Hull New Theatre – until 23rd January 2108. Reviewed by Catherine McWilliams
4****
The Russian State Ballet of Siberia are currently touring the UK with a variety of ballets and last night I had the good fortune to see The Snow Maiden at Hull New Theatre.
This is not a well-known ballet, being the story of the Snow Maiden who with the reluctant blessing of her father, Father Frost, leaves the frozen forest to live among people. Along the way she meets Lel a young shepherd and falls in love with Mizgir. Of course it inevitably leads to disaster for the Snow Maiden but our spirits are lifted at the end by the villagers’ celebration of the Summer Solstice.
The Snow Maiden is a very traditional ballet with music by Tchaikovsky, which was beautifully played by the Russian State Ballet Orchestra under the direction of Anatoliy Chepurmoy. The sets were simple with a video backdrop which was monochrome for the frozen forest and became coloured for the village scenes, ensuring that the dancing took centre stage. The costumes were beautiful but also simple, the snowflakes and the Snow Maiden glittering and the villagers in traditional dress. The dresses flowed and added to the beauty of the dancing.
The choreography of Sergei Bobrov and Mark Peretokin was stunning. What was particularly noteworthy was the expression and acting skills of the dancers, every emotion was beautifully portrayed. The dancing was breathtakingly beautiful and the village scenes with dancing based around traditional Russian dances were a sheer joy to watch.
Ekaterina Bulgutova was a superb Snow Maiden showing us the eagerness and naivety of youth as she danced with her snowflakes and begged her Father to be allowed to go to the village; to the sheer joy as she danced with the villagers; to her fear ; her joy as she fell in love, and ultimately her sadness.
Ivan Karnaukhov gave Mizgir a wonderful initial arrogance but we felt with him as he fell in love with the Snow Maiden. The pas de deux of Mizgir and the Snow Maiden as they fell in love was heart stopping and the gasp from the audience as the Snow Maiden met her end said it all – we were all totally drawn in .
This was a performance of breathtaking beauty with superb acting from all. It was wonderful to see a ballet that is not as well-known and the full auditorium at Hull New Theatre loved every minute of it.