6 replies to this topic

[Alexandra]

This is on Links, but I wanted to be sure Bolshoi fans saw it:

The Bolshoi Ballet performed in Pakistan for the first time last night.

A Western diplomat, however, created quite a scene when he started demanding loudly for 'something in English' and was joined by a few other guests who found his outburst worth a round of laughter.

His wife, who seemed to understand the ballet and opera much better, tried to get things under control but ultimately decided to enjoy the evening at her own.

The performance was divided into two parts with half-an-hour break in between. In the first part after the 'Swan Lake' dance, A. Ivanova and S. Dorenskiy presented (Silfida) followed by a dance by N. Rimski-Korasakov, O. Larikova and O. Orlov presenting Don Kihot, the ballet 'Esmeralda', opera by Z. Somov, P Tchaikovsky presenting 'Serenade of Don Guan' and the Russian folk song (Troika) by people's artist of Russia V. Osipov. After the break, O. Larikova and O. Orlov presented 'Scheherazade' to set the second part rolling and it ended by a ballet 'Don Kihot' by A. Ivanova and S. Dorenskiy.

[Marc Haegeman]

Thanks, Alexandra. Sorry we missed that memorable event :grinning:

[coda]

I opened the link which you gave. There was a warning there:
ARE YOU STUPID? Answer YES or NO.
This was followed by the review which looked... well...
:shrug: :shrug:
Was that a joke?

[Alexandra]

!!!!! I just clicked on the link and got the review.

Coda, there's a virus going around that takes over your browser and directs it to certain links -- including pornography links -- when you click on a link. It's hitting servers, I think, rather than individuals, and some news about it is here:

http://securityrespo...bootconf.b.html

So this isn't on our end, or the newspaper's end, but on your end, I'm afraid.

[coda]

Oh no, Alexandra, it is nothing to do with viruses.
This article is similar to the story, which had already been described once in the section "Humour in Ballet":

"A German company was doing a performance on some island in Scandinavia (can't remember Sweden or Denmark) and they needed special passes to access the island. So the whole troupe got passes, but there were two left: the pass for Mr. Petipa and for Mr. Tchaikovsky. These guys never showed up . " :grinning: :grinning:
This story pales in comparison with the Islamabad review.

[Alexandra]

Yes, I understood about the story, coda, but your comment that you got a message saying "Are you Stupid, Yes or No" I took seriously because there is a virus going around that can pass you to a false link.

I sympathize with the critic, actually; I'm sure what most Westerners write about classical Indian dancing would sound just as absurd.

AS it happens, I know someone whose mother was at that performance (!!!) She's checking to see who the "Western diplomat" is.

[coda]

It happens to Westerners not only in cases when they write about classical Indian dancing. A few years ago a London ballet (!) critic writing for "Evening Standard" praised Alexander Gorsky for dancing well in Don Q.