Ballet
La sylphide June 5, 2026, 19:00
Description
La Sylphide is one of the most poetic ballets in the Romantic repertoire, where love, longing, and fateful temptation are woven into an enchanting stage story. Ethereal choreography, H. Løvenskiold’s music, and the mystical atmosphere of a Scottish legend turn this production into a delicate and deeply emotional theatrical experience one longs to return to.
H. Levenshold
The Sylph
romantic ballet in 2 acts
libretto by A. Nurri and F. Taglioni
choreography by A. Bournonville, in the version edited by E. M. von Rosen
The premiere of the new production at the Abai Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre took place on 8 June 2024
Production Team:
Conductor of the production – Nurzhan Baibusinov, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan, Chief Conductor of the Abai Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre
Choreographer of the production – Leonid Sarafanov, principal dancer of the Mariinsky Theatre, laureate of the theatre awards “Benois de la Danse”, “Golden Mask”, “Golden Soffit” (St Petersburg)
Production designer – Vyacheslav Okunev, People’s Artist of Russia, laureate of the State Prizes of the Republics of Kazakhstan, Moldova, and Belarus (St Petersburg)
Characters
- The Sylph
- Anna, the farmer’s widow
- James, her son
- Effie, Anna’s niece, James’s fiancée
- Madge, the witch
- Nancy, Effie’s friend
- Gern, the peasant
- Peasants, sylphs, witches – ballet dancers
Act One
On the eve of his wedding to Effie, a young Scottish peasant, James, sees the Sylph — a captivating spirit of the air. She flutters around James as he dozes by the fireplace and wakes him with a kiss. The Sylph, who has fallen in love with James, enchants him and captivates him with her innocent purity. James tries to catch the Sylph, but she constantly eludes him. When the guests gather, she reappears, invisible to everyone except James.
The witch Madge predicts a completely different bridegroom for Effie — Gern. James, angered, drives the witch away. Madge leaves, harbouring a grudge. During the wedding celebration, the Sylph reappears and steals the wedding ring. Unable to resist her charms, James rushes after her, leaving the heartbroken Effie behind.
Act Two
The witch is casting spells in her dwelling, bent over a boiling cauldron, with a long transparent scarf in her hands.
The kingdom of the sylphs lies within an enchanted forest. James follows the ever-elusive Sylph, but cannot hold on to her. She appears before him, offering him water from a spring, then berries. James tries to catch her, but the Sylph remains beyond his reach. Then the witch offers James a magic scarf with which he can capture the elusive spirit. Indeed, when James drapes the scarf over the Sylph’s shoulders, she loses her wings and with them the ability to live and fly. Madge triumphs — she has taken her revenge.
The Sylph’s companions carry her lifeless body into the clouds. James is left in despair.
In the distance, a wedding procession passes by. It is Effie and Gern.
La Sylphide is one of the most poetic ballets in the Romantic repertoire, where love, longing, and fateful temptation are woven into an enchanting stage story. Ethereal choreography, H. Løvenskiold’s music, and the mystical atmosphere of a Scottish legend turn this production into a delicate and deeply emotional theatrical experience one longs to return to.
H. Levenshold
The Sylph
romantic ballet in 2 acts
libretto by A. Nurri and F. Taglioni
choreography by A. Bournonville, in the version edited by E. M. von Rosen
The premiere of the new production at the Abai Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre took place on 8 June 2024
Production Team:
Conductor of the production – Nurzhan Baibusinov, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan, Chief Conductor of the Abai Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre
Choreographer of the production – Leonid Sarafanov, principal dancer of the Mariinsky Theatre, laureate of the theatre awards “Benois de la Danse”, “Golden Mask”, “Golden Soffit” (St Petersburg)
Production designer – Vyacheslav Okunev, People’s Artist of Russia, laureate of the State Prizes of the Republics of Kazakhstan, Moldova, and Belarus (St Petersburg)
Characters
- The Sylph
- Anna, the farmer’s widow
- James, her son
- Effie, Anna’s niece, James’s fiancée
- Madge, the witch
- Nancy, Effie’s friend
- Gern, the peasant
- Peasants, sylphs, witches – ballet dancers
Act One
On the eve of his wedding to Effie, a young Scottish peasant, James, sees the Sylph — a captivating spirit of the air. She flutters around James as he dozes by the fireplace and wakes him with a kiss. The Sylph, who has fallen in love with James, enchants him and captivates him with her innocent purity. James tries to catch the Sylph, but she constantly eludes him. When the guests gather, she reappears, invisible to everyone except James.
The witch Madge predicts a completely different bridegroom for Effie — Gern. James, angered, drives the witch away. Madge leaves, harbouring a grudge. During the wedding celebration, the Sylph reappears and steals the wedding ring. Unable to resist her charms, James rushes after her, leaving the heartbroken Effie behind.
Act Two
The witch is casting spells in her dwelling, bent over a boiling cauldron, with a long transparent scarf in her hands.
The kingdom of the sylphs lies within an enchanted forest. James follows the ever-elusive Sylph, but cannot hold on to her. She appears before him, offering him water from a spring, then berries. James tries to catch her, but the Sylph remains beyond his reach. Then the witch offers James a magic scarf with which he can capture the elusive spirit. Indeed, when James drapes the scarf over the Sylph’s shoulders, she loses her wings and with them the ability to live and fly. Madge triumphs — she has taken her revenge.
The Sylph’s companions carry her lifeless body into the clouds. James is left in despair.
In the distance, a wedding procession passes by. It is Effie and Gern.
Cast and Performers
(June 5, 2026, 19:00)
- The Sylph, the spirit of the air Nuray Nursafina, first performance
- James, Anna’s son Daniyar Ryskul, first performance
- Madge, the witch Dauren Zhenis
- Effie, James’s fiancée Dina Auelbek, first performance
- Homeowner Aziz Yessenbayev
- Anna, a farmer’s widow Anel Omarova
- Gern, the peasant Nursultan Alpamysuly
- Nancy, Effie’s friend Ao Ivasaki
- Sylphs, Scottish peasants, old men, children, witches – ballet dancers
-
Symphony Orchestra of the Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Abay
- Conductor – Mukhtar Kaldayakov
Gallery
Gallery
