1985 – Washington Square

Rudolf Noureev washington square

World Première on June 5th, 1985 for the Paris Opera – Palais Garnier – Story by Rudolf Nureyev and Jean-Claude Carrière based on the novel of Henry James – Costumes by Nicholas Georgiadis

In New York, beginning of the XXth century

Washington Square is based on a novella by Henry James whose plot, derived, from a true story, is driven by the emotional conflicts of its characters. This ballet reflects Nureyev’s interest in character study and probing the internal emotional landscape of each role. He returned often to the theme of opposition between inside and outside, private and public life, explaining, “What tempted me in this short story by Henry James is the study of the interior and exterior worlds [that] oppose each other, as tradition does when faced with innovation.”