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LA BAYADÈRE

Ballet in three acts
L. Minkus
Libretto by M. Petipa and S. Khudekov
Characters:
Dugmanta, Rajah
Gamzatti, his daughter
Solor, a warrior
Nikiya, the bayadère
The Golden idol
The High Brahmin
Magedaveya, a fakir
Toloragva, a warrior
Fakirs, young men, Rajah’s retainers, girls, Gamzatti’s retainers, slaves, Brahmins, servants, warriors, bayadères, travelers, musicians, hunters
I action II action III action
A group of young hunters, lead by Solor, are hunting a tiger. Before going deep into the first, Solor persuades the fakir Magedaveya to tell the bayadère Nikiya that he will wait for her near the temple walls. A solemn procession of priests lead by the High Brahmin comes out of the temple. A fest of fire worship begins. Fakirs and the priestesses – bayadères – begin their sacred dances. The beautiful Nikiya adorns the celebrations. Forgetting his ordination and his vow of celibacy, the High Brahmin confesses his love to Nikiya, promising the riches of India to her. Nikiya rejects his importune suggestions. She will never love him. Nikiya and the other bayadères deliver water from the sacred spring to the fakirs. Magedaveya informs Nikiya that Solor will visit her. Nikiya rejoices. Night falls. A meeting in secret. Solor swears eternal love to Nikiya. The High Brahmin manages to overhear the lovers’ conversation.
The Rajah Dugmanta – the ruler of the land – tells his daughter Gamzatti that she is to see her chosen one. He sends after the groom. It is the brave warrior Solor. The Rajah pronounces Solor and his beautiful daughter bride and groom. The warrior is amazed by the girl’s beauty, but he is thrown into confusion, remembering the bayadère Nikiya and his vow of eternal fidelity to her. The High Brahmin appears. Ho wants to tell the Rajah a secret. Gamzatti eavesdrops their conversation. The High Brahmin tells about Solor and Nikiya’s secret love. The Rajah is furious with Solor, but he doesn’t change his decision. He decides that the bayadère must die. The Brahmin, who was hoping to destroy his rival, did not expect this outcome. But the Rajah is adamant. Gamzatti orders a slave to bring Nikiya to her. The Rajah’s daughter informs the bayadère of her impending marriage and asks her to dance on the day of the celebrations. Gamzatti intentionally shows the bayadère her groom’s portrait. Nikiya protests: Solor loves her and has vowed his fidelity to her. The Rajah’s daughter demands that Nikiya gives up Solor. But the bayadère would rather die, than part with him. In a fit of rage, Nikiya raises her dagger, but a slave girl stops the bayadère.
The Rajah’s daughter utters Nikiya’s death sentence.

A square in front of the Rajah’s Palace. A sumptuous celebration of Solor and Gamzatti’s betrothal. The bayadère Nikiya must dance before the guests. She is unable to hide her grief; her eyes are fixed on her beloved. Dugmanta orders a slave girl to give Nikiya a basket of flowers on behalf of Solor. Suddenly, a snake crawls out of the basket and fatally bites Nikiya. She realizes that this is the doing of the Rajah’s vengeful daughter. The High Brahmin offers an antidote to Nikiya. But the bayadère remains faithful to her love. Solor holds her dying body.

Solor is inconsolable. He is gnawed by remorse. He smokes a water pipe and falls asleep. Out of darkness, the shadows of the dead appear to him. They stream down from the mountains. Solor sees Nikiya among them. She beckons him to join her.