The new, 158th season of the National Theatre in Belgrade will officially open on 3 October at 7:00 p.m. on the Main Stage with the premiere of the ballet The Risen Shadows by academician and eminent Serbian composer Svetislav Božić.
The choreographer of this monumental work that tells the personal life story of Nadežda and Rastko Petrović, deeply intertwined with the ordeals and suffering the Serbian people endured during the Great War, is Jovica Begojev, Artistic Director and Principal Dancer of the Ballet.
Through ballet, choral and solo musical interpretations of verses by renowned Serbian poets Milutin Bojić, Momčilo Nastasijević and Tanasije Mladenović, the production brings a strong stage and artistic expression.
“The Risen Shadows are part of an ever-shifting realm of sound and spirit that remains a constant on the personal and collective map of the all-Serbian movement, inspiring and renewing creativity and its boundless diversity”, academician Božić stated.
Choreographer Begojev points out that this production not only preserves the memory of the suffering of the Serbian people in the Great War, but it also celebrates the strength, dignity and faith of those who, despite everything, continue to live and create.
“At the centre of this enormous historical canvas we see Nadežda Petrović, an artist whose life was intricately bound to her people. This production portrays the sacrifice of the artist and the people, witnessing their resurrection through collective memory and art”, Jovica Begojev points out.
The performance features the ensembles of the Ballet and Opera, under the baton of Đorđe Pavlović.
The role of Nadežda will be performed by Margarita Cheromukhina, and other cast members include Olga Olćan (Death), Liljana Velimirov (Angel), Miloš Živanović (Rastko Petrović), Toma Križnar (Branko Popović), Aleksandr Polupanov (Officer), Mina Bajec, Jana Zimonjić, Anastasija Vujnović, Natalija Tapić, Mina Predojević, Danijela Simić (Nurses), Vladimir Panajotović (Doctor), Željko Grozdanović (Mentor) and Nada Stamatović (Lady).
The role of the Voice of Memory will be performed by Sanja Kerkez, Principal Soprano of the Opera of the National Theatre.
The dramaturgy is by Nina Plavanjac, the set designer is Miraš Vuksanović, and the costume designer is Marija Marković Milojev.
The first repeat performance is scheduled for 5 October, also at 7:00 p.m., on the Main Stage of the National Theatre in Belgrade.
