Desdemona

„Are true feelings, passion and everything that is most beautiful in life – possible without a woman?“ – composer Anatoly Shenderov asked rhetorically more than two decades ago, in process of creating the musical score for this story.
„My ballet music was inspired by the passions of Shakespeare's drama, extraordinary love, self-sacrifice, on the other hand, the inability to trust great human values and the unjustified emphasis on one's ambitions. In such cases, someone like Jag always appears… These topics seems to be relevant at all times.“
„When I’m composing music for ballet, I always make it through the view that ballet is not an action, but an impression caused by an action. That says it all. My ballet music contains love, passion, jealousy, perfidy… And the question of how much Shakespeare is in it – is answered by the other creators of „Desdemona“ – choreographer, set designer, costume designer, etc. The themes of Shakespeare's tragedy are completely relevant today. Like the desire for love, terrible jealousy and meanness. But it would be foolish to retell a familiar story in a ballet. Also, is it possible?
That would mean I wasn't following a storyline, but only writing symphonic music. However, it is inspired by one or another feeling related to the events on the stage. Or by the characters that exist in my imagination. I have long since 'built', 'danced', created 'scenography' for my imaginary ballet... For me it is the same as hearing the orchestra for which I am writing.
There is no ballet music – there is only good or bad music, and you can dance absolutely anything, sometimes you don't even need music...“

Impact is important to the audience. In my work, I do not set myself the goal of creating something that has not yet existed. Someone said, „don't look for the new, but look for the eternal.“
Anatoly Shenderov