Scheherazade by Mauro Bigonzetti, music by Rimsky-Korsakov

To escape the wrath of her tyrannical and murderous husband, King Shahryar, Scheherazade told him a new story every night for 1001 nights, always ending on a cliffhanger to maintain his interest. Through the power of her narration, Scheherazade transformed the ruler and eventually became his queen. Thus goes the story framing One Thousand and One Nights, a collection of Middle Eastern folktales, commonly known as Arabian Nights. Renowned Italian choreographer Mauro Bigonzetti brings this famous tale to life in his exceptional production of Scheherazade for the Czech National Ballet, in collaboration with Carlo Cerri and the music of Rimsky-Korsakov’s sweepingly majestic orchestral suite. The ballet features a mesmerizing, diverse dance idiom with extraordinary visual dimensions, creating a beautiful blend of contemporary and classical elements.