‘Swan Lake’ in 3D: ‘Avatar’ director to work on blockbuster ballet in Russia

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Published time: December 19, 2012 13:50
Edited time: December 19, 2012 17:50

Ballet and film normally share little common ground, but two art gurus - the man behind “Avatar” James Cameron and the Mariinsky Theatre’s artistic director Valery Gergiev - have teamed up to work on a 3D version of “Swan Lake”.

­“We have had extensive talks with James Cameron and his team to consider what we can learn from famous films like Avatar,” one of the world’s most sought-after conductors, Russia’s Gergiev told the Independent.

“They have the experience, talent and expertise. There is no team in the world that knows better how to work in a 3D environment in an opera house where you cannot stop the performance once the music has started,” he explained.

“The cinemas will bring thousands of people together,” the 59-year-old conductor added.

Earlier this month it was announced that Gergiev has earned a 'best performance' Grammy nomination for Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances for both himself and the London Symphony Orchestra, of which he is Principal Conductor.

According to online studies of UK classical music, the indefatigable Gergiev was apparently the busiest conductor of 2010, performing 88 concerts in America and Europe over the course of the year.

His new tour de force with Cameron will be broadcast from the Mariinsky Theater in St Petersburg  live into cinemas across the world on February 14.