Aleksey Yermolayev
Encyclopedia
Aleksey Nikolayevich Yermolayev ( 12 December 1975) was a Soviet baller dancer, choreographer, and teacher. He played an important role in the development of Russian ballet between 1920 and 1950, and he was considered an outstanding actor.
Aleksey Yermolayev was born in Saint Petersburg
in 1910 (the name of the city was changed to Petrograd in 1914 and to Leningrad in 1924). At the Leningrad Choreographic School he completed the required eight years of training in only five years, graduating in 1926, aged only 16; his teacher there was Vladimir Ponomaryov. He sent four years with the Gosudarstvenniy Akademicheskiy Teatr Opery i Baleta (GATOB) at the Mariinsky Theatre
in Leningrad, and made his name in modern roles. He spent the years 1930-1938 as Principal Dancer at the Bolshoi Ballet
in Moscow
.
Yermolayev demonstrated impressive athletic strength, and a vivid personality in his acting. His roles included the God of the Wind (Le Talisman
), Basilio (Don Quichotte
), Albert (Giselle
), Siegfried (Swan Lake
), Abderakhman (Raymonda
), Ripafratta (Mirandolina), and Gireï (La Fontaine de Bakhchissaraï).
He created roles in:
In 1951 he created Piece Will Win War at the Belorussian National Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre. He arranged the music and performed all the roles.
In the 1955 Soviet film of the Romeo and Juliet
ballet, Yermolayev danced Tybalt, the role he created in 1946.
Among his choreographies were:
He became a teacher and coach at the Bolshoi Ballet in 1960, remaining there until his death in 1975. From 1968 to 1972 he was also artistic director of the Moscow Choreographic School. Among his pupils were Alexander Godunov
, Vladimir Vasiliev
, Māris Liepa
, U. Vladimirov and M. Lavrovsky.
He was a National Artist of the USSR and Belarus, and a laureate of State Prizes of the USSR. These included Stalin Prize
s in 1946, 1947 and 1950, and the Order of the Red Banner of Labour
and the Badge of Honour.
Aleksey Yermolayev died in Moscow
in 1975, aged 65.
Aleksey Yermolayev was born in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
in 1910 (the name of the city was changed to Petrograd in 1914 and to Leningrad in 1924). At the Leningrad Choreographic School he completed the required eight years of training in only five years, graduating in 1926, aged only 16; his teacher there was Vladimir Ponomaryov. He sent four years with the Gosudarstvenniy Akademicheskiy Teatr Opery i Baleta (GATOB) at the Mariinsky Theatre
Mariinsky Theatre
The Mariinsky Theatre is a historic theatre of opera and ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music theatre of late 19th century Russia, where many of the stage masterpieces of Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov received their premieres. The...
in Leningrad, and made his name in modern roles. He spent the years 1930-1938 as Principal Dancer at the Bolshoi Ballet
Bolshoi Theatre
The Bolshoi Theatre is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
Yermolayev demonstrated impressive athletic strength, and a vivid personality in his acting. His roles included the God of the Wind (Le Talisman
The Talisman (ballet)
The Talisman - Fantastic ballet in 4 Acts-7 Scenes, with choreography by Marius Petipa, and music by Riccardo Drigo. Libretto by Konstantin Augustovich Tarnovsky and Marius Petipa....
), Basilio (Don Quichotte
Don Quixote (ballet)
Don Quixote is a ballet originally staged in four acts and eight scenes, based on an episode taken from the famous novel Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes. It was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus and was first presented by the Ballet of the...
), Albert (Giselle
Giselle
Giselle is a ballet in two acts with a libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Théophile Gautier, music by Adolphe Adam, and choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. The librettist took his inspiration from a poem by Heinrich Heine...
), Siegfried (Swan Lake
Swan Lake
Swan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger...
), Abderakhman (Raymonda
Raymonda
Raymonda is a ballet in three acts, four scenes with an apotheosis, choreographed by Marius Petipa, with music by Alexander Glazunov, his opus 57. First presented by the Imperial Ballet at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre on in St. Petersburg, Russia...
