Spartacus, the legendary hero

by Gwen Herat

The ballet is about the legendary hero, Spartacus who led the rebellion of gladiators and slaves in Rome in the first century AD. The popular version of the ballet has three acts, the scenes and nine monologues. Originally known as Spartak, it had three acts and nine scenes only. It was first produced in 1956 to the choreography of Jacobson with the scores of Khatchraturian at the Kirov Theatre in Leningrad.

The story is about a slave, Spartacus and his wife, Phrygia who are brought by the Roman General, Crassus to Rome. Spartacus incites his fellow slaves to revolt against their oppressors but is eventually killed by his enemies. The ballet was not successful and even less so in Moisyev's production for the Moscow Bloshoi Ballet in Moscow. However, Grigorovich staged a powerful production in 1968 for the Bolshoi Ballet with Vassiliev, Maximova, Liepa and Timofeyeva.

This was debuted in London in 1969. Other versions were premiered in 1957 by Blazex in Prague, Sergi did his version in 1969 at Budapest and Labis in 1977 at Charlero.

It was Yury Grigorovich who had danced in the Yakobson version and who was to realise all the power and drama implicit in Nikolai Khachaturian's scores when he produced his version for the Bolshoi version. It had been a massive undertaking but he had been in the company for four years and produced successful productions such as The Stone Flower, The Sleeping Beauty and the Nutcracker. The new Spartacus was showered with much acclaim for the grandeur of its scale and the vast sweep of the male dancing in it, especially Vladimir Vasiliev as the first unforgettable Spartacus.

This was topped with the imaginative force of the monologues in which the leading characters exposed their innermost feelings.

Bolshoi style

The strength of the troupe, the grand horizons of its aspirations and the attainment that caught up with the audiences with excitement and tragic resonance of the ballet, Spartacus epitomised the Bolshoi style that emerged under the great Grigorovich's artistic directions.

Act. 1, Scene I Invasion: Peace is disrupted by the legions of the Roman Empire led by the cruel, perfidious Crassus. The prisoners he has captured are doomed to slavery. Among them is Spartacus, their prize captive. His monologue presents him as a proud, courageous captive who refuses to be reconciled to slavery. Scene II: The slaves are driven to the market place and men and women are separated by force. Phrygia is parted from Spartacus who protests at the inhumanity of the Romans.

Gladiators

He fights for his rights to be with his wife but the odds are against him and they are separated. Her monologue mourns for her lost happiness and as a slave, dreads what is ahead for her.Scene III: Crassus is attracted to Phrygia and to distract from it, Aegina involves him in frenzied merry-making. When the orgy is at its height, Crassus orders two gladiators to fight blind-folded unto death. The victor is Spartacus. His monologue is that he has inadvertently become a murderer, killing one of his fellow-men. He makes a bid for freedom.Scene IV: Spartacus incites the gladiators to revolt by breaking free their chains. They all flee Rome.

Act II, Scene I: The Gladiators are joined by people who are united in their dream of liberty and equality and by their hatred of oppression Spartacus is declared their leader in their quest for freedom. His monologue is the goal for freedom but his happiness lies in his love for Phrygia. Scene II: Expressing their love for each other after meeting, the couple vows never to be separated and they hide. A procession of wealthy patricians make their way to Crassus's palace and although she is not of nobility, Aegina is among them.

Her monologue is the determination to gain power over Crassus and to win him and thereby gain entrance to the world of patricians. Scene III: Crassus is celebrating his victories and the patricians extol him. Spartacus's army surrounds his palace and Crassus is forced to flee which makes Spartacus's monologue joyful at victory with the assurance that the gladiators will soon win their freedom.

Capture

Scene IV: Crassus is captured by the gladiators and Spartacus challenges him for a single-handed combat. He is no match for the gladiator who gets the upper hand. Crassus is doomed to death but they have sympathy for Spartacus and release him because he is not bent on revenge and is convinced that the gladiators will gain freedom.

Act III Scene I: But Aegina is not happy at what happened and sets up Crassus against the rebels. She is determined that the gladiators must die. She convinces Crassus that he can defeat them with his legionaries and he sets off to the battlefield. So, Aegina's monologue is that of a treacherous woman who would help them to be defeated.

Presentiment

Scene II: As Crassus and his army are advancing, Spartacus is forced to take up arms and many of his captains reveal themselves to be cowards and desert him leaving Spartacus and Phrygia shattered in their dreams of being united. Spartacus's monologue has a presentiment that the forthcoming battle will prove fatal to him. However, he knows that death in battle is preferable to a life of captivity. Phrygia senses his frustration but is helpless.

Scene III: Aegina finds her way into the ranks of the cowardly gladiators and offers them wine and whores. They succumb to temptation and later, Aegina delivers them into the hands of Crassus's men. Crassus who is consumed by the need of revenge because of his humiliation at the hands of Spartacus is determined that he must die.Scene IV: The legionnaires are surrounded by Spartacus's forces but the gladiators are killed in the battle. Spartacus too dies a hero's death.

Epilogue Requiem: The sad Phrygia finds the body of her beloved Spartacus and is heart-broken. She is convinced of his bravery and love for the gladiators, will bring him immortality.