Esmeralda

Bolshoi Ballet’s ESMERALDA
Cesare Pugni |A Ballet in Three acts
Choreography by Marius Petipa

Victor Hugo’s tale of love and loyalty triumphing over corruption springs to life in Esmeralda,
originally choreographed by Marius Petipa, with a new version by Yuri Burklava and Vasily
Medvedev. Esmeralda stars Denis Savin, Ruslan Skvortsov and Maria Alexandrova, who “infuses
her perfectly shaped classical style with contemporary energy" (The New York Times). From the
Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow.


Staging and new choreographic version: Yuri Burlaka, Vasily Medvedev
Conductor: Pavel Klinichev
Libretto by Jules Perrot after Victor Hugo
Scenic Designer: Alyona Pikalova
Costume Designer: Yelena Zaytseva
Lighting Designer: Damir Ismagilov
Choreography of Pas de Diane - Agrippina Vaganova after Marius Petipa motifs
Performed October 9, 2011

PRAISE
"The bright star among the soloists is certainly Maria Alexandrova, who infuses her perfectly
shaped classical style with contemporary energy." - Anna Kisselgoff, The New York Times
About the Choreographers

Marius PETIPA (France 1818 - 1910) is considered to be the most influential ballet master and
choreographer of ballet in history. Noted for his long career as Premier Maître de Ballet of the St.
Petersburg Imperial Theatres (1871-1903), Petipa created over fifty ballets and revived a
substantial number of works by other Ballet Masters. Most of his choreographies are cornerstones
within the classical ballet repertory.

Yuri BURLAKA : Admitted into the Moscow Ballet School in 1986, he became first soloist of the
Russian Ballet Company on the same year. After many successful productions (such as Le Corsaire which he created with Alexei Ratmansky in 2007), he became artistic director of the
Bolshoi Theatre in 2009.

Vasily MEDVEDEV : A graduate of the Vaganova Ballet Academy of St. Petersburg, Vasily
Medvedev has worked with many theaters across the world both as a dancer and/or
choreographer. He has been a member of the International Dance Committee (UNESCO) since
2007 and the artistic director of International Dance Festival “Dance Open”.

SYNOPSIS
Paris, end of the 15th century
Poet Gringoire, sentenced to be hanged, is saved by beautiful Esmeralda who agrees to marry
him. Archdeacon Frollo, torn between his love for God and his obsession for the gypsy girl,
sends his henchman Quasimodo to capture her. Esmeralda is rescued by Phoebus, the captain of
the guard, who gives her his scarf as a souvenir. Later, alone, Esmeralda, starts dreaming
about the handsome captain…

Act I
Scene 1: A Small Square, “The Cour des Miracles”
Townspeople begin to leave the square which, at sunset, turns into the “Cour des Miracles” - a
kingdom of tramps, gypsies and beggars. Gringoire, a poet, ends up here and falls into the hands
of thieves. Finding no money, the tramps sentence him to death unless, according to their law, he
is able to find a woman to marry him. No woman desires marriage and Gringoire is to be hanged.
At this moment the charming gypsy girl, Esmeralda, arrives and learns of Gringoire’s sentence.
She immediately consents to save his life by marrying him. They are to be wed for four years, the
number of shards Gringoire has broken from a jug in accordance with the tramps’ traditions.
The cunning archdeacon, Claude Frollo, burns with desire for Esmeralda. He incites Clopin to
kidnap her and orders the hunchback, Quasimodo, to take part in the abduction. Stopped by
Captain Phoebus and his patrol, Phoebus orders the arrest of Quasimodo and that assistance be
given to Esmeralda. Esmeralda is charmed by the captain’s nobility and good looks. Phoebus gives
Esmeralda his scarf as a memento and at her request, frees Quasimodo. He tries to flirt with her
but she slips away.
Scene 2: Esmeralda's chamber
Esmeralda admires the scarf Phoebus has given her. Picking letters of the alphabet which form his
name, she dances before this word, which is dear to her heart. Gringoire enters and tries to
embrace her, but Esmeralda tells him that she only wished to save him from death, and that she
will never be his wife. He accepts his fate and agrees to partner her in dances which she starts
teaching him. Esmeralda shows Gringoire to his chamber and remains alone.
Esmeralda dreams of Phoebus. A door slowly opens, and the sinister figure of Frollo appears.
Esmeralda orders him to leave but he begs her to accept his passionate love. Esmeralda rejects
him and points to the name of Phoebus, indicating that he is the man she loves. Undeterred,
Frollo continues to make advances and Esmeralda pulls out a dagger. Quasimodo restrains
Esmeralda’s hand, but mindful of the kindness she has shown to him, he helps her to escape.
Frollo threatens them both and picks up the dagger dropped by Esmeralda.
Act II
Scene 3: A splendid mansion, brightly illuminated for a celebration
Preparations are underway for the betrothal of Phoebus and Fleur-de-Lys. Phoebus enters,
oblivious to everything; the memory Esmeralda leaves him shaken. Noticing he is not wearing the
scarf she gave him, Fleur-de-Lys is about to reproach Phoebus when he presents her with a ring;
her suspicions vanish. She shows the ring to her mother, Aloise de Gondelaurier, who announces that she too has prepared a present to mark the happy occasion - the ballet presentation, “Diane
and Acteon.”
Accompanied by Gringoire and her friends, Esmeralda enters the mansion telling Fleur-de-Lys's
fortune and then dancing for the admiring guests. Once all the gypsy girls start dancing,
Esmeralda catches sight of Phoebus and realizes he must be Fleur-de-Lys' betrothed. Devastated,
she decides to leave and puts on the scarf. Upon seeing Esmeralda with the scarf, Fleur-de-Lys
cries and flings Phoebus’s ring on the ground. Esmeralda leaves and Phoebus hurries after her.

Act III
Scene 4: A chamber in an inn
Clopin and Frollo observe the secret meeting between Esmeralda and Phoebus. Unable to stand
the lovers' flirtations, Frollo throws himself at Phoebus with Esmeralda's dagger in his hand.
Phoebus falls lifeless to the ground.

Crowds gather and Frollo shows no agitation. He informs the judge that the dagger belongs to
Esmeralda. The judge accuses Esmeralda of murder as she protests the charges, swearing her
innocence. Frollo whispers to Esmeralda, "I will save you, if you will be mine,” but she pushes him
aside. The judge breaks his staff over Esmeralda's head and throws a veil over her, indicating the
death sentence.

Scene 5: “The Festival of Fools.” Square. To the right is the prison. Upstage is the Cathedral of
Notre-Dame
A procession taking Esmeralda to prison is headed by Frollo and followed by crowds eager to
know the situation. A panic-stricken Gringoire sees with horror that Esmeralda is being tortured.
Meanwhile, the square is invaded by a crowd of beggars and tramps who are celebrating the
“Festival of Fools.” Being elected “king” of the day, Quasimodo is dressed in royal robes holding
court on a stretcher. Frollo tears the blasphemous attire off Quasimodo.

Esmeralda is brought out of prison and led to her execution. Bidding farewell, she asks Gringoire
to bury Phoebus' scarf with her body. Frollo again offers to save her in exchange for her love; she
answers with "may God be your judge.” Recovering from his wounds, Phoebus appears and
reveals the real culprit to an astonished crowd - the condemned Esmeralda is innocent.
Esmeralda throws herself into Phoebus’ arms. Enraged, Frollo whips out the dagger - but
Quasimodo forces it from his hand and throws him off the bridge. Esmeralda and Phoebus agree
to be true to each other forever.