Productions

A dance performance in 2 parts after Eduardas Balsys’ ballet in 4 acts

Composer Eduardas Balsys
Stage director and choreographer Martynas Rimeikis
Conductor Modestas Barkauskas
Scenographer Marijus Jacovskis
Costume designer Elvita Brazdylytė
Cast Anna Chekmarova, Yan Malaki, Iryna Suslo, Daria Verovka, Olga Borodina, Mykhailo Mordasov, Roman Budko, Ksenija Jermakova

The neo-classical ballet Eglė žalčių karalienė (Eglė, Queen of the Grass Snakes, 1960) by Eduardas Balsys (1919‒1984) remains allegedly the most popular and frequently staged contribution to the genre by a Lithuanian composer. In writing his ballet, Balsys, who was one of the most influential and seminal figures in Lithuanian post-war music, drew on the eponymous poem by Salomėja Nėris (1904‒1945) based on a well-known Lithuanian folk tale with many references to the Baltic mythology. Balsys emphasized the mythological elements of this ‘beauty and the beast’ type of a fairy-tale and put the entire gamut of human emotions at the centre of action in this drama of love, betrayal and murder. The story plays out within a colourful orchestration, abounding with contrasting moods and recognisable folk music influences.

At the invitation of the Klaipėda State Music Theatre choreographer Martynas Rimeikis created his dance performance based on Balsys’ ballet music in 2019 to mark the centenary of the composer’s birth. In close collaboration with other members of the creative team, consisting of conductor Modestas Barkauskas, set designer Marijus Jacovskis, costume designer Elvita Brazdylytė and lighting designer Levas Kleinas, he sought to let the music speak for itself and guide his choreographic vision, without projecting modern social issues into this timeless love story evolving around fisherman’s daughter Eglė and her beloved serpent-turned-man Žilvinas. Such cautious and sensitive approach to the classic subject matter allowed shifting the focus from the visual lavishness characteristic of the productions based on fairy tales to more abstract storytelling through dance.

Balsys’ compelling ballet music seems to stand the test of time and is given a new lease on life in this original production that speaks the language of contemporary dance. It was mentioned among the most significant cultural events of the year 2019 in Lithuania and won some important accolades, including two Golden Crosses of the Stage (the most prestigious theatre prize in Lithuania) awarded to Martynas Rimeikis for the best choreography and Julija Stankevičiūtė for the best dance performance.