Enthusiastic Performance of "Nureyev's Dog" at the Folk Opera
Laugh and Cry with the Four-Legged Star - The Rewritten Tale of "Nureyev's Dog"
Rudolf Nureyev, the legendary ballet maestro who put his mark on the world of classical dance, continues to charm even in his third decade after departure. In the latest spectacle by Peter te Nuyl and Keren Kagarlitsky titled "Nureyev's Dog," his beloved Rottweiler steals the show. As a doggie reincarnation, furnished with humor, heartbreak, and a whole lot of pirouettes, the canine navigates the ballet realm, heartache, and camaraderie - all while grooving to a variety of tunes. The dynamic family piece, spiced with various music pieces and ballet steps, had its grand debut at the Vienna Volksoper on a sunny Sunday afternoon, leaving the crowd amazed.
The faithful companion was indeed a part of Nureyev's life, leapfrogging borders between the Soviet Union and the West, before becoming a renowned dancer and choreographer (1938-1993). After Nureyev's farewell, his Austrian citizenship and the dog went to Marika Besobrasova, the ballet mistress who was by his side through thick and thin, even as his previous tutor. It was rumored that Bisobrasova would make her students bow to the dog.
The Liftoff of the Canine Protagonist
The dog was already the heart of Elke Heidenreich's 1999 novella, "Nureyev's Dog or What Longing Can Do." The novella served as the blueprint for the theatrical production directed and choreographed by Florian Hurler, who learned his trade at Bisobrasova's ballet college in Monte Carlo and had a closer relationship with Nureyev's faithful companion. The production, a mix of Peter te Nuyl's stage adaptation and Nastasja Fischer's inputs, delights and engages audiences of all ages.
The dog and the narrator, "Solor," effortlessly portrayed by actor Florian Carove, opens the hour-and-a-half-long piece. Solor surveys the lively, champagne-fueled crowd at a Truman Capote-inspired New York party, including two dazzling drag queens. Here, the adventure begins, unfolding like a captivating picture book (Enhanced stage design: Christof Hetzer). "Come on, boy?" Nureyev (Sebastian Wendelin) pleads with his hound left behind by its former guardians at the party.
Subtle Cues, Vibrant Musical Medley
The story then shifts from New York to Paris, to the studio of the sternest ballet mentor in history (powerful vocals by Ursula Pfitzner). The trainees struggle under her stringent gaze, as Nureyev, already battling with AIDS, watches from the sidelines. The piece then follows Nureyev's departure and the resistant union of Solor and Marika, culminating in a heartwarming conclusion.
A poignant moment lies in the bond between the ailing Nureyev, wrestling with illness and longing for his mother, and his staunch ally, the dog. The dog's minimalist gestures convey equal suffering. In another scene, Solor provocatively lifts the dog's paw at the piano, prances through the park in its brown attire, growls, and drools. It is Solor's thoughts that bring man and dog closer, pondering independence together.
The Message Behind the Music
Kagarlitsky, the composer, has created a musical score that sets the tone for this compelling tale, with ballet music by Jacques Offenbach, George Gershwin's "An American in Paris," opera arias, Russian lullabies, and Tatar folk dances. The conductor also added her own compositions, such as an orchestral background to Nureyev's final monologue.
A Tail of Love, Loss, and Entertainment
In the end, it's clear that even the heaviest dog can twirl and frolic with style, and one should never give up the search for personal fulfillment. A mystery lingers: Who is the enigmatic girl who stood by Solor's side, visible to him alone? And: How would Nureyev's real dog have reacted to the production? As Solor says at the beginning, "All animal stories are really about people, not animals." That's what makes this production so entertaining, especially in this case - a well-deserved bow!
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The faithful Nureyev's Dog, immortalized in Elke Heidenreich's novella, transcends the pages and bounds of classical dance in the recent stage production, "Nureyev's Dog." In the vibrant musical medley, Kagarlitsky's compositions blend seamlessly with ballet music, opera arias, Russian lullabies, and Tatar folk dances, reflecting the intersection of pop-culture and sci-fi-and-fantasy elements. This intriguing tale of camaraderie, heartbreak, and humor in the ballet realm serves as a testament to the enduring spirit, echoing the sentiment that even in loss, one should never abandon the pursuit of personal fulfillment. Befittingly, it leaves its audience pondering the mystery of the enigmatic girl who shares solace with the dog, mirroring the very essence of social-media discourse. Join us on Instagram for updates on this captivating production and the unfolding tale of an extraordinary canine who danced through life with grace and exuberance.
