Grand Ballet in three acts
Music by Cesare Pugni

World Première
3rd March 1846
Her Majesty’s Theatre, London
Choreography by Jules Perrot

Original 1846 Cast
Catarina
Lucile Grahn

Lieutenant Diavolino
Jules Perrot

Saint Petersburg Première
16th February [O.S. 4th February] 1849
Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre
Choreography by Jules Perrot

Original 1849 Première
Catarina
Fanny Elssler

Salvator Rosa
Christian Johansson

Lieutenant Diavolino
Jules Perrot

Première of Petipa’s revival
13th November [O.S. 1st November] 1870
Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre

Original 1870 Cast
Catarina
Adèle Grantzow

Pavel Gerdt
Lieutenant Diavolino

Plot
Catarina, the leader of a robber band, is loved by both her lieutenant Diavolino and the bandits’ captive, the artist Salvator Rosa. Full of admiration for the artist’s talents, Catarina magnanimously gives him freedom. Soon afterwards, her band is defeated in a fight with government forces and she and Diavolino are forced to flee. They find refuge in Salvator Rosa’s home, but only briefly, as Catarina and Diavolino are thrown into prison. The daring Diavolino manages to escape, however, and rescue Catarina, but he demands that she never see Salvator Rosa again. When she refuses, Diavolino decides to get rid of his rival and during a carnival, he attacks the artist, but Catarina shields Salvator with her own body and is killed.