Composer - Peter Hertel

Libretto and choreography by Jean Doberval

Main characters:

Lise - the badly-guarded daughter

Colas - Lise's beloved

Marcelina – Lise’s mother

Nikéz - a candidate for a groom

Michaud – Nikéz’s father

Notary

Friends of Lise and Colas, villagers

First performance: 1 July 1789, Bordeaux, France.

First performance in Ruse: 25 December 1980, choreography - Petar Lukanov, artists - Petar Popov and Maria Trendafilova

Short synopsis

Lise, the daughter of the wealthy widow Marcelina, is in love with the poor country boy Colas. However, her mother intends to marry her off to Nikéz, the son of the wealthy landowner Michaud.

Lise eagerly awaits her beloved. She ties her ribbon into a “love knot” and leaves it at the spot where they usually meet. Soon, Colas appears and beams with joy when he sees the ribbon. Lise and Colas meet and embrace, but their happiness is short-lived. Marcelina rushes in and unceremoniously separates them. Angry, she sends her daughter home, where urgent chores await her. Colas secretly follows to help. The two lovers rejoice in finally being alone together. Lise’s friends arrive to invite her for a walk, but her mother refuses to let her go. Michaud and his son Nikéz have arrived. Marcelina greets them most graciously. The father formally asks for Lise’s hand in marriage on behalf of his son. Marcelina happily accepts, while Lise mockingly teases the clumsy Nikéz.

In the fields, the harvesters have paused their work for a break. Colas leads them into a cheerful dance, and they are soon joined by Lise and Nikéz. It becomes clear to everyone that the girl prefers the poor country boy over the wealthy man’s son. The harvesters can’t take their eyes off the trio: Nikéz dances awkwardly, behaves foolishly, and provokes only laughter. Suddenly, heavy rain starts pouring and drives the dancers away.

At the farmhouse, Marcelina and Lise return home, tired, and the mother soon falls asleep. Lise tries to sneak the key from her mother’s apron to go out and meet Colas, but the old woman senses it and opens her eyes. To ensure her daughter doesn’t slip away, she makes her dance. Lise begins to dance to the sound of a tambourine, and Marcelina gradually drifts off again. On her second attempt, Lise manages to take the key, and at last, Colas enters. Just then, the harvesters arrive to collect their wages, and Colas quickly hides. While the mother is busy with them, the two lovers exchange handkerchiefs as a pledge of eternal love.

Michaud and Nikéz arrive, bringing a notary with them. Nikéz solemnly signs the marriage contract. Marcelina calls her daughter to sign as well. But instead, Lise appears with her beloved Colas. They ask for forgiveness and her blessing. At first, the mother refuses, but everyone urges her to relent, and at last, she agrees. Lise and Colas, overjoyed, begin to dance.

History of creation

La Fille mal gardée (“The Poorly Guarded Girl”) is one of the oldest European ballets to have survived to the present day. It was first performed on July 1, 1789, in Bordeaux, France. The libretto, selection of music based on folk and popular dances, and choreography were all created by Jean Dauberval (1742–1806), a student and collaborator of the renowned French ballet master, theorist, and reformer Jean-Georges Noverre. The ballet quickly gained popularity across Europe. Later, composer Louis Herold selected and arranged the surviving music from Dauberval’s version, added his own compositions, and orchestrated the ballet, thus giving La Fille mal gardée a new life. The premiere of this revised version took place in 1828 at the Paris Opéra. Over time, further adaptations of both the music and choreography followed. In 1864, German composer and conductor Peter Ludwig Hertel (1817–1899) created a new arrangement of the ballet and conducted its premiere at the Berlin Opera. Hertel’s version became widely known in Russia, where some of the most prominent Russian choreographers developed their own interpretations of the ballet.

In Ruse, the ballet La Fille mal gardée was performed for the first time on December 25, 1980. The production team included choreographer Petar Lukanov and set designers Petar Popov and Maria Trendafilova. Following its 30th anniversary season, the Ruse Ballet troupe was described by critics in the press as “fresh and forever young” (Svetlostruy magazine, V. Konsulova, KI). The role of Lise in this “original production, realized with the advanced vocabulary of contemporary ballet theater,” was performed by Y. Petkova; Colas was portrayed by Ch. Hristov; Alain (Nikéz) by L. Borisov; and Simona (Marcelina) by St. Georgiev. Choreographer P. Lukanov used the historic musical edition by the French composer Louis Herold.

The ballet troupe of the State Opera Ruse was founded in 1949. Its first ballet production was The Fairy Doll by Josef Bayer, performed on March 7, 1952. The production was staged by the great Bulgarian ballet master Asen Manolov.