Premiering Friday, April 11 at 10pm on PBS, pbs.org/gperf and the PBS app
On October 15, 1964, Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev’s “Swan Lake” took the stage at the Vienna State Opera. In his novel interpretation of this iconic ballet favorite, Nureyev revolutionized the role of the male dancer in the ballet with his choreography, seeking to be the prima ballerina’s counterpart. With great British ballerina Margot Fonteyn as his partner, Great Performances: The Magic of Nureyev features extensive excerpts from the production that was captured for posterity two years after its 1964 stage premiere. In new interviews, dancers Michael Birkmeyer and Gisela Cech, who danced alongside Nureyev at the premiere of “Swan Lake,” share personal insights on Nureyev’s peerless virtuosity as well as his mercurial off-stage personality. In addition, contemporary experts look back at Nureyev groundbreaking technique from a modern-day perspective. Great Performances: The Magic of Nureyev premieres Friday, April 11 at 10 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org/gperf and the PBS App. This broadcast follows previous programs that explore the stories behind other performing arts legends such as Great Performances: The Magic of Callas, Great Performances: The Magic of Horowitz and Great Performances: The Magic of Spirituals.
Notable Talent:
- Charles Jude – Dancer; Nureyev’s friend
- Marie-Claude Pietragalla – Dance and choreographer
- Julie Kavanagh – Author, “Nureyev: A Life”
- Eric Gauthier – Dancer and choreographer; Artistic Director of Gauthier Dance
- Gisela Cech – Dancer in 1964 “Swan Lake;” Nureyev’s dance partner
- Michael Birkmeyer – Dancer in 1964 “Swan Lake;” Nureyev’s friend
- Polina Semionova – Principal dance artist, Staatsballet Berlin
- Kirill Serbrennikov – director, ballet entitled “Nureyev”