Spartacus | Vasiliev, Liepa, Bessmertnova, Timofeeva - Yury Grigorovich (Film Ballet - Bolshoi 1975)

A 1975 Film-ballet of the Mosfilm based on the famous production by Yuri Grigorovich to the music of Aram Khachaturian.Show more

The work follows the exploits of Spartacus, the leader of the slave uprising against the Romans known as the Third Servile War, although the ballet's storyline takes considerable liberties with the historical record.

Khachaturian composed Spartacus in 1954, and was awarded a Lenin Prize for the composition that same year. It was first staged in Leningrad on 27 December 1956, as choreographed by Leonid Yakobson, for the Kirov Theatre of Opera and Ballet (Mariinsky Theatre), where it stayed in repertory for many years, but only with qualified success since Yakobson abandoned conventional pointe in his choreography. Yakobson restaged his version for the Bolshoi in 1962 and it was part of the Bolshoi's 1962 tour to New York. The ballet received its first staging at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow in 1958, choreographed by Igor Moiseyev; however it was the 1968 production, choreographed by Yury Grigorovich, which achieved the greatest acclaim for the ballet.

The revolutionary choreography of Yuri Grigorovich, as well as the performers of the main male roles, Vladimir Vasiliev and Maris Liepa, made this ballet immortal. Spartacus remains one of Khachaturian's best known works and is prominent within the repertoires of the Bolshoi Theatre and other ballet companies in Russia and the former Soviet Union.

Cast & Characters:
Vladimir Vasiliev as Spartacus, captive king of Thrace
Maris Liepa as Crassus, Roman consul
Natalia Bessmertnova as Phrygia, wife of Spartacus
Nina Timofeev as Aegina, concubine to Crassus

Choreography: Yuri Grigorovich
Libretto: Yuri Grigorovich, Vadim Derbenёv
Film Directors: Yuri Grigorovich, Vadim Derbenёv

Bolshoi Theatre Corps de Ballet
Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra
Conductor: Algis Žiūraitis

ACT I: The Roman consul Crassus returns to Rome from his latest conquests in a triumphal procession. Among his captives are the Thracian king Spartacus and his wife Phrygia. Spartacus laments his captivity and bids a bitter farewell to Phrygia, who is taken off to join Crassus's harem of concubines. To entertain Crassus and his entourage, Spartacus is sent into the gladiatorial ring and is forced to kill a close friend. Horrified at his deed, Spartacus incites his fellow captives to rebellion.

ACT II: The escaped captives celebrate their freedom. Meanwhile, Crassus entertains the Roman patricians with lavish entertainment. Spartacus and the other escaped captives disrupt the orgy and rescue the slave women, including Phrygia. Aegina insists that Crassus pursue the slave army immediately. The lovers celebrate their escape to the "Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia".

ACT III: Aegina discovers Spartacus's camp and observes the lovers emerging from their tent the next morning. Aegina sends word to Crassus, who sends his army in pursuit. Internecine struggles break out among Spartacus's forces. Finally, Crassus's forces discover Spartacus and impale him upon their spears. Spartacus's closest followers recover his body and carry it off while Phrygia mourns her loss.