La Bayadère (the word refers to an Indian temple dancer) is a key work in the classical repertoire and this is a magnificent production. The story of impossible love between Nikiya and Solor is set against the backdrop of a lush, mysterious India. Marius Petipa’s choreography, here in a new scenic version by Yuri Grigorovich, is exquisite; the scene known as The Kingdom of the Shades is one of the most celebrated in the history of ballet. Bolshoi principals Svetlana Zakharova and Maria Alexandrova bring the characters of this romantic ballet to life.