Scheherazade
Leon Woizikowsky (the Golden Slave) and Nina Raievska (Zobeide) in a publicity photograph for Scheherazade, Monte Carlo Russian Ballet, during the company's Australian tour, Sydney, 1937. Photograph by Russell Roberts Pty. Ltd.
QUICK F A C T S
- ✦ Scheherazade premiered in Paris in 1910 and became one of the Ballets Russes' greatest triumphs.
✦ The ballet was inspired by One Thousand and One Nights (The Arabian Nights), one of the most famous collections of stories in world literature.
✦ The music comes from Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's symphonic suite Scheherazade, which was originally written for the concert hall, not the ballet stage.
✦ The role of the Golden Slave was created by Vaslav Nijinsky and became one of the most celebrated male roles in ballet history.
✦ The dazzling sets and costumes by Léon Bakst revolutionized stage design with their bold colors and lavish patterns.
Vaslaw Nijinsky in Scheherazade, photograph by A. Bert, Paris, circa 1912.
S U M M A R Y
Scheherazade is a ballet of passion, betrayal, and tragedy set within the luxurious palace of a powerful Shah. Inspired by the world of The Arabian Nights, though not based on any single tale, the ballet tells the story of Zobeide, the Shah's favorite wife. Before leaving on a hunting trip, the Shah orders that the women of his harem remain secluded. Once he departs, however, the women persuade the eunuchs to open the palace gates, allowing forbidden lovers to enter. Among them is the Golden Slave, one of ballet's most famous male roles, originally created by the legendary dancer Vaslav Nijinsky.
M.S. Sorokina and A.A. Klein performing in Scheherazade at the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre (Moscow, 1964)..
Léon Bakst's sumptuous set design for Scheherazade (1910), created for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. Rich colors, exotic patterns, and luxurious interiors helped make the production one of the most visually influential ballets of the twentieth century.
As the celebration unfolds, the palace becomes a world of music, dancing, and reckless freedom. The ballet's vivid atmosphere is heightened by the colorful score of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, which was originally composed as an orchestral work rather than a ballet. Equally memorable are the dazzling sets and costumes designed by Léon Bakst. Their rich colors, jewel-like patterns, and luxurious fabrics stunned Paris audiences in 1910 and helped make Scheherazade one of the Ballets Russes' greatest successes.
But the revelry is cut short when the Shah unexpectedly returns. Furious at the betrayal, he orders a brutal massacre of the lovers and the women who defied him. The Golden Slave is killed, and the once-glorious palace is transformed into a scene of violence and heartbreak. Unable to live with the loss of her beloved, Zobeide chooses death rather than face her husband's judgment. The ballet ends in tragedy, yet its lavish designs, dramatic storytelling, and unforgettable characters have ensured its place as one of the most visually spectacular works in ballet history.
Artists in a performance of Scheherazade in Baku, Azerbaijan, 2011. Photograph by Ilgar Jafarov.
E N C O R E
✦ On Today's Stage
Scheherazade is performed less frequently than full-length classics such as Swan Lake or The Sleeping Beauty, but it remains a celebrated Ballets Russes masterpiece. The ballet is especially admired for its sumptuous designs, dramatic storytelling, and unforgettable role of the Golden Slave.
✦ Iconic Interpreters
The role of the Golden Slave was famously created by Vaslav Nijinsky, whose performance became legendary. Notable later interpreters include Leon Woizikowsky, while the tragic Zobeide has been danced by artists such as Ida Rubinstein, for whom the role was originally created.
✦ Legacy
Premiering in 1910, Scheherazade helped establish the Ballets Russes as a revolutionary force in the arts. Léon Bakst's vibrant sets and costumes transformed stage design, while the ballet's bold drama and exotic imagery became defining symbols of the Ballets Russes era. Today, it remains one of the most visually influential ballets ever created.