Choreographer Natalia Osipova's original version of the ballet Carmen was first presented to the Ruse audience on 1 July 2014 in a single performance. Then the Ruse Ballet Company with the participation of foreign soloists prepared this production for participation in a European tour. The performance on the stage of the Rousse Opera is a dress rehearsal for the upcoming tour of European stages. The memory of Osipova's highly influential production in the style of neoclassical and modern dance is so strong that the ballet company of the Rousse Opera urgently wished to the management of the theatre that Natalia Osipova's ballet "Carmen" be re-staged with its own sets and costumes and thus enter the repertoire of the theatre. The renowned ballet dancer and choreographer accepted the invitation and has been actively working with the ballet company since the end of October. Here is what she shares about her work with the Rousse Opera Ballet:
"I came to the Opera and Ballet Theatre of Ruse ten years ago.
And here we are again working on the ballet Carmen. Preparations for the performance are going well, the troupe is doing great. Soon the stage rehearsals of the play will begin.
I can note that the troupe of the theatre has changed a lot. Young performers from different countries come to Ruse, the troupe is very international and very interesting. The young cast in the main roles is technically and emotionally enriched - it gives great pleasure to reveal the complex characters of the characters in the process of creating the show.
In a short time the set for the ballet was built, the theatre's tailor's workshop worked tirelessly on making the costumes...
The dream of completing and realizing the production with the participation of the orchestra and solo singers of the Opera was born during the initial realization of the performance and I very much hope for such an opportunity to realize my plan here in Ruse! Bulgaria has wonderful voices and it is a blessing to merge three great arts - dance, orchestral music and voice in live performance!
The city of Ruse has its own touching charm, small cozy streets, ancient architectural buildings and the intimate grandeur of the city create an extraordinary atmosphere. It is not in vain that Ruse is called Little Vienna.
Many great composers, conductors and performers came to this city, including Dmitry Shostakovich, Sviatoslav Richter, and Gennady Rozhdestvensky.
The wide banks of the Danube attract with unusual power with its vastness and I want to breathe the air of freedom again and again and believe that the restoration of the Opera House will be done in the near future and we will again enjoy opera and ballet performances on this wonderful stage!!!"
The footage below is from Natalia Osipova's archive from the 2014 production with the Ruse Ballet Company from various performances.
