Grigorovich’s Era. Devoted to the Prominent Russian Choreographer’s 90th Anniversary

26 December 2016 – 26 February 2017

The «Grigorovich’s Era» is a long way in 70 years from the role of a young man in «The Fountain of Bakhchisarai» (Kirov Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theatre, 1946) and choreographer of the performance «Baby Stork (Friendly Hearts)» at the Children’s Studio of the Gorky Palace of Culture, Leningrad, (1947) to the legendary «The Stone Flower» and «The Legend of Love» and then the performances on the leading theatre stages of Russia, Europe, Asia, as well as the guidance of his own creative teams. The «Grigorovich’s Era» is not only about stages, but also about people. A separate section of the exhibition is devoted to the brilliant theatre designer, co-author of Grigorovich’s ballets Simon Virsaladze (1908 – 1989). According to the memoirs of his niece Manana Khidasheli, «Grigorovich arrived to Tbilisi for several days from Moscow, they sat down with Soliko near the tape recorder and indulged in fantasies listening to the endless tape with ballet music». Virsaladze was called «an artist that dresses a dance». The exhibition shows his set and costume designs for Grigorovich’s ballets. They convey a poetry of performances, their inner rhythm and volume, the flame of passion and the integrity of artist’s thought. Another section of the exhibition «Grigorovich’s Era» is devoted to the wife and muse of Yury Nikolayevich, Nataliya Bessmertnova, who unfortunately passed away in 2008. Grigorovich liked to repeat that he put on performances not for the wife but for the outstanding ballerina Bessmertnova.