She tells him that he must choose a bride at the royal ball the following evening. Siegfried is upset that he cannot marry for love. His friend Benno and the tutor try to lift his troubled mood. As evening falls, Benno sees a flock of swans flying overhead and suggests they go on a hunt. Siegfried and his friends take their crossbows and set off in pursuit of the swans.

Act II

Siegfried arrives at the lakeside clearing, just as a flock of swans land. He aims his crossbow, but freezes when one of them transforms into a beautiful maiden, Odette. At first, she is terrified of Siegfried. When he promises not to harm her, she explains she and her companions are victims of a spell cast by the evil owl-like sorcerer Rothbart. By day they are turned into swans and only at night, by the side of the enchanted lake – created from the tears of Odette's mother – do they return to human form. The spell can only be broken if one who has never loved before swears to love Odette forever. Rothbart suddenly appears. Siegfried threatens to kill him but Odette intercedes – if Rothbart dies before the spell is broken, it can never be undone.

As Rothbart disappears, the swan maidens fill the clearing. Siegfried breaks his crossbow, and sets about winning Odette's trust as the two fall in love. But as dawn arrives, the evil spell draws Odette and her companions back to the lake and they are turned into swans again.

Act III

Guests arrive at the palace for a costume ball. Six princesses are presented to the prince, as candidates for marriage. Rothbart arrives in disguise with his daughter, Odile, who is transformed to look like Odette. Though the princesses try to attract the prince with their dances, Siegfried has eyes only for Odile. Odette appears and vainly tries to warn Siegfried, but Siegfried does not see her and proclaims to the court that he will marry Odile. Rothbart shows Siegfried a magical vision of Odette and he realises his mistake. Grief-stricken, Siegfried hurries back to the lake.

Act IV

Odette is distraught. The swan-maidens try to comfort her. Siegfried returns to the lake and makes a passionate apology. Siegfried fights Rothbart and tears off his wing, killing him. Odette is restored to human form and she and Siegfried are happily united.

La Bayadère

Act I

La Bayadère tells the story of the bayadère Nikiya and the warrior Solor, who have sworn eternal fidelity to one another. The High Brahmin, however, is also in love with Nikiya and learns of her relationship with Solor. Moreover, the Rajah Dugmanta of Golconda has selected Solor to wed his daughter Gamzatti, and Nikiya, unaware of this arrangement, agrees to dance at the couple's betrothal celebrations.

Act II

In his effort to have Solor killed and have Nikiya for himself, the jealous High Brahmin informs the Rajah that the warrior has already vowed eternal love to Nikiya over a sacred fire. But the High Brahmin’s plan backfires when, rather than becoming angry with Solor, the Rajah decides that it is Nikiya who must die. Gamzatti, who has eavesdropped on this exchange, summons Nikiya to the palace in an attempt to bribe the bayadère into giving up her beloved. As their rivalry intensifies, Nikiya picks up a dagger in a fit of rage and attempts to kill Gamzatti, only to be stopped in the nick of time by Gamzatti’s aya. Nikiya flees in horror at what she has almost done. As did her father, Gamzatti vows that the bayadère must die.

Act III

At the betrothal celebrations, Nikiya performs a somber dance while playing her veena. She is then given a basket of flowers which she believes are from Solor, and begins a frenzied and joyous dance. Little does she know that the basket is from Gamzatti, who has concealed beneath the flowers a venomous snake. The bayadère then holds the basket too close and the serpent bites her on the neck. The High Brahmin offers Nikiya an antidote to the poison, but she chooses death rather than life without her beloved Solor. The depressed Solor smokes. In his dream-like euphoria he has a vision of Nikiya’s shade (or spirit) in a nirvana among the star-lit mountain peaks of the Himalayas called "The Kingdom of the Shades".

Artist

Daria Pavlenkoas Odette (Sept 20/21)/Nikiya (Sept 23)

Daria Pavlenko

Daria Pavlenko is a Russian ballet dancer, one of the stars of the Mariinsky Ballet in Saint Petersburg. In 1996, Pavlenko joined the company where she became a soloist the next year and principal dancer in 2004. In June 2000, Pavlenko hit the headlines for her leading role in Jewels at London's Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, which was all the more remarkable as she had less than a day to rehearse. Later that year, she played the lead in Diamonds and Emeralds, becoming one of the few ballerinas to master all three roles.

Daria Pavlenko has received several awards including Soul of Dance awarded by Ballet Magazine(2000), Golden Mask Award (2001), Leonid Massine Positano Dance Prize(2006) and Honoured Artist of Russia (2010).

