Leyli and Majnun (ballet)

Leyli and Majnun (Azerbaijani: Leyli və Məcnun) a classic Azerbaijani story of love couple;[1] it is a one-act ballet by Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev. The libretto is based on Nizami Ganjavi's poem Layla and Majnun[2] (the third book of the Khamsa, 12th century). The choreographer of the original production was Nelya Nazirova. The premiere, conducted by R. D. Abdullayev, took place on 25 May 1969 at the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater in Baku, with V. N. Pletnev as Majnun and T. N. Mamedova as Leyli. Nazirova's production was the basis of the ballet film In the World of Legends that was filmed by the creative association Ekran in 1975.

Scene from the 2001 production

In 2001, choreographer Georgy Aleksidze carried out a new production of Leyli and Majnun. The performance took place on 17 February (soloists R. Iskenderov and G. Mirzayev), and on 4 December of the same year the ballet was shown on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater, during a tour in Moscow.[3]

Classical story of Leyla and Majnu

The classical story of Leyla and Majnu, which was called the "Romeo and Juliet of the Orient" by Lord Byron,[4] has been swarmed since a long times, in Arabic, Persian, Azerbaijani and Indian cultures.[5][6][7] The tale of Layla and Majnun is as well known in Asia as Romeo and Juliet is in Europe.[8]

The parents of both Leyli and Majnun were not pleased with their love, so both of two lovers were separated, Leyli was married forcefully with another man, but she remained in obsessions of Majnun all the day, whereas, Majnu, due to the tragic separation from his beloved, retreats and go to the jungle, He prefers the company of the wild animals rather than that of men. There he communicates with the wild beasts and recites his poetry for Leyli. He becomes exhausted due to shunning the all bodily and psychological desires, his health continually declines and eventually Majnu dies in the wild. Although, both the lover doesn't meet in the life, but they are reunited after their death.

See also

References
  1. Kaufman, Sarah L. (23 March 2018). "Review | "Layla and Majnun": An Azerbaijani dance opera for the ages". Washington Post. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  2. "Leyli and Majnun ballet to be premiered in Australia". AzerNews.az. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  3. "ЛЕЙЛИ И МЕДЖНУН в энциклопедии балета". www.ballet-enc.ru. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  4. "6.3 The Legend of Leyli and Majnun". www.azer.com. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  5. Macaulay, Alastair (2 October 2016). "Review: From Mark Morris, a Tale of Love Refracted and Multiplied". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  6. Winship, Lyndsey (14 November 2018). "Layla and Majnun review – Yo-Yo Ma and Mark Morris's swirling tragedy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  7. Anderson, Zoë (14 November 2018). "Music is the star of juicily choreographed Layla and Majnun – review". The Independent. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  8. "'Layla and Majnun' - Grand and iconic 'dance opera' production of Asia's 'Romeo and Juliet' premieres in the UK..." Asian Culture Vulture. 3 November 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
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