1 reply to this topic

[chiapuris]

June 13, 2004
CAST:
Princess Aurora  Nina Kaptsova
Prince Desire  Vladimir Neporozhny
Aurora's Suitors  Ilia Ryzhakov, Georgi Geraskin, Dmitry Rykhov, Maxim Valukin
Peasant Dance Anna Antropova, Alexander Pshenitsyn
Carabosse  Nikolay Tsiskaridze
Lilac Fairy  Maria Allash
Tenderness Fairy  Olga Stebletsova
Tranquility Fairy  Victoria Osipova
Generosity Fairy  Xenia Tsareva
Frisky Fairy  Daria Gurevich
Courage Fairy  Elena Andrienko
Diamond Fairy  Marianna Ryzhkina
Sapphire Fairy  Maria Zharkova
Gold Fairy  Olga Stebletsova
Silver Fairy  Irina Semirechenskaya
Princess Florina  Inna Petrova
Blue Bird  Andrey Bolotin
White Cat  Xenia Sorokina
Puss-in-Boots  Vasily Zhidkov
Red  Riding Hood  Anastasia Stashkevich
Gray Wolf  Georgi Geraskin
Cinderella  Svetlana Gnedova
Prince  Ruslan Skvortsov

Nina Kaptsova as Princess Aurora headed an exciting cast of dancers
in the performance of June 13.

The seven fairies in the Prologue, on the good side, Maria Allash as Lilac Fairy leading the five fairies of gifts, on the bad side, Nikolay Tsiskaridze as Carabosse, all etched through dancing
memorable portraits of otherwordly creatures.

Ms Allash gave a clear reading of the Lilac Fairy role, maintaining a sense of remoteness while remaining involved in human affairs. The five 'gift' variations were all finely danced.

Mr Tsiskaridze gave a truly thoughtful portrait of malevolence without stressing gender characteristics.  I don't know  whether this was his debut in the part.
[The Carabosse of June 12 (Gennadi Yanin) stressed characteristics of a male impersonating a female, which I suppose could be seen as comic but has not much to do, or say, about good and evil]  Mr Tsiskaridze's interpretation clarified and advanced the story line.

Ms Kaptsova in her entry and the Rose Adagio was the embodiment of youth and expectations.
During the adagio, in one round with the suitors,  after each supported promenade en attitude
she would lift her arm en couronne - a nicety of secure balance in academic style- before accepting the support of the next cavalier. Moreover, she beamed with smiles to her suitors  while going through the whole adage.

In her variation, the unsupported pirouettes were dazzling for the speed of each preparation and the precision of finishes.

Mr Neprozhny showed clean technique, nobility of gesture,
and a finely etched presence as Prince Desire.

I particularly enjoyed Ms Ryzhkina as the Diamond Fairy (as well as her Princess Florine in the previous evening's performance).

Mr Bolotin as the Blue Bird makes a strong impression for his jumps and his landings with a deep, elastic  demi-plie.

The Grand Pas de Deux concluded the evening in regal style.

[Inga]

Thank you for your reviews, chiapuris. For Nikolai Tsiskaridze it really was debut in the role of Carabosse. As he  was injured, he will not dance technically demanding parts till next season.