
Prokofiev’s heart-wrenching score for “Romeo and Juliet”, with its deep musical symbolism and imminent emotion, is timeless, especially when paired with world class dancing. In the Mariinsky version with choreography by Leonid Lavrovsky, the libretto highlights the main parts of Shakespeare’s poetic tale with a rhythm of its own. On June 8th, two rising Mariinsky stars performed a double debut in the title roles, foreshadowing a strong future for Mariinsky ballet productions in terms of the quality and depth they offer in tried and true classics.
Maria Iliushkina, just a few years ago a rising soloist, is now proving herself a polished ballerina of significant standing. Her length, grace, and tender heartedness — all characteristics that come through when meeting her in person– easily projected into the far reaches of the audience in her Juliet.