Performed in Moscow on 3 April 2012 at Andris Liepa's Les Saisons Russes of the XXIc. Main characters: Andrey Merkuriev (Vicomte René de Beaugency), Alexandra Timofeeva (Armide), Mikhail Martynyuk (Favourite Slave). Music by Tcherepnin, Choreography by Fokine. The ballet is set during the reign of Louis XIV. During a storm, the young Vicomte René de Beaugency seeks refuge in a castle owned by a magician, the Marquis de Fierbois. René spends the night in Armide’s Pavilion, part of the castle, where he becomes mesmerised by a tapestry hanging on the wall. While asleep he dreams that the tapestry figures of the sorceress Armide and her entourage come to life and perform a series of dances. Encouraged by King Hidraot, a member of Armide’s animated court (and bearing a striking resemblance to the Marquis de Fierbois), René falls in love with Armide, who gives him her scarf as a token in return. Awakening, René discovers that he possesses Armide’s scarf and that her woven tapestry figure does not. Shocked that his reverie was real, he collapses at the feet of the Marquis.

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