Dates

9 Dec ’23-1 Jan ’24

Location

Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Main Stage

Running time

2:50, incl. 2 intervals

Tickets

n.a.

raymonda

Ultimate ballet classic during the holidays

Dutch National Ballet’s new full-length classic, Raymonda (2022), received four and five-star reviews and several mentions as the ‘best production of the year’ in the international dance press. In her production, associate artistic director Rachel Beaujean gives her own interpretation of the ballet story, which is relevant to the times we live in today. At the same time, she lets the choreographic gems of Marius Petipa’s last great masterpiece sparkle like never before.



Dutch National Opera & Ballet recommends that children be at least 8 years old for this performance.

Photo: Marta Syrko

Ultimate ballet classic during the holidays

For many years, most ballet companies worldwide only ventured to present the third act of the nineteenth-century Raymonda, which revolves around the wedding festivities. The complete production was avoided, due to a rather stigmatising plot. That is a shame, as from a choreographic point of view, Raymonda is probably Petipa’s best work. Beaujean says, “In this ballet, he was able to incorporate and perfect all the knowledge and experience he’d gained previously in ballets like The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker and Swan Lake.”

 

Overhauling the libretto

So Beaujean decided to overhaul the libretto and, partly inspired by series like Game of Thrones and Bridgerton, to adapt the storyline so that today’s audiences can relate to it. In her production, therefore, the young Hungarian grand duchess Raymonda does not simply do as she’s told and marry the vain crusader Jean de Brienne. Instead, she is a young, independent woman who, attracted to the mysterious Abd al-Rahman, makes her own decisions on the path of love.

 

Spectacular sample sheet

Choreographically speaking, this ballet is a spectacular sample sheet of classical ballet technique. Beaujean says, “The many ballerina variations, the dream scene and the Pas d’Action; they’re all incredibly beautiful.” The lively character dances staged by Grigori Tchitcherine, the stylish sets and chic, colourful costumes by the French designer Jérôme Kaplan, and the wonderful music by Alexander Glazunov are also very good reasons not to miss the performances of Raymonda this Christmas!

Credits

Choreography  Marius Petipa 

Production, concept and additional choreography  Rachel Beaujean, in collaboration with Ted Brandsen and Grigori Tchitcherine 

Set and costume design  Jérôme Kaplan

Lighting design  James F. Ingalls

Music  Alexander Glazunov – Raymonda (1898)



Musical accompaniment  Dutch Ballet Orchestra conducted by Vello Pähn

School performances

One performance will be given especially for schools.

Online programme

Along with the printed programme book, we also offer online programme information for this performance. The online programme will take you behind the scenes with in-depth stories, articles, and interviews with the creators and cast.

Cast sheet (2023)

Please find the dancer cast for Raymonda via the link below.

Semyon Velichko as Jean de Brienne in Raymonda
Raymonda (2022) | Photo: Marc Haegeman
Young Gyu Choi as Abd al-Rahman and Maia Makhateli as Raymonda
Photo: Marc Haegeman
Semyon Velichko as Jean de Brienne in Raymonda
Photo: Marc Haegeman
Semyon Velichko as Jean de Brienne and Maia Makhateli as Raymonda
Photo: Marc Haegeman
Group of dancers with in the middle Semyon Velichko as Jean de Brienne and Maia Makhateli as Raymonda
Photo: Marc Haegeman
Raymonda (2023) | Photo: Altin Kaftira
Raymonda (2023) | Photo's: Altin Kaftira
Jump high
Photo: Altin Kaftira
Group dance with heads up
Photo: Altin Kaftira
Duet
Photo: Altin Kaftira
Davi Ramos en Yessica Xuan
Photo: Altin Kaftira
Anna Tsygankova en Giorgi Potskhishvili
Raymonda (2023) | Foto: Altin Kaftira
Anna Tsygankova en Giorgi Potskhishvili
Foto: Altin Kaftira

5 reasons to look forward to ... Raymonda 

The Making of Raymonda

In the video series ‘The Making of Raymonda’, we walk you through the entire creation process of this great ballet production. Discover all episodes below and enter Raymonda’s fascinating world!

Maya Makatheli

Rachel Beaujean and dancers on Raymonda

Rehearsal Raymonda
Rehearsal - dream scene Raymonda (2023) | Photo's: Altin Kaftira
Rehearsal Raymonda
Rehearsal - dream scene Raymonda (2023) | Photo's: Altin Kaftira
Repetities Raymonda
Repetities Raymonda
Repetities Raymonda
Repetities Raymonda
Sword duel rehearsal Raymonda with Jacopo Tissi (l) and Giorgi Potskhishvili
Rehearsal Raymonda (2023) - sword duel - Jacopo Tissi (l) and Giorgi Potskhishvili | Photo's: Altin Kaftira
Sword duel rehearsal Raymonda with Jacopo Tissi
Rehearsal Raymonda -Anna Tsygankova and Jacopo Tissi
Rehearsal Raymonda (2023) Anna Tsygankova and Jacopo Tissi | Photo: Altin Kaftira
Rehearsal Raymonda (2023) Anna Tsygankova and Giorgi Potskhishvili
Rehearsal Raymonda (2023) Anna Tsygankova and Giorgi Potskhishvili | Photo: Altin Kaftira
Raymonda repetitie
Repetitie Raymonda (2023) | Foto: Altin Kaftira
of the 2022 production
rave reviews

Dutch National Ballet has attained a dazzling pinnacle with Raymonda (..) This version is both up-to-the-minute and timeless

12 April

Everything is right in the colossal ballet production Raymonda, from the epic music to the imposing dancers 

4 April

Raymonda lives up to all expectations (..) The crowning glory of the work of associate artistic director Rachel Beaujean

3 April
Raymonda trailer
Raymonda - pas de deux door Maia Makhateli en Young Gyu Choi (2022)
Balletorkest

Dutch Ballet Orchestra

Dutch Ballet Orchestra’s mission is ‘to inspire movement in dance’. Since its inception in 1965, the orchestra has been the proud musical partner of Dutch National Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater. In every performance, the orchestra searches for inspiring synergy between music and dance, in order to give the audience a magical experience.

Dutch Ballet Orchestra

Led by principal conductor Matthew Rowe, Dutch Ballet Orchestra is the leading orchestra for dance in the Netherlands. The orchestra accompanies performances ranging from traditional ballet to modern dance, alongside its activities in music education and talent development.

Besides performances with Dutch National Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater, Dutch Ballet Orchestra has a long tradition of innovative – and award-winning – family performances. For instance, Creatures (in collaboration with ISH Dance Collective) received the international Young Audiences Music Award, and the production Hansel and Gretel (in collaboration with Orkater) won various Musical Awards. In these productions, the musicians play from memory, without a conductor and in costumes, so that they form an integral part of the performance.

And finally, Dutch Ballet Orchestra has a long-term partnership with the Dutch National Ballet Academy. They are therefore involved in the music curriculum for pupils and students, facilitate student visits to orchestra rehearsals and provide music for the academy’s end-of-year performance, where possible.

hetballetorkest.nl/en

The story of Raymonda - animation

The story of Raymonda - animation

Podcast Raymonda - Part 1 Interview with Rachel Beaujean

By: Lin van Ellinckhuijsen and Astrid van Leeuwen

Podcast Raymonda - Part 2 Interview with Maia Makhateli and Young Gyu Choi

By: Astrid van Leeuwen

Partners Junior Company