Proctors, Schenectady, New York

ST. PETERSBURG BALLET THEATRE TO PERFORM GISELLE AT THE MAINSTAGE AT PROCTORS ON SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2008 AT 8PM.

Schenectady, NY- St. Petersburg Ballet is scheduled to perform Giselle at the main stage at Proctors on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 8pm.

The St. Petersburg Ballet was founded as the first Theatre of Ballet in Russia under the management of the People’s Artist of Russia, Professor Peter Gusev in 1996. One of the most distinguished classical companies in Russia, it is also one of the few ballet companies in Russia that has been given the honor and the same highest official status by the Russian Government as “State and Academic Ballet” along with the Kirov and the Bolshoi State and Academic Ballet Theatres.

They have toured in more than 50 countries with great success to sell out audiences. When the company performed in the famous Pomidou Center in Paris Le Parisian Libere observed, “Its fame does not seem to be exaggerated. The revelation of this choreography treasury is one of the most important recent events in the Art of dance.” This company has become one of Russia’s most internationally toured ballet ensembles dancing a wide range of Classical and Modern ballet repertoire.

The current Artistic Director is Yuri Petukhov. He began working in 1972 at the Perm theatre. He debuted in the role of Franz, and created numerous roles: as Germann’s double (“Three cards”, 1973), Truffaldino (“The Servant of two misters”, 1976), Adam (“Creation of the World”, 1974).

He has performed several leading roles including Albert (“Giselle”), Siegfried (“Swan Lake”) and Boris (“King Boris”), among many others.

He has also staged ballets on the stages of many theatres: “Fly Cranes” (1985, Maly Theatre), “Carmen” (Valencia), “Cinderella”, “The Nutcracker” (Tokyo) are only a few of many.

Yuri Petukhov has received first prize for best choreography and three first prizes as a ballet master from international competitions throughout Russia and abroad.

Giselle is the story of, a young, innocent village maiden named Giselle who is in love with a man she knows only as Loys. In reality, the man is Albrecht, a nobleman disguised as a peasant, who is betrothed to Bathilde, daughter of the Duke. When Giselle discovers the deceit, she is inconsolable and goes mad, then dies.

In the second act, her undying love for Albrecht saves him from the wicked magic of the wilis, vampiric ghosts of betrothed girls who were betrayed by their lovers and died before their wedding day. Though their leader, Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis, forces Albrecht to dance again and again, Giselle intervenes long enough to spare his life and allow him to survive until the dawn. At sunrise, the wilis must return to their grave; Giselle must return as well but not before showing Albrecht that she forgives him for his treachery. The two pledge their

love to each other and she descends back into her grave, but will forever be separated. Giselle is now a wili for the rest of eternity.

Tickets for St. Petersburg Ballet’s production of Giselle at the main stage at Proctors on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 8pm are $40, $35, $30 and $20 for Cloud Club balcony seating. There is also ticket pricing available for those 17 and under, excluding Cloud Club. Tickets are available at Proctors Box Office, (518) 346-6204, or online at proctors.org.

This performance is sponsored, in part, by The New York State Council on The Arts, a state agency.

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