Mata Hari (ballet)
Mata Hari is a ballet in two acts by Renato Zanella . Not only did the choreography come from him, but also the libretto. It covers part of the life story of the historical Mata Hari . Zanella borrowed the music from various works by the Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich . The work was premiered by the Stuttgart Ballet on December 4, 1993 in the Great House of the Württemberg State Theater in Stuttgart . Marcia Haydée danced the title role . A performance lasts about two and a quarter hours (with a break between the two acts).
people
- Margaretha Geertruida cell, later known under the stage name Mata Hari
- Rudolph MacLeod, Mata Hari's husband
- Maître Clunet, Paris lawyer, lifelong friend of Mata Haris
- Gabriel Astruc, Parisian impresario and patron of Mata Haris
- Vadim Maslow, a Russian officer stationed in France
- Xavier Rousseau, banker, at times lover of Mata Haris
- Hans von Kalle , military attaché at the German embassy in Madrid
- Ladoux, head of the French secret police
- Nijinsky , star of Ballet Russes
- Colette , Parisian dancer
action
place and time
The ballet takes place in various major European cities - the main location is Paris - from 1902 to 1917, the year the protagonist died.
first act
Although she has only been married to the colonial officer Rudolph MacLeods for five years, Margarethe Zell's marriage is like a heap of rubble. Now that she and her husband have returned to their homeland in the Netherlands after he left the army, she is no longer with him, not even their daughter.
In 1905 Margarethezelle traveled to Paris, where she wanted to enjoy life. She soon celebrated great success as a dancer under the stage name Mata Hari (eye of the morning). In the lawyer Maître Clunet, she finds a friend for life. He adores Mata Hari, but she doesn't listen to his love vows. Together with the impresario Gabriel Astruc, he introduces the beautiful Dutch woman to noble Parisian society. It doesn't take long before numerous lovers are at her feet. She uses this to the best of her ability to realize her dream of financial independence. The banker Xavier Rousseau felt this most of all. He is so subservient to Mata Hari that he completely ruins himself financially for her.
In order to increase not only her private, but also her public reputation, Mata Hari introduces the oriental temple dance on France's stages. The result is like a sensation: it is not only cheered by the audience, the press also praised it in the highest tones. Everything that has rank and name seeks her proximity, dresses like her and imitates her movements.
Second act
After just two years, Mata Hari realizes that success does not last forever. After performing in Madrid, Monte Carlo, Berlin and Vienna, she returns to Paris. There she tries to get a permanent engagement with the Ballets Russes. Of this group, she is particularly fond of their star Nijinski. She is firmly convinced that with him she would make an ideal dance couple. It hits her all the harder when she receives a lapidary refusal from the troops. Maître Clunet tries to comfort her, but is unsuccessful. Even the well-meaning impresario Astruc succeeds less and less in finding a commitment for her. While Mata Hari's fame is noticeably fading, Nijinski's is rising more and more to lofty heights.
Once again, luck seems to be waving to Mata Hari. She meets the Russian officer Vadim Maslow, who is stationed in Paris, and falls head over heels in love with him. Basically, he's the only man she ever truly loves in her life. But when the First World War begins, the two are suddenly torn apart.
While the war is raging in Europe, the French secret service keeps an eye on the beautiful dancer. He suspects her to be a German spy. During an interrogation by Ladoux, the chief of the French secret police, Mata Hari takes the offensive by offering to work for the French side. But the French don't have enough money for the luxury they are used to. That's why she's also looking for contact with the German secret service in Madrid. When she returned to Paris, she was arrested and brought before a military tribunal. She tries hard to prove her innocence, but all of her former friends whom she mentions as witnesses fail her. After a short trial, she is sentenced to death.
music
Zanella used music by Dmitri Shostakovich for his ballet, namely from his 10th Symphony op. 93 the first and third movements, as well as the string quartets No. 7, op. 108, No. 8, op. 110 and No. 9, op. 117 .