{"id":474,"date":"2019-02-24T22:15:26","date_gmt":"2019-02-24T22:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dancedispatches.com\/blog\/hungarian-national-ballet-the-fountain-of-tears\/"},"modified":"2023-12-26T17:41:45","modified_gmt":"2023-12-26T17:41:45","slug":"hungarian-national-ballet-the-fountain-of-tears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dancedispatches.com\/blog\/hungarian-national-ballet-the-fountain-of-tears\/","title":{"rendered":"Hungarian National Ballet: The Fountain of Tears"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Hungarian National Ballet is performing Russian classic, The Fountain of Tears <\/em>(1934), in Budapest\u2019s Erkel Theatre through 27 February 2019. Also known as The Fountain of Bakhchisarai,<\/em> this ballet packs longing, grief and jealousy into four acts split between Crimea and Poland. Grand group numbers and exciting fight scenes grace the stage, but the lead female dancers steal the show from beginning to tragic end. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: <\/em>The Fountain of Tears took place in Erkel Teatre because the ornate Hungarian State Opera House is currently closed for renovations. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo credit: Attila Nagy<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Fountain of Tears <\/em>Ballet <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During\nthe first two acts, choreographer Rostislav Zakharov introduces the audience to\ntwo very different societies. Following a quick preview of long-faced Giray\nKhan (Iurii Kekalo) at his fountain in Crimea, a merry flashback reveals enamored\nMaria (Tatiana Melnik) and her fianc\u00e9 Waclav (Gergely Leblanc) in Poland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leblanc gestures lightly and dances gently to Melnik, perhaps to\nproject a soft and romantic quality; but he looks most natural and really\ndazzles during his solo dancing. On the other hand, lyrical Melnik radiates\nenergy in all directions as she fully stretches into arabesques and floats into\nbig jumps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A multitude of party-goers in gorgeous cream, mustard and burnt sienna costumes soon shuffle into the courtyard, their stately celebration not quite matching the brightness of the live music conducted by Yannis Pouspourikas. But they stride about with purpose and jump curtly \u2013 building the regal atmosphere until the skilled sword-dancing soloists emerge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo credit: Attila Nagy<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Theatrical staging highlights the dramatic Tatar invasion, as\nintruders slink across the set: ducking for cover in the courtyard and dashing\nacross steps just outside the palace. The Tatars clash with the Polish, and the\npile of bodies grows, as smoke fills the palace and vibrant orange silks flicker\nlike ravenous flames.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Waclav dispatches a few warriors, Khan stabs him with a knife concealed in his long, gold cloak, before kidnapping a heartbroken Maria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, Akram Khan\u2019s <\/em>Until the Lions<\/a> is based on the ancient Indian Mahabharata story<\/em>
\u2013 and it also involves the kidnapping of a woman, whom is wanted as a bride. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo credit: Attila Nagy<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Back at the palace in Crimea, all prepare for the Khan\u2019s return. At\nthe top of the female pecking order, first wife Zarema (Diana Kosyreva) languorously\npreens herself and admires her reflection in a mirror. She dances sinuously, flinging\nherself into lofty leaps as her feet nearly reach her head. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zarema\u2019s confidence wavers when the Khan shows no interest in her,\nbut she doggedly continues to invite his attention. The first wife\u2019s fall from\nfavor entices another woman in the harem challenge her status as she dances an\nIndian-inspired number with bracelets of bell jangling on her wrists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dejected, Zarema reaches out to the Khan, while he fruitlessly\nreaches for Maria in one of the show\u2019s most beautiful moments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo credit: Attila Nagy<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Later on, when the Khan visits Maria in her room, a strange pas de\ndeux unfolds. The Khan attempts to charm her, nevermind that he kidnapped her\nand killed her fianc\u00e9, and she eludes his advances. Although occasionally, he\nlifts her, as she hangs her head down, as if she wants to melt into the floor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the dramatic tale, the Khan loses both Maria and his first wife Zarema, one by murder and the other by execution. The Fountain of Tears <\/em>perfectly illustrates Aesop’s Fable, The Dog and Its Reflection.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A dog carries a bone in his mouth across a bridge. When he sees his reflection (and the reflection of the bone on the water), he opens his mouth to grab the ‘second’ bone. The bone in the greedy dog’s mouth drops into the water, leaving him with nothing.<\/p>– Aesop’s Fable: ‘The Dog and Its Reflection”<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Heart heavy with grief (or perhaps, just self-pity), the Khan loses interest in his men and broods over the loss of Maria and Zarema. Although Kekalo gives a great performance, his selfish act as Giray Khan is so convincing that he receives less applause than the other lead Fountain of Bakhchisarai<\/em> dancers during the curtain call. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo credit: Attila Nagy<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

[yasr_overall_rating null size=”large”]\n\n\n\n


My Russian friend told me that viewing The Fountain of Bakhchisarai <\/em>ballet outside of Russia and Eastern Europe is quite rare, and I had not heard of it before I saw it was playing in Budapest… Had you heard of The Fountain of Tears<\/em> or seen the show before? If so, let us know where in the comments below! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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