), Ripafratta (Mirandolina), and Gireï (La Fontaine de Bakhchissaraï).
He created roles in:
- Lopukhov's The Ice Maiden (1927)
- Lopukhov, Ponomaryov, and Leontiev's The Red PoppyThe Red PoppyThe Red Poppy or sometimes The Red Flower is a ballet in three acts and an apotheosis; score written by Reinhold Glière and a scenario by Mikhail Kurilko. This ballet was created in 1927 as the first Soviet ballet with a modern revolutionary theme....
(1929) - Jerome in Vainonen's Moscow version of The Flames of Paris (1933)
- Ripafrata in Vainonen's Mirandolina (1949)
- Tybalt in Lavrovsky's Moscow version of Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet (Prokofiev)Romeo and Juliet is a ballet by Sergei Prokofiev based on William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. It is one of the most enduringly popular ballets...
(1946) - Yevgeny in Zakharov's The Bronze Horseman (1949)
- Severyan in Leonid Lavrovsky's The Tale of the Stone FlowerThe Tale of the Stone Flower (Prokofiev)The Tale of the Stone Flower is Sergei Prokofiev's eighth and last ballet, written between 1948 and 1953. It is based on the Russian Ural folk tale of the same name by Pavel Bazhov and is also the last of the trilogy of ballets Prokofiev wrote in the Russian ballet tradition.-Numbers:Prologue:The...
(1954).
In 1951 he created Piece Will Win War at the Belorussian National Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre. He arranged the music and performed all the roles.
In the 1955 Soviet film of the Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet (1955 film)
Romeo and Juliet is a 1955 Soviet ballet film directed by Lev Arnshtam. It was entered into the 1955 Cannes Film Festival. -Cast:* Galina Ulanova - Juliet* Yuri Zhdanov - Romeo * I. Olenina - Juliet's nurse...
ballet, Yermolayev danced Tybalt, the role he created in 1946.
Among his choreographies were:
- NightingaleNightingale (ballet)Nightingale was a ballet composed in the Byelorussian SSR . Created in 1940, it was the first Belarusian ballet to be formed at the National Academic Bolshoi Ballet Theatre. Originally from a book written by Źmitrok Biadula, the ballet was choreographed by Aleksey Yermolayev and set to music by M....
(the first Belarussian ballet; 1939, with Lopukhov; mus. M. Kroshner; for the Byelorussian Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Minsk), and - Burning Hearts (or Fiery Hearts) (1955; mus. V. Zolotarev).
He became a teacher and coach at the Bolshoi Ballet in 1960, remaining there until his death in 1975. From 1968 to 1972 he was also artistic director of the Moscow Choreographic School. Among his pupils were Alexander Godunov
Alexander Godunov
Alexander Borisovich Godunov was a Russian-American ballet danseur and film actor, whose defection caused a diplomatic incident between the USA and the USSR.-Biography:...
, Vladimir Vasiliev
Vladimir Vasiliev (ballet dancer)
Vladimir Viktorovich Vasiliev , a Russian ballet dancer, was principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet, and was best known for his role of Spartacus and his powerful leaps and turns.-Biography:Born in Moscow in 1940, the son of a truck driver, Vasiliev graduated from the Moscow Ballet School in 1958...
, Māris Liepa
Maris Liepa
Māris Rūdolfs Liepa was a Soviet Latvian ballet dancer. He graduated from Riga Choreography School where he was taught by Valentīns Bļinovs. He performed in Moscow for the first time in 1950...
, U. Vladimirov and M. Lavrovsky.
He was a National Artist of the USSR and Belarus, and a laureate of State Prizes of the USSR. These included Stalin Prize
USSR State Prize
The USSR State Prize was the Soviet Union's state honour. It was established on September 9, 1966. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the prize was followed up by the State Prize of the Russian Federation....
s in 1946, 1947 and 1950, and the Order of the Red Banner of Labour
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
and the Badge of Honour.
Aleksey Yermolayev died in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1975, aged 65.