The Kremlin Ballet Theater will present the premiere of "Vain Precaution"

In the year of its 35th anniversary, the Kremlin Ballet Theater will delight its fans with the premiere of "Vain Precaution" to the music of L. Gerold and French folk melodies. The premiere is scheduled for April 2026 and is timed to coincide with the 235th anniversary of the birth of Louis Joseph Ferdinand Herold (1791 – 1833).

The author of the libretto and choreographer is the renowned Artist of Russia Juliana Malkhasyants, the production designer is the People's Artist of Russia Vyacheslav Okunev. The costume designer is Natalia Zemalindinova, the author of the musical edition is Olga Sokolova.

This witty comedic plot has truly stood the test of time, because "Vain Precaution" (originally the name of the production sounded like "Ballet about Straw, or From bad to good is just one step") is the earliest classical ballet performance that has come down to us. Its premiere took place on July 1, 1879 in Bordeaux, France. Then choreographer Jean Dauberval realized his idea for the national music popular at that time. His brainchild was a success, and later this choreographic version traveled a lot around Europe and, in particular, was shown to the public in Vienna, Marseille, Lyon, Naples, Venice.

Later, many choreographers turned to the funny story of a couple in love, Lisa and Kolena, who managed to outwit the girl's strict and vigilant mother Marceline, who dreamed of a rich groom for her daughter. For example, in Russia, in Moscow and St. Petersburg, over the years he could be seen in productions by Charles Didelot, Jules Perrault, Irakli Nikitin. In this regard, it is worth recalling another significant date in the history of "Vain Precaution": December marks the 225th anniversary of the first meeting with this story of the Moscow audience. The premiere of the play "The Deceived Old Woman" took place at the Petrovsky Theater on December 14, 1800, staged by Italian choreographer Giuseppe Solomoni.

It should be clarified that for the first time, the French composer Louis Joseph Ferdinand Gerold wrote music specifically for this ballet in 1828, and it remained out of competition for a long time. But then in 1864, his German colleague Peter Hertel became interested in the plot, and his contemporaries liked this version of the musical solution more. It was to Hertel's music that Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov presented their version of "Vain Precaution" with the Imperial Troupe in St. Petersburg in 1885. In 1903, in Moscow, at the Bolshoi Theater, their example was followed in 1903 by Alexander Gorsky, who, however, added musical fragments from the works of Riccardo Drigo to the music of Peter Hertel.

In the second half of the twentieth century, there was renewed interest in Louis Herold's score. She was preferred by such famous masters as Frederick Ashton and Oleg Vinogradov. As for Ashton, the premiere of his ballet took place in 1960 at London's Covent Garden. In 1971, Oleg Vinogradov staged the author's production of "Vain Precaution" at the Kirov (now the Mariinsky Theater), and then transferred it to the Mikhailovsky Theater, where it lasted for 17 seasons.

And now the Kremlin Ballet Theater will offer the audience a new version of this story. Choreographer Juliana Malkhasyants also turned to the Herald's music, supplementing it with French folk melodies that will make the production even more vibrant and festive.

"The Kremlin Ballet's repertoire includes masterpieces of romantic ballet and classical extravaganza ballets, and now we have decided to replenish the repertoire with a time–tested comedy ballet," explains Alexandra Timofeeva, Chief Choreographer of the Kremlin Ballet Theater, Honored Artist of Russia. According to Alexandra Sergeevna, the director of the Kremlin version of "Vain Precaution", Juliana Malkhasyants, a star of characteristic dance and a prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theater, treats the creation of this performance with incredible care, referring to its history.

"We, the people of art, are obliged to educate the viewer, and not just be limited to a recognizable product. After all, developing with us, the audience reaches a new level of perception and begins to enjoy immersing themselves in history, contemplating the reviving antique panels. Yes, we will offer them a fun, dynamic spectacle, but with an intellectual basis. The design of the play is created by a large and very interesting creative team of artists led by an excellent set designer Vyacheslav Okunev, who works in this project in collaboration with his student, costume designer Natalia Zemalindinova. Completing the circle will be the lighting design by Irina Tuesnikova, a multiple nominee for the Russian National Golden Mask Theater Award," Alexandra Timofeeva continues.