Nureyev Hears Nostalgic Notes

Rudolf Nureyev says he was responding simply to the “nostalgia” he heard in Prokofiev’s score when he created his 1930s Hollywood staging of “Cinderella.”

“Prokofiev wrote the score after returning to Russia (in 1936),” Nureyev said in a press conference Monday at the Performing Arts Center. “He came here many times. I hear in (the music) a lot of nostalgia for the West, and for Hollywood.”

Prokofiev resided in the United States from 1918 to 1922 and returned several times to this country. His last tour to the United States in 1938 took him to Hollywood. He composed “Cinderella” in the 1940-44 period.

“It was an idea that I thought worked out very nicely, to have Cinderella dream of becoming an actress,” Nureyev said: “Who didn’t dream of becoming a Hollywood actor? Who hasn’t?”

Nureyev smiled broadly but said nothing when reminded of his own short-lived Hollywood career. Nureyev starred in the 1977 film “Valentino,” which was neither a critical nor a popular success.

Nureyev dismissed critics who last year pointed out anachronisms in his staging of “Cinderella,” such as the famous Betty Grable pinup pose that dates from the wrong era--from the 1940s, not the ‘30s.

“I didn’t try to make an exact day-by-day” account of Hollywood in the ‘30s, he said.

In fact, Nureyev went on to dismiss the notion that he was specifically evoking Hollywood at all, despite the images of King Kong, Keystone Kops and Fred Astaire incorporated in the ballet.

“There is nothing specific in it claiming to be Hollywood,” he said. “It is not exactly American. . . . France also has a cinema and studios. The dancers are all well-educated in film.”

In Nureyev’s version, Cinderella runs away from the Prince/Handsome Actor at midnight because “time frightens her.”

“She faces the problem of aging,” said Nureyev, who turned 50 in March. “She’s ready to make a film, but she is afraid of time.”

Nureyev described his role as the Producer as a character role.

“I have one solo,” he added.