21 replies to this topic

[esperanto]

to Makarovafan:
You're right about Gediminas Taranda in Raymonda.  He is the best of all the Abdulrahkmans in any of the productions.  and he was also terrific in Golden Age, sent chills down one's back.

[Birdsall]

Taranda is amazing in the Raymonda.....I think the Bolshoi's Raymonda is really the only Raymonda that gives Abderakhman any kind of thrilling choreography, so that is part of the reason, but he is amazing period.

[Natalia]

Birdsall, on 22 June 2012 - 06:04 AM, said:

...I think the Bolshoi's Raymonda is really the only Raymonda that gives Abderakhman any kind of thrilling choreography, ....

Nureyev's final version for POB could almost be subtitled "Abderakhman" it has so much new dancing and 'funky-modern' solos for that character. I happen to love it because it is so Nureyev...totally what RN was all about! Besides, RN was smart enough to maintain most of the existing Kirov-Mariinsky portions -- building & adding to them, in his fashion. It is THE longest production of Raymonda, beside the La Scala...most complete use of the music, I mean.

[Birdsall]

Natalia, on 22 June 2012 - 06:06 AM, said:

Birdsall, on 22 June 2012 - 06:04 AM, said:

...I think the Bolshoi's Raymonda is really the only Raymonda that gives Abderakhman any kind of thrilling choreography, ....

Nureyev's final version for POB could almost be subtitled "Abderakhman" it has so much new dancing and 'funky-modern' solos for that character. I happen to love it because it is so Nureyev...totally what RN was all about! besides, RN was smart enough to maintain most of the existing Kirov-Mariinsky portions -- building & additing to them, in his fashion. It is THE longest production of Raymonda, beside the La Scala...most complete use of the music.

Oh, I forgot about that! I have only seen it online, but you are right. I liked watching the new choreography too, although sometimes it doesn't blend as well. I keep hoping a commercial (clean) copy of the Nureyev Raymonda will be released. Agnes Marie Gillot's Wikipedia entry lists it as one of her videos (in preparation), but it has been "in preparation" for a long time while the La Scala Raymonda came out within the same season as it was performed! I wonder what the hold up is. Dorothee Gilbert's solos are the main reason I want that version. But at this point I guess the Nureyev Raymonda is not going to be released. I also love the way the corps moves in wild circles interweaving among each other at the apotheosis. That was a Nureyev invention, and I like it.

[esperanto]

Natalia, on 22 June 2012 - 06:06 AM, said:

Birdsall, on 22 June 2012 - 06:04 AM, said:

...I think the Bolshoi's Raymonda is really the only Raymonda that gives Abderakhman any kind of thrilling choreography, ....

Nureyev's final version for POB could almost be subtitled "Abderakhman" it has so much new dancing and 'funky-modern' solos for that character. I happen to love it because it is so Nureyev...totally what RN was all about! Besides, RN was smart enough to maintain most of the existing Kirov-Mariinsky portions -- building & adding to them, in his fashion. It is THE longest production of Raymonda, beside the La Scala...most complete use of the music, I mean.

The old Kirov production has Abderakhman from the very beginning. He's constantly on. In this production he looks and acts like in the movie Thief of Bagdad.  Anyone agree or think otherwise?

[Birdsall]

esperanto, on 24 June 2012 - 08:36 AM, said:

Natalia, on 22 June 2012 - 06:06 AM, said:

Birdsall, on 22 June 2012 - 06:04 AM, said:

...I think the Bolshoi's Raymonda is really the only Raymonda that gives Abderakhman any kind of thrilling choreography, ....

Nureyev's final version for POB could almost be subtitled "Abderakhman" it has so much new dancing and 'funky-modern' solos for that character. I happen to love it because it is so Nureyev...totally what RN was all about! Besides, RN was smart enough to maintain most of the existing Kirov-Mariinsky portions -- building & adding to them, in his fashion. It is THE longest production of Raymonda, beside the La Scala...most complete use of the music, I mean.

The old Kirov production has Abderakhman from the very beginning. He's constantly on. In this production he looks and acts like in the movie Thief of Bagdad.  Anyone agree or think otherwise?

Yes, he is in a lot in the Kirov version. It is fun to compare and contrast. I think I like his dancing best in the Bolshoi version.

[esperanto]

Birdsall, on 24 June 2012 - 06:37 PM, said:

esperanto, on 24 June 2012 - 08:36 AM, said:

Natalia, on 22 June 2012 - 06:06 AM, said:

Birdsall, on 22 June 2012 - 06:04 AM, said:

...I think the Bolshoi's Raymonda is really the only Raymonda that gives Abderakhman any kind of thrilling choreography, ....

Nureyev's final version for POB could almost be subtitled "Abderakhman" it has so much new dancing and 'funky-modern' solos for that character. I happen to love it because it is so Nureyev...totally what RN was all about! Besides, RN was smart enough to maintain most of the existing Kirov-Mariinsky portions -- building & adding to them, in his fashion. It is THE longest production of Raymonda, beside the La Scala...most complete use of the music, I mean.

The old Kirov production has Abderakhman from the very beginning. He's constantly on. In this production he looks and acts like in the movie Thief of Bagdad.  Anyone agree or think otherwise?

Yes, he is in a lot in the Kirov version. It is fun to compare and contrast. I think I like his dancing best in the Bolshoi version.

yes, i agree with you.