Love or calculation: what connected the ballerina Matilda Kshesinskaya and Nicholas II?
Love or calculation: what connected the ballerina Matilda Kshesinskaya and Nicholas II?

Video: Love or calculation: what connected the ballerina Matilda Kshesinskaya and Nicholas II?

Video: Love or calculation: what connected the ballerina Matilda Kshesinskaya and Nicholas II?
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Matilda Kshesinskaya and Nicholas II
Matilda Kshesinskaya and Nicholas II

Alexander III named Matilda Kshesinskaya adornment of Russian ballet when her career as a dancer was just beginning. Her appearance on the stage was always accompanied by success, each performance was accompanied by a standing ovation. And, of course, there were vivid love stories in Matilda's story. She won the heart of the last Russian Tsar Nicholas II …

Matilda Kshesinskaya - the great Russian ballerina
Matilda Kshesinskaya - the great Russian ballerina

Matilda Kshesinskaya was first noticed by the emperor after graduating from drama school. Despite the fact that the girl did not come from a crowned family, Alexander was fascinated by her manner of performing the dance and began to show a special affection for her. It is believed that Alexander's goal was simple: to captivate his son Nicholas with a charming girl until there is a suitable moment to marry the Frenchwoman Louise Henrietta, daughter of Louis Philippe, a pretender to the throne of France. Nikolai himself during this period was carried away by the English princess Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt. Is it any wonder such a pragmatic approach to the issue of marriage between royal families in those days?

Graceful and sophisticated
Graceful and sophisticated
Matilda Kshesinskaya - prima ballerina
Matilda Kshesinskaya - prima ballerina

For two years, Nikolai could communicate with Alice only through letters, while Matilda was always there. The court knew about the ardent passion of the heir, but did not oppose this relationship. Most often, the meeting of lovers took place in the house of Matilda's parents, later Nikolai presented his beloved with a luxurious mansion, where they could be alone.

Portrait of Matilda Kshesinskaya
Portrait of Matilda Kshesinskaya
Portrait of Matilda Kshesinskaya
Portrait of Matilda Kshesinskaya

However, cold calculation prevailed over ardent feelings. In April 1894, her engagement to Alice was announced. Nikolay (or Niki, as she liked to call her beloved ballerina) has always remained a friend of Matilda, repeatedly helped her to cope with backstage intrigues, which were always a lot in the artistic environment.

Portrait of Matilda Kshesinskaya
Portrait of Matilda Kshesinskaya

Nicholas and Matilda had different destinies. The Russian tsar experienced many troubles, the horrors of the First World War and the revolution, exile and an inglorious ending - he was shot in the basement of the Ipatiev House. Kshesinskaya, on the other hand, made an excellent career, became the prima ballerina of Russian ballet, safely gave birth to a son and, in general, lived a very bright life!

Portrait of Matilda Kshesinskaya
Portrait of Matilda Kshesinskaya

Matilda Kshesinskaya's personal achievement in ballet was that she mastered fouette and could perform on stage many times. At the same time, another great Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova gave the world the legendary image of a dying swan. Russian ballet has finally declared itself on the world stage!

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