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SYLVIA
Even as a Goddess of Hunting with a bow in her hand,Sylvia cannot resist the power of the love arrow from Eros. With Eros' help,she gets together with Aminta through a series of trials.SYLVIA is not only a classic of French Ballet,but also a milestone for 25 years of collaboration between Chinese and French Ballet.
Act I
Woodland creatures dance in the moonlight before the shrine of Eros, the God of Love. They are interrupted by the arrival of the shepherd Aminta, who is in love with Sylvia. Hearing Sylvia and her attendants approaching, Aminta hides and watches them dance as they celebrate the success of their hunt. Sylvia, who as one of Diana's nymphs has promised to renounce love, taunts the statue of Eros.
Aminta is dragged from his hiding place. He declares his love for Sylvia, but she is outraged and, blaming the mischievous Eros, draws her bow at the god. Aminta, shielding the statue, is pierced to the heart by Sylvia's arrow. Eros retaliates by shooting Sylvia.
Act 2
Orion, the evil hunter, has also been secretly watching Sylvia and, inflamed by her beauty, is determined to possess her. Taking advantage of the chaos, Orion captures Sylvia and carries her off to his grotto home.
A strange, cloaked figure appears and brings Aminta back to life. Aminta thanks the stranger who then tells him of Sylvia's abduction. The stranger turns out to be Eros and sends Aminta in search of Sylvia.
Orion tries in vain to gain Sylvia's affection by tempting her with jewels and fine clothes. He offers her wine, but she, in order to evade his advances, encourages him to drink. She dances for him until he falls senseless, whereupon she prays to Eros for help. Appearing, Eros disguises as a slave trader and takes her on a boat out of grotto.
Act 3
Aminta in search of Sylvia comes to seaside. He hopes to find Sylvia in Diana's temple but is met by closed doors. He sees a boat approaching with Eros, Sylvia and her attendants on board, and Eros reunites the lovers.
The general rejoicing is interrupted by Orion, determined to recapture Sylvia. She takes refuge in the temple and, after a fight with Aminta, Orion tries to break in. Enraged by the intrusion, Diana appears and kills him. Her anger is now directed at the lovers and she forbids their love. Eros reminds Diana that she herself was once infatuated with a shepherd. She then relents and gives the lovers her blessing of pure love.
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