Russia 3 Roubles 1999 - Proof/Silver – Raymonda, the Saracen sheikh Abderakhman and Raymonda during the abduction scene

The ballet «Raymonda» ((music by A.Glasunov) staged by M.Petipa was first presented on January 7, 1898 in the Mariinsky Theater,St.Petersburg. The plot is based on the knightly legend.In her Birthday ’s eve the young Raymonda fell suddenly in passionate love with the beautiful knight Jean de Brienne. The Jean ’s father, who came to seek her hand in marriage with his son,had presented Raymonda the tapestry with the portrait of Jean.Abderakhman, the Saracen sheikh, accompanied by magnificent suite, also came to congratulate Raymonda. He tries to abduct Raymonda at the height of the celebration but Jean, who suddenly comes, strikes him with his sword. The wedding of Raymonda and Jean is splendid celebrated in the castle. The ballet is a complete pattern of the united musical and dancing style which was typical for symphonic ballets created by Russian composers at the end of the XIXth beginning of the XXth centuries. During the century after its first presentation many great choreographers appealed to staging the ballet: A.Gorsky, L.Lavrovsky, V.Vainonen, K.Sergeyev, J.Balantshin,T.Gzovskaya.The role of Raimonda embodied in different time such brilliant ballet dancers as: E.Guelcer, E.Semionova, S.Golovkina, G.Ulanova, N.Dudinskaya, I.Kolpakova,T.Karsavina, O.Spesivceva, O.Preobrazhenskaya, M.Plisetskaya.