5 replies to this topic

[Giannina]

I can't believe I'm going to say this but.......I loved "Red Giselle"!  Can you believe it?  This conservative, Catholic, classical, old fashioned grandmother loved "Red Giselle".  I can hardly find words.  It was classical, modern, sexy, brutal, happy, tragic, and wonderful.  There were times when I was grinding my teeth and squirming in my seat because it was so beautiful; gritty stuff.  It is being performed tomorrow and I'm sorely tempted to see it again, but the cast tonight was so perfect that I don't want to take the chance of spoiling the effect:

Ballerina:  Vera Arbuzova
Teacher:  Oleg Markov
Secret Police Agent:  Albert Galichanin
Partner:  Alexei Turko

I know "Red Giselle" has been reviewed before and I'm now going to go back and read those reviews (which were mixed, as I recall).  But I stand by my guns, and I had one terrific time tonight.

Jeez!

Giannina

[carbro]

This was a very funny post, Giannina!  

Good for you!  Enjoying something is always better than not (how's that for a profound insight?), especially when -- as you hint here -- you don't expect to!

[socalgal]

This moderate, both ballet and modern enthusiast, theater lover, empyt nester with no grand children found Wednesday evenings performance of  "Don Juan and Moliere"  excruciating.  I left at intermission I was so upset.  I can count the times I have done that on one hand
Although the dancers were lovely and the sets/costumes well done, it could not make up for the emptiness of content and movement vocabulary that seemed robbed from here and  there.........
(and this man was commisioned by NYCB?????)

[Alexandra]

What fascinates me most about Eifman is now different people's views are of him.  He really is one that you either LOVE or you HATE.  I think only Bejart has been so polarizing.

I haven't seen "Red Giselle" so I'd love to read you two on it -- they will be very different summaries, I'm sure!

[Giannina]

socalgal, I pretty much agree with you about "Don Juan and Moliere". The thought of leaving crossed my mind but I was visiting with my subscriber seatmates and that was enjoyable enough to make me stay for the entire ballet.  I've now seen 4 Eifman ballets and "Don Juan...." was by far the least enjoyable.

Giannina

[nysusan]

Very interesting posts! All I've seen of Eifman is Who's Who - which was mediocre and Musegate - ugh! But Red Giselle sounds fascinating, and I don't know enough about Spessivtzeva to be appalled like I was with Musegate. I hope they bring it back to NY, I missed it the first time it came through