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"La Bayadère" Summary Act I. Scene I: The sacred forest, outside the temple Solor, the noblest and bravest warrior in the land, returns with his comrades from a tiger hunt. On the pretext of wanting to pray at the holy fire, he asks his friends to leave him on his own. Once alone, Solor calls the fakir Magdaveya, whom he wants to help him to arrange a secret meeting with Nikiya, bayadere of the Temple, but they are interrupted by the arrival of the High Brahmin and the priests.
The
Brahmin orders Magdaveya to call the other fakirs and to light
the holy fire for the celebrations. The Bayaderes appear and
begin their ritual dance. Nikiya has been chosen to be ordained
as their leader. Paloma Herrera & Ángel Corella in Bayadère. Acto I. Scene I.. Photo: Rosalie O'Connor. She is taken to the Brahmin, who is overwhelmed by her beauty. He declares his love for her, but reminding him of his high rank and his vows, Nikiya rejects his proposal. When the Bayaderes bring the fakirs water from the holy spring, Magdaveya gives Nikiya Solor's message. While she is delighted to hear that Solor wants to meet her, the Brahmin watches them suspiciously. After the ceremony everyone returns to the temple.
At
nightfall Solor and Nikiya secretly meet in the shadow of the
temple. Although the fakir stands guard over their rendezvous,
the Brahmin eavesdrops without being noticed. Before the holy
fire Solor and Nikiya vow to be eternally faithful to each other.
Concerned, Magdaveya separates the lovers. The High Brahmin
is furious and calls on the gods to help him destroy Solor. The warriors have been invited to the palace since Rajah Dugmanta wants to announce his daughter Gamzatti's engagement to Solor. Although Solor remembers his vow to be faithful to Nikiya, he is bewitched by Gamzatti's beauty.
Wanting
to confide in the Rajah, the Brahmin asks to speak to him
in private. Gamzatti
eavesdrops on the conversation, during which the Brahmin informs
the Rajah of Solor's love for Nikiya.
Wolfang Stollwitzer (Rajah) & Yerlan Andagulov (Gran Brahmán) in Bayadère. Act I. Scene II. Photo: Rosalie O'Connor
The
Brahmin, who had hoped to bring disaster upon his rival, is
horrified when the Rajah decides to kill Nikiya. Gamzatti orders
her Aya to bring Nikiya to her apartment. She tells Nikiya of
her impending marriage and shows her the portrait of her fiancé
Solor. Nikiya argues fiercely with her. In her fury she seizes
a dagger with the intention of killing Gamzatti. Aya succeeds
in wresting the dagger from her and in protecting her mistress.
Nikiya manages to escape but Gamzatti is determined to kill
her.
Adiarys Almeida (Gamzatti) Karemia Moreno (Aya) & Kazuko Omori (Nikiya) in Bayadère. Act I. Scene II. Photo: Rosalie O'Connor
Acto I, Scene III: In the garden of the palace
Corella Ballet. Act I. Scene III. Photo: Rosalie O'Connor
Gillian Murpny (Gamzatti) & Ángel Corella (Solor) in Bayadère. Acto I. Scene III. Photo: Rosalie O'Connor Nikiya has also been invited to entertain the guests with her dancing. In her solo she expresses the pain she suffers because of her love for Solor and cannot avert her sorrowful eyes from him. Aya presents her with a basket of flowers, saying that Solor has sent them.
Kazuko Omori (NIkiya) in Bayadère. Act I. Scene III. Photo: Rosalie O'Connor
Unfortunately
the flowers are from the Rajah and Gamzatti, who have hidden
a poisonous snake amongst them. When Nikiya bends over the basket
to smell the flowers, the snake bites her. The Brahmin promises
to give her an antidote provided she break with Solor but Nikiya
rejects the antidote and dies.
Act II. Solor's tent Solor is in the depths of despair because of Nikiya's death. In order to ease his pain, he smokes opium and escapes into a trance-like world of dreams and has a vision of Nikiya's death.
Corella Ballet. Act II. The Kingdom of Shades. Photo: Rosalie O'Connor
Herman Cornejo (Solor) in Bayadère. Act II. The Kingdom of Shades. Photo: Rosalie O'Connor A long line of shadows resemble his beloved Nikiya as Solor remembers her dance by the holy fire. Solor awakes from his trance when the warriors enter the tent to prepare him for his wedding with Gamzatti.
Act III. The temple While the High Brahmin and the priest prepare Gamzatti and Solor's wedding, the Bronze Idol dances at the feet of the large statue of Buddha.The bridal pair enters and the Bayaderes perform a ritual candle dance reminiscent of the holy fire in front of the temple.
Adiarys Almeida (Gamzatti) & Iain Mackay (Solor) in Bayadère. Act III. Photo: Rosalie O'Connor
Natalia Tapia (Nikiya) in Bayadère. Act III. Photo: Rosalie O'Connor While the Rajah, Gamzatti and Solor dance, Solor is again visited by the vision of Nikiya. During the dance a basket of flowers mysteriously appears which resembles the present Nikiya had received. Shocked and overwhelmed by feelings of guilt, Gamzatti urges her father to conclude the wedding.
The
Brahmin conducts the ceremony on the steps of the altar and,
as he joins Solor and Gamzatti's hands, the irate gods avenge
Nikiya's death by destroying the temple, burying everyone
beneath the ruins.
Adiarys Almeida (Gamzatti), Yerlan Andagulov (Gran Brahmán), Herman Cornejo (Solor) in Bayadère. Acto III. Photo: Rosalie O'Connor The souls of Nikiya and Solor are united by the veil of eternal love. |
