Eifman Ballet in Tchaikovsky: Genius and the Price of Fame
23 Apr 2019.  - Photo courtesy of Eifman Ballet

Vibrant athleticism, nuanced physicality, and dramatic intensity take centre stage as the renowned Eifman Ballet brings the man behind the music to life.

Russia’s premier contemporary ballet company presents Eifman Ballet in Tchaikovsky. PRO et CONTRA on stage for three performances this May, at The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. This heart-rending choreographic love letter to the illustrious Russian composer implements Artistic Director Boris Eifman’s signature sublime theatricality, delving into the tormented psyche of composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky as he battles to reconcile his public persona with his inner demons.

“Eifman Ballet is a perennial favourite with Toronto audiences. Their unabashed emotional commitment and unparalleled physical prowess are a rare spectacle,” says Svetlana Dvoretsky, president and executive producer of Show One Productions. “With Tchaikovsky. PRO et CONTRA, we witness the marriage of two great Russian artists, Tchaikovsky and Eifman, each at the pinnacle of their respective art forms. Interpreted by Eifman Ballet’s exquisite dancers, the result is a powerful meditation on the nature of genius and the price of fame.”

Tchaikovsky’s music has long inspired a deep curiosity in Eifman, prompting him to explore the source of Tchaikovsky's suffering: the hostility of the world, the oppressive awareness of his own otherness, and the eternal loneliness of his soul.

Set amidst Tchaikovsky’s death-bed reveries, poignant chapters and recollections from the composer’s life blend with intrusions of characters from his iconic masterpieces, including audience favourites The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Eugene Onegin. The breathtaking lighting design by Alexander Sivaev and Eifman illuminates the elegant minimalism of Zinovy Margolin’s sets and provides a beautiful foil for Olga Shaishmelashvili’s lavish costumes. Embodying the joy, the suffering, and the devastating isolation that accompanied Tchaikovsky’s towering talent, the exquisite company of 40 dancers will express a symphony of passion through Eifman’s ingenious choreography and the composer’s own immortal creations.

Boris Eifman is hailed by critics around the world as a leader among living choreographers. His ability to immerse audiences into the boundless world of human passion has defined and ensured the Company’s international status. Today, the widely acclaimed works of the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg not only represent the highest level of artistic achievement in Russian contemporary ballet, but also introduces international audiences to the spiritual heritage of Russia and the best of world culture.