‘Zorba the Greek’, a well known ballet compost by Greek Mikis Theodorakis, premiered for the first time ever at the National Opera of Ukraine.  The ballet dates back to 1946 when the novel was published.  The novel itself has become one of the most translated novels in the 20^th century and it was developed into a movie in 1964 by Michael Cacoyannis.  The film won three Oscar awards.  The ballet first appeared in 1988 and was staged by ballet master Lorka Miasin.  Miasin was the son of Leonid Miasin who worked with entrepreneur Dyahileve in Paris.  Misain’s staging of ‘Zorba the Greek’ in Kyiv will be his 15^th production.

The story is about an American tourist, John, who falls in love with a Greek girl and Zorba who falls in love with an American woman.  The two men become close friends after their respective loves die and the story shows how ancient and archaic Greece and modern America become closer through the power of love.  The backdrop of the ballet is Greek ruins and Christian temples.

Fans of the story who have seen the movie will notice differences between the movie and ballet plot.  The music however will be very similar as Theodorakis based the ballet on the movies soundtrack.