Raymonda

The Premium Category offers an exclusive experience, including: 

The best available seats within the Optima Category 

A contribution in support of the Opera 

A program of the event 

A glass of champagne

Synopsis

First part

The action takes place in a castle in Provence during the 13th century where fair ladies and damsels temper the torments of solitude by listening to the songs of troubadours while awaiting the return of their valiant husbands and fiancés who left to fight in the Holy Land.
 

Act 1

At the castle, preparations are underway for a wedding. The Countess of Doris, who has no sons, is anxious to keep the family’s fortune and property in good hands and plans to marry her niece Raymonda to Count Jean de Brienne. Raymonda’s friends Henriette and Clémence fool around with the wedding dress with Béranger and Bernard. 

The countess of Doris reproaches the youngsters for their frivolity whilst there is an army of Saracens at the gates of the city. She tells them of the White Lady whose ghost has long haunted the castle: whenever danger threatens, she comes from the netherworld to protect the House of Doris but she can also punish those who neglect their duty and their honour. 

The seneschal announces the arrival of the King of Hungary. The latter carries a message from his friend and a fellow crusader, Jean de Brienne. The King hands Raymonda the letter from the Knight Jean de Brienne (in which the latter announces his imminent arrival) and gives the young maiden the gifts that her fiancé whom she has yet to meet has sent her. The gifts include a beautiful tapestry depicting the knight. Everyone dances. The graceful gestures of the ladies are countered by the masculine assurance of the warriors. Universal rejoicing.
 

Raymonda joins her friends: Henriette, Clémence, Béranger and Bernard. The arrival of an unexpected guest: the leader of the Saracens appears at the castle and presents Raymonda with sumptuous jewels and then withdraws. The Lords and ladies in attendance also take their leave. An ever-pensive Raymonda strums a few notes on her lute. Her friends try to amuse her. The young girl twirls her wedding veil. Henriette, Clémence, Béranger and Bernard let Raymonda rest. 

With a melancholy air she bids farewell to her life as an innocent young girl and falls asleep. In her dream, Raymonda sees the White Lady who leads her towards the tapestry depicting the knight. Suddenly, the Knight comes to life. Romantic duo featuring Jean de Brienne and Raymonda, along with the vision of Henriette and Clémence and all the Lords and Ladies of the court. The dream is clouded by the sudden intrusion of the Saracen leader who seems to have taken the place of Jean de Brienne. Abderam renews his advances with added ardour. Raymonda tries to resist him but the foreigner becomes insistent, even violent. Henriette, Clémence, Béranger and Bernard awaken Raymonda, who is still reeling in terror from her nightmare. Her fears are assuaged as she returns to the real world.

Second part

Act 2
 

Abderam invites the gathered nobles to attend a divertissement which he intends to have performed in Raymonda’s honour. He sets the stage by erecting a giant tent. Abderam pays tribute to the young girl in the company of her friends Henriette, Clémence, Béranger and Bernard. The dance begins. Abderam leads his entourage of Arabs and Spaniards who are gathered in his camp. 

In the midst of the general confusion, Abderam tries to abduct Raymonda. The valiant knight arrives just in time to save his fiancée: Jean de Brienne challenges Abderam. The King commands them to settle their differences by duelling in an impartial tournament. The two warriors compete on horseback in a jousting contest and then dismount for a swordfight in which Jean de Brienne fatally wounds Abderam. While the Saracens carry away their dying leader Jean de Brienne and his crusaders dance in victory. Jean de Brienne and Raymonda are reunited at last.

Third part

Act 3
 

All celebrate the marriage of Jean de Brienne and Raymonda. The presence of the King of Hungary in the Provençal castle gives rise to a grand divertissement set to a selection of Magyar songs.

Program and cast

Ballet in three acts

Scenario after Lydie Paschkoff and Marius Petipa

Duration : 3h05 with 2 intervals

First part: 75 min

Intermission: 20 min

Second part: 40 min

Intermission: 20 min

Third part: 30 min

Creative team

Rudolf Noureev: Choreographyand director, after Marius Petipa

Alexandre Glazounov: Music(1865-1936)

Vello Pähn: Conductor

Nicholas Georgiadis: Set design and costume design

With the Paris Opera Étoiles, First Soloists and Corps de Ballet
With the Paris Opera Orchestra