Petrika Ionesco, who designed the beautiful sets for Nureyev's ballet, initiated this arrangement for Perrault's tale. "I wondered what young girls these days dreamt about, he says, and decided they dreamt of Hollywood and its magic. What's a magician these days? Cinderella's good fairy could only be a producer. Only a Hollywood producer can pull magic from his sleeve, can use special effects to give the impression that dreams are reality. And what is Cinderella doing if not dreaming of an escape from this morbid and oppressive family?"
After a few hesitations, Nureyev's was finally seduced by this incredible idea, which was meant to bring the story into the 20th century.
This is currently the unique version of Cinderella danced by the Paris Opera Ballet, one of the most prestigious company in the world. Agnès Letestu, José Martinez, Wilfried Romoli and Stéphane Phavorin talk about their characters and how they have evolved since Perrault's famous tale but also explain how they manage to perform this choreography of extreme difficulties.
Picture: © E. Bartolucci
- Watch Cinderella, ballet by Rudolf Nureyev, with Agnès Letestu and José Martinez.
