EIFMAN BALLET OF ST. PETERSBURG BRINGS
BORIS EIFMAN’S RENOWNED RED GISELLE TO CHICAGO
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 17 YEARS
RED GISELLE REIMAGINES THE STORY OF
BALLERINA OLGA SPESSIVTSEVA
Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg – Red Giselle
Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg, one of Russia’s premier ballet companies, returns to the Auditorium Theatre May 19-21 for three performances of Boris Eifman’s extraordinary and engrossing Red Giselle, which had its Chicago debut at the Auditorium in 2000.
“We are so excited to bring Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg back to Chicago to perform the captivating Red Giselle, Boris Eifman’s artistic interpretation of the famed ballerina Olga Spessivtseva’s story,” says Tania Castroverde Moskalenko, Auditorium Theatre CEO. “We are committed to bringing the best in international dance to Chicago and to our landmark stage, and Eifman Ballet is a reflection of that commitment.”
Red Giselle is inspired by the story of Olga Spessivtseva, a famous Russian ballerina who portrayed the titular character in the classic ballet Giselle many times. The story, which begins in revolutionary Petrograd, follows “the Ballerina” as she is introduced to the world of the Russian revolutionaries and caught between her art and the power of the Communists, who want to use artists as instruments for spreading their ideology. The Ballerina flees to Paris and reprises her role of Giselle in the famous story ballet while also dealing with unrequited love, mental illness, and ghosts from her past. Boris Eifman’s extraordinary, expressive choreography and inexhaustible imagination paired with opulent sets and costumes bring this tragic tale to life.
Reviews of Eifman’s Red Giselle:
“[One] has to admire the impact of Mr. Eifman’s choreography and the sheer originality of his theatrical vision.” – The New York Times
“Diabolically exciting.” – Chicago Tribune
“Eifman’s two-act Red Giselle represents a brilliant essay in large-scale pageant-dancing.” – Los Angeles Times
NIB FOUNDATION – Dance Sponsor | ELIZABETH F. CHENEY FOUNDATION – Performance Sponsor | FRIENDS OF BORIS – Performance Sponsor
About Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg
Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg was established in 1977 by Boris Eifman as a company that would serve as “a ballet theatre for one choreographer” that combines the rich traditions of Russian theatre with an original ballet repertoire. The company previously has performed Eifman’s original works Up & Down, Rodin, The Seagull, and Don Quixote, or Fantasies of a Madman, among others, at the Auditorium Theatre.
Performance and Ticket Information
Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg – Red Giselle
Friday, May 19 | 7:30PM
Saturday, May 20 | 7:30PM
Sunday, May 21 | 2PM
Tickets start at $33, and are available online at AuditoriumTheatre.org, by phone at 312.341.2300, or in person at the Auditorium Theatre Box Office (50 E Congress Parkway). Discounts available for groups of 10+.
Auditorium Theatre’s 2016-17 Season Upcoming Performances
May 19-21: Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg – Red Giselle
June 10: Giordano Dance Chicago
About The Auditorium Theatre
The Auditorium Theatre, located at 50 E Congress Pkwy in Chicago, is an Illinois, not-for-profit organization committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural, community and educational programming to Chicago, and to the continued restoration and preservation of the National Historic Landmark.
The Auditorium Theatre 2016-17 Season is made possible in part with support from the MacArthur Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, and the Palmer House Hilton. For more information about programming, volunteer and donor opportunities or theatre tours, call 312.341.2310 or visit AuditoriumTheatre.org. For a complete listing of events at the Auditorium Theatre, please click here.
Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg in Red Giselle, photo by Evgeny Matveev.
Auditorium Theatre, photo by Carlos Rosas.
