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18th Feb 2010

                                          La Bayadere      The Temple Dancer

     Synopsis

 ACT I

Scene I : Outside the Temple Warriors pass by on their way to hunt tigers. They are led by Solor, India’s noblest war­rior. He stops at the Sacred Fire and com­mands the others to leave. Solor has a secret locked in his heart – he loves Nikiya, “the bayadere”,or” temple dancer”. As he hears people approaching, Solor orders the fakir Magdaveya to tell Nikiya that he will wait for her after darkness falls. The High Brahmin emerges from the Temple and all prepare for the Festival of the Fire. After Nikiya has taken part in the sacred dances, the High Brahmin secretly declares his love. Shocked, she rejects him. The love of a High Brahmin for a woman is against all the laws. Although stung by pain, the High Brahmin regains his composure and orders the bayaderes to give the fakirs water. Magdaveya uses this chance to convey

Solor’s message to Nikiya. When all have left, Solor and Nikiya meet. But, unseen, the High Brahmin watches as Solor swears eter­nal love for Nikiya. Solor disappears into the jungle and Nikiya returns to the Temple. His heart ravaged by jealousy, the High Brahmin rushes into the clearing and invokes the destruction of Solor.

 Scene 2 : A Hall in the Palace

The Rajah and his warriors salute a portrait of Solor. The Rajah’s daughter, Gamzatti, is ushered into the hall. Her father tells her that she is betrothed to Solor . The moment her eyes fall upon his portrait, Gamzatti knows herself to be in love. Solor is announced. When he discovers from the Rajah that as a reward for his valour he shall receive the hand of Gamzatti in marriage, he is stunned. He has given his heart to Nikiya. In anguish he watches from the shadows as the innocent Nikiya blesses Gamzatti. Suddenly the High Brahmin steps forward and asks the Rajah to dismiss the assembly. No sooner have Solor and Gamzatti left the hall than the High Brahmin asks if it is true that they are to be married. When the Rajah replies that it is indeed true, the High Brahmin reveals what he had witnessed outside the Temple. Enraged, the Rajah swears to destroy Nikiya. The High Brahmin staggers from the hall. His wish was to see Solor die but now it is his love, Nikiya, who is doomed, cursed by his own jealousy. Gamzatti has overheard part of the encounter between her father and the High Brahmin. She sends for Nikiya and triumph­antly declares that she and Solor are betrothed. Overwhelmed, Nikiya snatches a dagger from the table and turns on the princess. The Aiya rushes between them. In desolation Nikiya flees from the hall as Gamzatti, like her father, vows to destroy her.

 ACT II

The Gardens of the Palace

A great gathering assembles in honour of the betrothal of Solor and Gamzatti. Nikiya is brought forward to dance at the festivities but her dance is one of lamentation. When the Aiya gives Nikiya a basket of flowers and tells her they are from Solor, her spirits soar. But Nikiya does not know that the basket is really a deadly gift from the Rajah and his daughter. As Nikiya holds

the flowers to her breast she is bitten by a snake. The High Brahmin begs her to save herself but Nikiya refuses the antidote he presses on her. As she dies, Solor can hide his feelings no longer and in passionate grief throws himself on the body of the dead Nikiya.

 ACT 1lI

Scene I : Solor’s Room

To escape the pain of his inconsolable grief, Solor smokes opium.

Scene 2 : The Kingdom of the Shades

In his hallucinations, Solor imagines that he visits the Kingdom of the Shades to seek forgiveness from the dead Nikiya.

 Scene 3 : Solor’s Room

Solor awakes and believes for a moment that he has been with Nikiya. But as Gamzatti and the Rajah enter, he quickly realises that all had been a dream.

Scene 4 : The Temple

The dance of the Bronze Idol heralds the start of the wedding ceremony of Solor and Gamzatti. Amid the sombre splendour of the Temple, the priests and bayaderes gather. When all are assembled, the High Brahmin joins the hands of Solor and Gamzatti in marriage. At that moment the wrath of the gods is invoked and the Temple collapses, destroying everyone within.

Apotheosis

From the turmoil of destruction emerges a celestial calm. Solor and Nikiya are united in eternal love.