Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet

THE BLUE DANUBE, with music by Johann Strauss

PREVIEW
“The Blue Danube” is a ballet set to the music of Johann Strauss, choreographed by Andrej Melanjin and conducted by Martynas Staskus.

Melanjin rewrote the original libretto to inject more glamour and opulence and less sadness into the ballet, which is set over two acts and set to a swirling gentle score that flows like a beautiful waterfall. Melanjin said that his aim was to infuse the ballet with deeper psychological undercurrents flowing through the graceful waltzing music.
Essentially the ballet is a love story but Melanjin added new twists.  The elaborate set designs of Vyacheslav Okunev, who also created the costumes, speak of beauty and elegance. Naturally, the lighting states by designer Levas Kleinas make moody blue a strong feature.
The ballet should effortlessly sweep the audience along with its grace and beauty. For me it speaks of an illusion or a dreamlike world. I never once saw the Danube as a dazzling blue.

“The Blue Danube”
Lithuanian National Opera & Ballet Theatre
A. Vienuolio g. 1
01104 Vilnius

Performances: April 7 and 8 and May 4 and 5 (also returning in September season)