A new production of “Romeo and Juliet” – a ballet by the great composer of the 20^th centurySergey Prokofiev, premieres in the Latvian National Opera (LNO).

The patron of the LNO and the Chairman of the Board of the company Skonto Būve, Guntis Rāvis: “I am deeply honoured and grateful that it’s already been five seasons since Skonto Būve started cooperation with Aivars Leimanis and the Latvian National Ballet, delighting everyone with two new productions each year.”

The Artistic Director of the LNO, Aivars Leimanis, emphasised that without the support of Skonto Būve several productions would not have been staged. “I personally thank Guntis Rāvis. Our programme would be much emptier if we did not receive support from Skonto Būve,” says Aivars Leimanis. He said that this will be the fourth production of “Romeo and Juliet” and in each of them the creators have kept up with the times.

The choreographer of the ballet, Valentīna Turku, revealed that the inspiration behind this production was love: “Love is above all else, and the dancers on the stage must be very brave in order to demonstrate it.”

Sergey Prokofiev got the idea to compose “Romeo and Juliet” in 1934. Initially he planned to change the ending of the well-known story and allow the new lovers to continue their lives happily, however, affected by the atmosphere caused by the repression of the Stalin era, Prokofiev decided to keep the traditional ending. The ballet “Romeo and Juliet” saw its triumphant premiere in 1938 in Brno. Before now it has been staged in Latvia three times – in 1953, 1982 and 1999.