Petipa's Last Masterpiece 'Raymonda' Opens at the New National Theatre!
Classical ballet 'Raymonda,' directed and choreographed by Asami Maki, opened on April 25 at the New National Theatre. It will be performed until May 3 during the Golden Week holidays.
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- 📰 Published: April 26, 2026 at 02:40
- 🔍 Collected: April 25, 2026 at 18:01
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Photo: Hidemi Seto
Today, Saturday, April 25, the classical ballet "Raymonda," said to be Petipa's last masterpiece, opened its first day.
This production was premiered in 2004 with choreography and direction by then Artistic Director Asami Maki, and has been highly acclaimed, winning the Asahi Performing Arts Award.
Former Director Maki reconsidered the story of "Raymonda" as a universal love story, depicting it with a speedy and spectacular stage development. This is a production where you can fully enjoy a variety of sparkling dances matched with Luisa Spinatelli's impressively colorful costumes and sets, and Alexander Glazunov's beautiful and lyrical music. Please come to the New National Theatre for your Golden Week outing.
See details
Yui Yonezawa (Raymonda), Yudai Fukuoka (Jean de Brienne) Photo: Hidemi Seto
Yui Yonezawa (Raymonda), Takuro Watanabe (Abderakhman) Photo: Hidemi Seto
Photo: Hidemi Seto
Message from Artistic Director Miyako Yoshida
The New National Theatre Ballet's "Raymonda" will open on April 25.
"Raymonda" is said to be the last masterpiece of Marius Petipa, who laid the foundation of classical ballet. At the New National Theatre, we have performed the production revised and directed by then Artistic Director Asami Maki during the 2004/2005 season. It is a very beautiful production packed with the stylistic beauty of the classics, and is one of the important repertoires for our ballet company.
For this performance, we invited Ms. Misae Shiga, one of the principal dancers who created the piece with Ms. Maki at the time of its premiere, as a guest coach. Asami Maki's version of "Raymonda" is depicted as a universal love story that can happen in any era, where the person you love has someone who loves them back. While returning to the premiere, we will sincerely work on it so that we can inherit the universal essence of classical ballet called "Raymonda" while changing some of the staging.
Please come to the theater to see this work, which is packed with many charms, such as sparkling dances matched with beautiful and lyrical music, and colorful costumes and sets.
Story
Raymonda, who is secretly engaged to Jean de Brienne, who is on a crusade expedition as a vassal of the King of Belgium, is waiting for his return so much that she dreams of reuniting with him. Abderakhman, the Saracen king, also harbors feelings for the beautiful Raymonda. Invited to a banquet held at the mansion of her aunt, the Countess, Abderakhman tries to attract her attention with jewels and numerous rare dances, but Jean de Brienne appears there, and a duel ensues over her.
Performance Overview
2025/2026 Season
New National Theatre Ballet "Raymonda"
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Direction and Revised Choreography: Asami Maki
Music: Alexander Glazunov
Art and Costumes: Luisa Spinatelli
Lighting: Yuji Sawada
[Performance Schedule]
2026
April 25 (Sat) 14:00
April 26 (Sun) 13:00 / 18:30
April 28 (Tue) 18:30
April 29 (Wed/Hol) 13:00 / 18:30
May 1 (Fri) 18:30
May 2 (Sat) 13:00 / 18:30
May 3 (Sun/Hol) 14:00
[Venue] New National Theatre, Opera Palace (1 stop from Keio New Line Shinjuku Station, directly connected to Hatsudai Station Central Exit)
[Estimated Running Time] Approximately 2 hours and 55 minutes
(Prologue/Act 1 60 min, Intermission 25 min, Act 2 35 min, Intermission 20 min, Act 3 35 min)
[Ticket Prices (10% Tax Included)]
S Seat 14,850 yen, A Seat 12,650 yen, B Seat 9,350 yen, C Seat 6,050 yen, D Seat 4,950 yen
U25 discount tickets are also on sale!
Today, Saturday, April 25, the classical ballet "Raymonda," said to be Petipa's last masterpiece, opened its first day.
This production was premiered in 2004 with choreography and direction by then Artistic Director Asami Maki, and has been highly acclaimed, winning the Asahi Performing Arts Award.
Former Director Maki reconsidered the story of "Raymonda" as a universal love story, depicting it with a speedy and spectacular stage development. This is a production where you can fully enjoy a variety of sparkling dances matched with Luisa Spinatelli's impressively colorful costumes and sets, and Alexander Glazunov's beautiful and lyrical music. Please come to the New National Theatre for your Golden Week outing.
See details
Yui Yonezawa (Raymonda), Yudai Fukuoka (Jean de Brienne) Photo: Hidemi Seto
Yui Yonezawa (Raymonda), Takuro Watanabe (Abderakhman) Photo: Hidemi Seto
Photo: Hidemi Seto
Message from Artistic Director Miyako Yoshida
The New National Theatre Ballet's "Raymonda" will open on April 25.
"Raymonda" is said to be the last masterpiece of Marius Petipa, who laid the foundation of classical ballet. At the New National Theatre, we have performed the production revised and directed by then Artistic Director Asami Maki during the 2004/2005 season. It is a very beautiful production packed with the stylistic beauty of the classics, and is one of the important repertoires for our ballet company.
For this performance, we invited Ms. Misae Shiga, one of the principal dancers who created the piece with Ms. Maki at the time of its premiere, as a guest coach. Asami Maki's version of "Raymonda" is depicted as a universal love story that can happen in any era, where the person you love has someone who loves them back. While returning to the premiere, we will sincerely work on it so that we can inherit the universal essence of classical ballet called "Raymonda" while changing some of the staging.
Please come to the theater to see this work, which is packed with many charms, such as sparkling dances matched with beautiful and lyrical music, and colorful costumes and sets.
Story
Raymonda, who is secretly engaged to Jean de Brienne, who is on a crusade expedition as a vassal of the King of Belgium, is waiting for his return so much that she dreams of reuniting with him. Abderakhman, the Saracen king, also harbors feelings for the beautiful Raymonda. Invited to a banquet held at the mansion of her aunt, the Countess, Abderakhman tries to attract her attention with jewels and numerous rare dances, but Jean de Brienne appears there, and a duel ensues over her.
Performance Overview
2025/2026 Season
New National Theatre Ballet "Raymonda"
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Direction and Revised Choreography: Asami Maki
Music: Alexander Glazunov
Art and Costumes: Luisa Spinatelli
Lighting: Yuji Sawada
[Performance Schedule]
2026
April 25 (Sat) 14:00
April 26 (Sun) 13:00 / 18:30
April 28 (Tue) 18:30
April 29 (Wed/Hol) 13:00 / 18:30
May 1 (Fri) 18:30
May 2 (Sat) 13:00 / 18:30
May 3 (Sun/Hol) 14:00
[Venue] New National Theatre, Opera Palace (1 stop from Keio New Line Shinjuku Station, directly connected to Hatsudai Station Central Exit)
[Estimated Running Time] Approximately 2 hours and 55 minutes
(Prologue/Act 1 60 min, Intermission 25 min, Act 2 35 min, Intermission 20 min, Act 3 35 min)
[Ticket Prices (10% Tax Included)]
S Seat 14,850 yen, A Seat 12,650 yen, B Seat 9,350 yen, C Seat 6,050 yen, D Seat 4,950 yen
U25 discount tickets are also on sale!