The Latvian National Ballet invites to the premiere of the ballet “Viy. The Nights of Horror” by the Ukrainian composer Alexander Rodin and choreographer Radu Poklitaru. The world premiere of this ballet took place at the Kyiv Modern-Ballet on June 2019.

The creative team of the production is from Ukraine: Author of the Set Desing Idea and Video Designer Olga Nikitina, Costume Designer Dmytro Kuryata and Lighting Designer Olena Antokhina. The Music Director and Conductor of this production is Kaspars Ādamsons. Cast: Aeden William Conefrey, Pepijn Lux Gelderman, Jūlija Brauere, Ieva Rācene, Kristaps Jaunžeikars, Philip Fedulov, Darius Florian Catana and Antons Freimans, among others.

The ballet “Viy. The Nights of Horror” is based on the motifs of Mikola (Nikolai) Gogol's story “Viy”, tells about the student Homa Brut’s encounter with dark forces. In the ballet, several characters have kept their names, but it is not an illustration to all known story. Performances, directed by Radu Poklitaru, are always creative rethinking of the place of action, the proposed circumstances and actions of the heroes.

“Initially, I was planning to create a symphonic poem called "Viy" and I’d already completed a few drafts for this. Simultaneously, together with the choreographer Radu Poklitaru, we were researching a plot for a ballet, though we couldn't find anything suitable. During the process of creating the poem, I already felt that there was much more musical material within me than was necessary for a simple symphonic composition. I offered Radu the idea of considering a plot for the ballet "Viy", allowing him to familiarise himself with the musical episodes I’d already created. The choreographer liked the idea; he wrote the libretto, and I continued working – except now on the ballet which was based on his writing,” tells composer Alexander Rodin.

“Contemporary story ballets demand a lot from their literary source material. They require several components including vivid imagery, emotional depth, and opportunities for open choreographic interpretation. In my opinion, Gogol's immortal tale, written in the distant year of 1833, perfectly satisfies all these criteria. The vivid tempers, the strikingly antagonistic merging of the real and imagined, and a lack of earlier interpretations in ballet – these are the reasons that made me fall in love with “Viy” as a choreographer and a director,” reasons for staging the ballet explains Radu Poklitaru, choreographer, Creative Director of the Kyiv Modern-Ballet.

Ballet “Viy. The Nights of Horror” is recommended for audience over the age of 14.

The following performances of "Viy. The Nights of Horror" will be on April 21, May13 and June 16.

Tickets to the ballet “Viy. The Nights of Horror” are available at the box office of LNOB, as well as ONLINE.