La BAYADERE - Nikia First Entrance - Maria Khoreva & Soslan Kulaev - Mariinsky Theatre

Scene 1 of La BAYADERE - Nikia First Entrance. Led by Solor, a group of young warriors is hunting a tiger. Breaking away from them, Solor persuades the fakir Magdaveya to arrange a rendezvous for him with the bayadère Nikia, one of the dancers who serves the temple’s sacred flame within. The High Brahmin comes out of the temple leading a solemn procession, which is a sign for the ritual of fire to begin. Fakirs and bayadères perform ritual dances and then Nikia, the fairest of all the bayadères, appears. Although he has taken vows of celibacy and is leader of the temple’s priesthood, the High Brahmin confesses to Nikia that he loves her, and he promises her wealth and power if she will be his. Nikia rejects his love. PERFORMERS Conductor: Gavriel Heine Nikia: Maria Khoreva Gamzatti: Elena Yevseyeva Solor: Kimin Kim The Golden Idol: David Zaleyev Trio of Shades: Alexandra Khiteeva, Shamala Guseinova, Maria Iliushkina CREDITS Music by Ludwig Minkus Cho