We’re back to the Kennedy Center to see the Tokyo Ballet perform Raymonda. It’s another Mariinsky, as in Kirov, original. Petipa choreography of course. Dawn notes that it’s a pretty minor company doing a pretty minor work. And it’s totally great.

Like La Bayadére it’s pretty much about a pretty girl in love with a handsome boy, and there’s some evil guy trying to get the girl instead. Instead of ancient India and a temple dancer, in this case the setting is medieval Provence and the pretty girl is Raymonda, the niece of the Countess of Doris. The handsome boy this time is Jean de Brienne, who is currently off on a Crusade, but like Solor he is represented by a portrait. And the villain is very specifically Muslim this time, leader of the Saracens, Abderachman, rather than the High Brahmin.

Oh, and the King of Hungary is here, pretty much in charge of everything. Like the Rajah, I suppose. It’s all very Bayadere-like, but alas no Kingdom of the Shades, although Act III is traditionally known as Le Festival des Noces.

I’m very sleepy during Act I, then perked up by Act II, and then completely blown away by Act III. I cannot fully believe it when Terashima Hiromi and Denys Matviyenko keep reappearing, after what I can only think is the exhausting finale, to dance again. I’m happy to join the standing ovation, richly deserved for once. Although I wish more people would yell brava along with, or instead of, bravo, especially since I’m too timid to yell.

(Also note that I’ve inserted a post below on the Washington Ballet’s performance that we saw at the new Harman Center on February 2.)