In the prime of spring, on May 11, 1932, in the family of a factory worker and a seamstress in Riga, a boy was born to whom his parents gave the name Haralds and who was destined to become one of the most outstanding Latvian ballet dancers and a stage artist loved by several generations of spectators.
Started dancing at the age of 14
It is significant that in the same year – 1932 – the Riga Choreography Secondary School was also founded (at that time under the name Latvian National Opera Ballet School), but Haralds started dancing only at the age of 14. After breaking his voice, he could no longer sing in the boy’s choir of the State Opera and Ballet Theater of the LPSR. “I was saddened and sat on a bench at the entrance to the Opera House, when a gentleman came up to me – I later found out that it was Boleslav Miļevičs, the head of the training department of the ballet school – and asked if I wanted to study at the ballet school, dancing in white slippers… He had noticed me on stage, because, singing in the boys’ choir, we also participated in the performances “Lady of Spades” and “Carmen”. And since I had nowhere else to look at that time, I agreed. I realized that in this way I would be able to stay on stage. And I really wanted that, because standing backstage and watching what the “great artists” were doing, I was already “poisoned” with the stage. I was happy that I could be in the same family with them,” in 2021, in an interview with “Neatsarigīga”, Haralds Ritenberg recalled the events of more than 70 years ago, also recalling that he was evaluated during the entrance exams at the ballet school by the excellent Helena Tangijeva-Birzniece, who had already determined: “This guy will be the premier of Latvian ballet!”
After graduating from the Riga Choreography High School (from 2020 – the Riga Ballet School), the talented young man was accepted into the ballet troupe of the Latvian National Opera. In almost three decades – from 1951 to 1976 – Harald Rittenberg danced more than 40 brilliant roles, becoming the standard of beauty and masculinity of romantic ballet of the post-war generations.
Siegfried, Albert, Romeo
Harald Rittenberg’s most famous ballet roles are Siegfried in Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, Prince Albert in Adolf Charles Adan’s Gisele and Sergei Prokofiev’s Cinderella, Per Gynt in the ballet of the same name, Francis in Johann Strauss’s ballet By the Blue Danube, Ako in Romuald Greenblatt In Rigondre, Désirée and the Blue Bird in The Enchanted Princess, Jean de Brien in Alexander Glazunov’s Raymond, Conrad in Adolphe Charles Adan’s Corsair, Spartacus in Aram Khachaturian’s ballet of the same name and many others.
Harald Rittenberg has admitted that he considers Romeo to be the most beautiful role of his life. It is a role that he encountered in 1953 – at the very beginning of his stage career. The artist’s partner in the role of Juliet was one of the brightest Latvian ballet dancers, Anna Priede, and they were one of the most outstanding duets in the history of Latvian ballet, full of love and tragedy. It should be mentioned here that their love went beyond the boundaries of the stage and in their relationship with Anna Priedi, a daughter, Alla Priede (1954), was born, who also later became a ballet dancer.
In a continuous squirrel wheel
Haralds Ritenberg gained wider recognition and immense love of the audience with his film roles in the feature films of the Riga Film Studio – the title role in the film “Nauris” (1958) directed by Leonid Leimanis, Jurgis in the film “Spear and Rose” (1960) directed by the same director, the captivating fair-haired Andri in the films directed by Aleksandr Leimanis. Vella kalpi” (1970) and “Vella kalpi in Vella mills” (1972).
“Harald Ritenberg has a special place among Latvian ballet premiers. He seemed to conquer the world easily, carelessly, carelessly, and several generations of viewers fell in love with the characters he portrayed – both on the ballet stage and in the cinema. He was especially popular among young people, because his characters captivated with sincere lyricism, maximalism in the fight against injustice, zeal in defending their love,” – this is what ballet historian Ija Bite wrote about Harald Rittenberg, who also wrote a book about our ballet legend in 2007. Haris: all about Harald Rittenberg». She has done a huge job, because the book is not only the story of the great ballet dancer, but also documented conversations with Harald Ritenberg’s colleagues, associates, associates. This book summarizes his entire life and work.
This book was published in the year of Harald Ritenberg’s 75th anniversary, and at that time, in an interview with the “Independent”, he said with a smile: “Maybe someone is counting my years, I don’t know, but I don’t have time to do it myself – I have school, students, creative work, various trips, now exam time. In a continuous squirrel wheel. There is no time to think about the years, you have to look ahead and live so far away!” At that time, the celebrant said that one should accept the birthday because it comes every year. The main thing is how a person feels. And at that time he felt much younger than the number in his passport.
Pleasant memories
Harald Ritenberg’s achievements on the stage of the Latvian National Opera, dancing the leading and brightest roles in ballet, as well as his valuable experience in the field of cinema, enriched and shaped his individuality, which later manifested itself in his teaching activities. From 1978, Haralds Ritenbergs put his professional experience to use at the Riga Choreography High School, in 1982 he became its director, then – the school’s artistic director. Many soloists and troupe dancers of the Latvian National Ballet have grown up under his leadership, thus ensuring the continuity of the artist’s work and ideals in future generations.
“I am proud of the Latvian ballet, because it differs from all other ballet troupes in the world precisely with its performance culture, with a strong foundation of classical dance,” Haralds Ritenbergs once said in an interview with “Neatsarīgai”.
Since 2017, he has, as he says, a distant relationship with the ballet school. “Well, I haven’t been there for a long time,” he admits, adding that now he often lingers on memories of his life spent in ballet. “The work was not easy, it was really difficult and responsible, but through difficulties came success, and they still form these pleasant memories.”
One danger and horror
Last year, the outstanding ballet dancer, film actor, teacher, 50s-70s of the 20th century. girls’ idol and long-time director of the Riga Choreography High School, Haralds Ritenbergs, celebrated his 90th birthday.
“I will not celebrate,” he revealed in a telephone conversation, saying that celebrating his anniversary is not planned either at the Opera or at the Riga Ballet School. “I don’t have that much energy to celebrate anything anymore,” he said, adding that there are all kinds of health problems. “My back hurts, my legs hurt, I feel dizzy. The consequences of professional work, all together, as already in these years…”
In 2021, upon receiving the Lifetime Award in the art of dance, Haralds Ritenbergs said in an interview to “Neatsparīgai”: “I liked to dance, and I was very interested in everything that was taught to us. Without an interest in dance, it would be impossible to overcome the difficulties required by the strict regime, systematic daily training. I had to work a lot, from morning to night. It was not allowed to let go even for a moment. It must be said that it was very hard work. Actually, it’s the job of a miner in ballet slippers. And now all this affects health». However, the artist stressed: «You have to move and live! If you get used to it, it won’t make any sense anymore.” And, of course, he is happy that he is not alone – his spouse Inese Apine-Rittenberg has been by his side for many years.
