Published on Mar 24, 2016

Rating:

Genre: NCPA

Dates: June 16-17, 2016

Venue: Opera House of NCPA

Prices: 100, 220, 280, 380, 550, 600, 680, 880

Features: Napoli is not only one of Bournonville's masterpieces; it is also one of the most influential ballets of the entire international repertoire. From June 16th-17th, the The Royal Danish Ballet Napoli will stage in Opera House of NCPA.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

In 1841, August Bournonville was compelled to take involuntary leave from the Royal Danish Theatre following a scandal in which he had violated etiquette one evening while performing the lead role in the ballet. Greatly emboldened by his friend Bertel Thorvaldsen, Bournonville travelled south, away from domestic squabbles. In Italy, Bournonville spent a month at the Santa Lucia quay in Naples, and his impressions of the local folklore and its fiery soul inspired him to create the ballet Napoli, which premiered the year after.

Napoli is not only one of Bournonville's masterpieces; it is also one of the most influential ballets of the entire international repertoire. The ballet features elements from folktales, while also reflecting the ethos of Romanticism and the choreographer himself. Joy is the message, and the ballet is a shining example of the positive Danish interpretation of Romanticism. Choreographically, Bournonville sought inspiration from domestic as well as foreign styles of dance, juxtaposing classical dance in e.g. the pas de six with the tarantula, an Italian folk dance. Likewise, this ballet with its many distinctive supporting characters also highlights the comic as well as tragic expressions of the art of mime.

Napoli premiered at the Royal Danish Theatre on 29 March 1842, a year to the day after August Bournonville had left Denmark in disgrace. The ballet was a great success, and Bournonville wrote enthusiastically: 'Never has an undertaking proved such a splendid success. Twenty sold-out performances over two months, and within three years over 49 performances, always with a great crowd and thundering applause. The simple story was but a single ribbon in a braided wreath, yet the outcome proved that this knot was, indeed, tight enough to maintain interest. Rarely does one hit the nail on its head, but this was the case with the Danes' favourite ballet.'

Ever since its premiere, Napoli has remained one of Denmark's favourite ballets and has been performed more than 850 times, handed down through the generations from dancer to dancer. Over the years, the ballet has undergone successive changes, abbreviations and additions, which is most apparent in this staging in the second act that features new choreography by Sorella Englund and Nikolaj Hübbe and new music by Louise Alenius.

SYNOSIS

Act I
There is a festive, folksy atmosphere at the harbour by the Santa Lucia beachfront in Naples where the return of the fishermen is expected. The neighbourhood is home to Veronica, a widow whose beautiful daughter, Teresina, is wooed by the macaroni seller Giacomo and the lemonade vendor Peppo. But Teresina will not fail her sweetheart, the impoverished fisherman Gennaro, who is out at sea.

He returns with his catch and offers a passing pilgrim some fish, but she selflessly refuses the offer. Teresina also offers to give her a silver heart, but in turn the pilgrim asks Teresina to hang it around the neck of her beloved Gennaro.

Giovanina, Teresina’s friend, flirts with Gennaro, which immediately aroused Teresina’s jealousy. But the couple are reconciled when the young fisherman presents Teresina with a gold ring. Veronica sends her daughter home, but Teresina sneaks out again to play guitar with Gennaro. The sight of the young lovers enrages Peppo and Giacomo and they try to turn the mood at the harbour against the couple. Instead, they end up making fools of themselves. Teresina and Gennaro dance together. Teresina, who now wants to be alone with her beloved, invites him to sail with her in the bay, but Gennaro balks. He senses that a storm is brewing. She insists and finally gets her way.

They have barely set sail before a violent storm erupts. The boat capsizes. Gennaro makes it to the shore but Teresina fails to return. In despair, the young fisherman tells the crowd that Teresina has fallen victim to the tempest. Veronica curses him and everyone turns against him. Only the pilgrim, who passes yet again, remembers Teresina and Gennaro’s kindness. She reminds Gennaro of the silver heart around his neck and encourages him to sail out into the gulf to search for his Teresina.

Act II
Teresina is driven into the Blue Grotto. She slowly drifts towards the bottom and ends in the Kingdom of Golfo. The sight of the beautiful Teresina arouses the curiosity of Golfo. When Teresina comes to her senses, she is surrounded by naiads and forgets everything about her past. Through a ritual dance, Golfo turns her into a naiade. Golfo is about to kiss her into death when Gennaro dives into the cave and find Teresina’s guitar. He seeks desperately for his beloved among the naiads.

Finally, he finds Teresina but she fails to remember him. To awaken her memory, he gives her the silver heart and dances their love dance. Golfo attempts to destroy Gennaro, but the young fisherman’s love is so strong that even death must bow. Slowly, Golfo retreats as Gennaro plays a love serenade on the guitar and convinces Teresina to choose life again.

Act III
The residents of the harbour gather by the shrine of Monte Virgine outside Naples to mourn the drowned Teresina. Veronica sobs, people are in despair. To everyone’s surprise, Teresina and Gennaro reappear. A miracle has happened: Teresina is alive. Veronica must bow to young love and the priest weds the couple.

All are united in joyous festivity in which the Neapolitan youth perform a series of traditional dances that celebrate the cycle of the year, culminating in the tarantula and the jubilant finale.

Tickets for The Royal Danish Ballet Napoli are Available now!