"Romeo and Juliet" (One-Act Ballet)

Age Restriction: 6+
Composer: Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Type: Classical Ballet
Duration: 35 minutes
Conductor: Javanshir Jafarov, People's Artist
Choreographer: Georgi Kovtun

Cast:

• Juliet – Nigar Ibrahimova, Honored Artist
• Romeo – Timur Odushev
• Lorenzo – Edward Arazov
• Jester – Mehman Mardanov

Synopsis

This production, staged at the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, reflects the choreographers' perspective on modern world events. Over the past decades, ruthless wars have taken the lives of countless Romeos and Juliets.

Every era has its jesters—figures laughed at and mocked—who, by fate’s decree, must comply with the whims of power without question.

The meaningless feud between the Montague and Capulet families ultimately destroys them both. Stop! Look around! Think about your children! The future of your grandchildren and great-grandchildren depends on you!

"Bolero" (One-Act Ballet)

Age Restriction: 6+
Composer: Maurice Ravel
Type: Classical Ballet
Duration: 20 minutes

Conductor: Javanshir Jafarov, People's Artist
Choreographer: Nicolas Musin (France)
Set Designer: Tahir Tahirov (People's Artist)

Synopsis

Ravel’s Spanish influences are more imaginative than scholarly. From the traditional fast-paced Bolero, he preserves only its archetype.

A romantic rebel against romanticism, Ravel rejects metaphysics and existentialist art, instead shaping an artificial yet masterful and defiant aesthetic driven by his inner tragedy.

In his 1928 “Bolero”, we encounter not so much a melody searching for an outlet but rather a deep reflection on human destiny. The perpetual struggle between intellect and emotion, reason and passion creates an intense internal battle hidden within the musical composition.

This ballet captures the carefree yet decadent spirit of France between the two world wars. Like in the Baroque era, artists borrow elements and values from the past to create artificial yet striking works.

From this perspective, "Bolero" is a timeless symbol of the fleeting nature of time and humanity’s powerlessness against it.