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The Fountain Of Tears
Music: Musorsky
Choreography: Ben Stevensen
This ballet is based on Alexander Pushkin¡¯s poem, The Fountain of Bakhchisarai.It tells the love of Khan Ghirei for Maria,a Polish Princess whom he has captured during the Tartar's expedition war to Europe.The choreographic poem,The Fountain of Bakhchisarai was first presented by the Kirov Ballet in 1934.Ben Stevenson,an old friend of the Chinese Ballet world,has specially choreographed The Fountain of Tears,this ballet with Oriental characteristics for the National Ballet of China.
The Fountain of Bakhchisarai
Prelude: The tomb of Maria. Giery, the Tartar Khan, is in deep love with Maria, her death makes him heartbroken.
Act 1
Maria is beautiful and kind. Her parents hold a big banquet for her engagement with her fianc¨¦. The lovers slip stealthily out of the room to enjoy each other's company in the quietude of the courtyard. Then the whole family and guests join the merry dance Polonaises. The Tartars come in unobserved as everyone indulges in merrymaking.
Giery and Tartar soldiers appear suddenly. They kill her lover and her parent. Tartar Khan caught sight of the girl when he massacred her family members but at the moment, her beauty grasps Khan's heart and he spares her life. Khan takes Maria away.
Act 2
Scene 1
Bakhchisarai Palace: Khan's beloved wife Zarema, waiting Tartar Khan's return, is dancing with other wives in the Khan's harem. As the news that Khan has returned triumphantly brought to her, she rushes to the Bakhchisarai Palace to greet him, only to be pushed away by the Khan with Maria beside.
Maria has been suffering the loss of her family and now the trip has totally exhausted her. A maiden is assigned by Giery to be in attendance on her.
Scene 2
Maria's bedroom: The maiden tries in vain to comfort Maria.
No matter how hard Khan shows his love for Maria, she rejects his love. In her heart she is torn by hating him.
Khan¡¯s wife Zarema comes to Maria's room, threatening Maria with death, surprised that the girl asks her to do it to end her misery. Zarema begins to understand her. But enraged so much as she sees the hat that Khan left behind, she stabs the girl to her death.
Khan is hurriedly sent for by the maiden; Zarema begs Khan's forgiveness.
With Maria's body in his arms, Khan slowly walks out the Palace.
Scene 3
Bakhchisaray Palace: Soldiers and the wives in Khan'harem are dancing merrily.
With Maria's body in his arms, Khan appears solemnly. Silence everywhere.
Soldiers and the wives take their leave. Zarema desperately jumps off a parapet to her death.
Apotheosis
Mausoleum: Khan builds a mausoleum for Maria and kneels down before it, heart broken.
Touching tombstone softly, he thinks to himself that there is nothing more precious then the true love in this world. A vision of Maria appears by the tombstone, telling Khan that she forgives him. Maria's spirit turns into Fountain of Tears.
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