Maria Alexandrovaas Odette (Sept 22)

Maria Alexandrova

As People’s Artist of Russia, Maria Alexandrova is a Russian principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet. Maria Alexandrova was born in Moscow and attended the Moscow Choreographic Academy. She won gold medal at the Moscow International Ballet Competition in 1997 and shortly thereafter joined the Bolshoi Ballet, quickly making her debut as Myrtha in Giselle. In 2004 she had become a principal dancer and since then she has performed in such ballets as The Sleeping Beauty and played the title character in Alexei Ratmansky's Leah and Carmen in Carmen Suite. In 2005 and 2007 she performed numerous soloist roles and Odette-Odile in Swan Lake, as well as Medora in Le Corsaire.

Maria Alexandrova has received several awards including the 1^st prize at International Ballet Competition in Moscow (1997), Soul of Dance Prize in the category “Rising Stars” from Ballet Magazine (1999), The Golden Mask Award (2004), as well as the title "Merited Artist of the Russian Federation" (2005&2009).

Danila Korsuntsevas Prince Siegfried (Sept 20-21)/Solor (Sept 23)

Danila Korsuntsev

Danila Korsuntsev was born in Tashken (Uzbekistan). He graduated from Uzbek Schook of Dance in 1992. From 1992 to 1998, he was a soloist with the Moscow State Academic Classic Ballet Theatre and prize winner of several important competitions, including Festival de Danca in Joinville (Brazil, 1995), Maya International Competition (St. Petersburg, 1996) and International Ballet Competition in Paris (1997). He performed the role of Adrei Bolkonsky in War and Peace, along with Svetlana Zakharova and IvanVasiliev, at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. In 2008, he was awarded the title "Merited Artist of the Russian Federation".

Yevgeny Ivanchenkoas Prince Siegfried (Sept 22)

Yevgeny Ivanchenko

Yevgeny Ivanchenko was born in Ashkhabad (Turkmenstan). He graduated from Voganova Academy of Russian Ballet and joined the Mariinsky Ballet in 1992. He became principle dancer in 1996. He was awarded the title "Merited Artist of the Russian Federation" in 2010.

"Ivanchenko has beautiful lines… his perfect landings are silent, as if the stage were moved in moss and his body were made of silk rather than muscle and bone."

The Washington Post

"Yevgeny Ivanchenko was an admirable partner to Ulyana Lopatkina. His character is tortured by visions and he strives to enter the romantic world of the Sylph, which is guarded by Scottish warriors. The wide and free leaps, the beautiful poses and the drama of the acting form the image of a character who has as if descended from the pages of a novel by Walter Scott."

Sankt-PeterburgskieVedomosti

Presenter

Kharkiv National Opera and Ballet Theater
Kharkiv National Opera and Ballet Theater is one of the oldest musical theatres in former USSR and Ukraine. Performance have been staged in Kharkiv for more than 200 years (The first stationary theatre in Ukraine was opened in Kharkiv in 1789). In that time such leading figures of opera art as Shalyapin, Nezhdanova, Sobinov, Battistini had taken parts in performances.

In October, 1925, the first state opera theatre was founded in Kharkov. Majority of Soviet Opera and Ballet stars performed on Kharkiv Opera and Ballet Theatre’s stage at one time or another, and many of them had started their career here. Brilliant artists who were born on Kharkov stage adorn opera and ballet companies of Kiev, Moscow and numerous European cities nowadays.

Since October 1991 our theater has worked in a new building (almost 2000 seats in total). About 700 highly qualified artists, engineers, technicians and service personnel work today at Kharkiv Opera, providing almost 50 names of operas and ballets, giving nearly 200 shows on native stages, and 100-150 abroad annually.

The theater is successful internationally, touring regularly to many countries – from Western Europe to China, South Korea and Japan.
Note

Box officeNorth Gate of NCPA, No. 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing, China

Tickets collection hours9:30-19:30 (CST) on performance day
9:30-18:00 (CST) for days without performance

Booking line+86 10 6655 0000

Booking hours9:30-18:00 (CST) Monday to Friday

Seating Chart

歌剧院

音乐厅

戏剧场

小剧场

We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information, however the hours, prices, and program details may vary due to last minute changes.
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Festivals & Series* NCPA Pure Classical 2026* NCPA Piano Virtuosos 2026

Box Office HoursPerformance Days 9:30 AM -19:30 PMGap Days 9:30 AM -18:00 PM Tickets Info8610-66550000

Productions Repertoire Films Videos Podcast

Resident Companies China NCPA Orchestra China NCPA Chorus NCPA Resident Singers NCPA Drama Ensemble

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Visit Info Opening Hours Services

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CALENDAR
Full Calendar
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GENRE
Opera Concert Dance & Ballet Theatre
Chinese Traditional Opera

Festivals & Series* NCPA Pure Classical 2026 * NCPA Piano Virtuosos 2026

Box Office Hours
Performance Days 9:30 AM -19:30 PM
Gap Days 9:30 AM -18:00 PM
Tickets Info
8610-66550000

Productions
Repertoire Films Videos Podcast

Resident Companies
China NCPA Orchestra China NCPA Chorus
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