Nina (ballet)

“Nina, or Crazy of Love” ( Fr. Nina, ou La Folle par Amour ) - two-act ballet - pantomime of choreographer Louis Milon in his own script. Delivered to the music of based on the Nicolas Daleirac , designed by Pierre Siceri and Louis Daguerre . The premiere took place at the Paris Opera (at that time - the Imperial Academy of Music), on the stage of the theater on Richelieu Street on November 23, 1813 .

Nina, or Crazy from Love
Nina, ou La Folle par Amour
Anna Margrethe Schall in the ballet “Nina” directed by August Bournonville (1834)
Composer	on the Nicolas Daleirac
The author of the libretto	Louis Milon
Choreographer	Louis Milon
Set design	Pierre Ciceri and Louis Daguerre
Number of actions	2
First production	November 23, 1813
First Place	Imperial Academy of Music , Opera on Richelieu Street (Paris)

Emilia Bigottini played the main character, a year earlier becoming the "first plot" ( prima ballerina ) of the troupe. Other roles were played by Milon ( father ), Albert ( Jerney ), Merant ( Governor ), Ely ( Blenval ), Guyon ( Georges ), Mareli ( Georgette ), Chevigny ( Eliza ).

Following the rise and fall of Napoleon in France, both attitudes and tastes changed. Having lost interest in generalized revolutionary ideals, art turned to a person, his thoughts and feelings. The romantic theme was inclined to thoughts about the mortality of life, the randomness of the human lot. Leaving aside the gods and heroes of classicism , directors increasingly turned to the stories of ordinary people, whose fates reflected the contradictions of reality. According to its plot, “Nina” became the forerunner of “ Giselle ”, whose heroine is also going crazy with love ^[1] .

With the departure of Bigottini from the scene in 1823, the part of Nina was performed by . On March 16, 1826 , on the recommendation of Auguste Vestris , the Paris debut of his student Augustus Bournonville took place in Nina: he performed the pas de trois with Liz Noble and Antoine Paul , after which he received an engagement in the Opera . April 18, 1827 "Nina" with the guest Bigottini in the title role was presented in the farewell performance of the choreographer.

"Nina" was one of Milon's most popular ballets, along with his " " ( 1816 ) and Clari ( 1820 ). The ballet was repeatedly renewed and went on to the Paris stage until 1837 , when sentimentalism was replaced by ballet romanticism and performances such as “Nina” or “ Clary ” no longer gathered full halls. One of the last performers of the party of Nina was Fanny Elsler , who performed in this lyrical and dramatic role on September 28, 1837 in Compiegne , in front of the court of King Louis Philippe .