The Croatian National Theatre in Split will premiere the ballet performance "Class Concert / Scheherazade" on March 27. "Class Concert" is a choreographic work by the new artistic director of the Split Ballet, Denis Matvienko, while "Scheherazade" is being staged by Matvienko based on the classical choreography of Mikhail Fokine. The theater orchestra will be conducted by Maestro Mikhail Sinkevič, and the leads in "Scheherazade" for the premiere performance will be the stars of the Split Ballet, Irina Čaban Bilandžić as Zobeide and Danil Podhruško as the Golden Slave. In subsequent performances, the roles will also feature guest artists Anastasia Matvienko and Victor Caixeta.
Denis Matvienko is a ballet dancer and choreographer of world renown. He has been a ballet star with leading world companies such as the Mariinsky and Bolshoi theaters. His choreography is characterized by technical virtuosity and deep emotional expression. A special value of the performance is the participation of five artists who have spent a significant part of their rich careers at the famous Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg: Denis and Anastasia Matvienko, Maestro Sinkevič, Victor Caixeta, and assistant choreographer Irina Prokofieva.
The performance is realized in co-production with HNK Ivana pl. Zajca, as part of the K-HNK consortium.
“As the director of the Ballet, I’ve been here for only two and a half months; that’s a very short time. But I promise that, maybe not now, but certainly from the beginning of the next season, we will be the best ballet theater not only in Croatia but beyond,” said Denis Matvienko at a press conference. “Scheherazade is a beautiful ballet, completely modern and topical. The music by Rimsky-Korsakov is beautiful, as is the music by Tchaikovsky, which I am using for Class Concert. It’s his symphonic music, except for one part which is from his ballet The Sleeping Beauty. In Class Concert, I want to show the life of a dancer, both on stage and behind the scenes.”
Maestro Mikhail Sinkevič stated: “I am happy to have the opportunity to work with excellent musicians like those in the Split theatre orchestra. They are open, professional, and have excellent musical education. I am also proud to have the chance to work with a world star like Denis. The audience will judge the final result at the performance, but I can say that the atmosphere in rehearsals has been excellent. This orchestra has great potential.”
The prima ballerina of HNK Split, Irina Čaban Bilandžić, will play the role of Zobeide, the main female role in "Scheherazade," during the premiere: “I would like to thank Denis for the decision to stage Scheherazade; it is an opportunity for the entire ensemble, including myself, to work on this title for the first time. I have worked mostly with assistant Irina Prokofieva, and I couldn't have asked for better, more precise help. She has imparted to us the rules we need to learn. With such wonderful music, the movement seems to flow naturally from it. I hope the audience will enjoy it with us; I invite everyone to the theater.”
For guest artist Anastasia Matvienko, this is her first time playing the role of Zobeide: “This role has been a long-held dream of mine; unfortunately, I didn’t have the opportunity to dance it at the Mariinsky, and I am very happy about this. I am also happy to be partnered with Victor Caixeta, with whom I had the chance to dance at the Mariinsky; he is an excellent partner.”
Victor Caixeta, a Brazilian dancer with a rich international career, will dance the role of the Golden Slave: “This is also my premiere; I have never danced in "Scheherazade." My name was already in the cast three years ago when I left Russia, but I didn’t get the chance to perform. So, I am very much looking forward to this performance; it is a title that is not often on the repertoire.”
After the premiere on March 27, there will be performances on March 28, 29, and 31, as well as on April 1.