26 replies to this topic

[Helene]

The Kirov/Mariinski will perform Sleeping Beauty from Tuesday 12, October through Sunday, 16 October at Zellerbach Hall on the UC Berkeley campus.

The casting on the website today is:

October 12: Diana Vishneva - Igor Zelensky - Uliana Lopatkina
October 13: Ekaterina Osmolkina - Leonid Sarafanov - Irma Nioradze
October 14 : Natalia Sologub - Andrian Fadeev - Olga Esina
October 15 (2:00PM): Olesia Novikova - Vladimir Shkliarov - Ekaterina Vostrotina
October 15 (8:00PM): Diana Vishneva - Igor Kolb - Uliana Lopatkina
October 16: Irma Nioradze - Andrian Fadeev - Olga Esina

http://www.calperfs....vents/kirov.php

(I'm not sure if Cal Performances will update the site if the casting changes.)

[Gina Ness]

I just bought my tickets this morning.  I am very excited to see the performance.  I will be attending Sunday afternoon's final performance as this works best for me.  I will see Nioradze - Fadeev - Esina (Lilac, I assume).  Frankly, I would be happy to see any cast as I haven't seen the Kirov much in the last few years.  I have (searching here) read some nice things about Andrian Fadeev.  I believe I saw Irma Nioradze dance in Les Sylphides and thought her lovely...

[Helene]

This press release dated 31 October has a different cast for 16 October matinee:

http://cpinfo.berkel...rovBalletPR.pdf

which lists the cast as Ocmolkina as Aurora, Sarafanov as Desiree, and Nioradze as Lilac Fairy.

By the time the Company arrives, it may be entirely different

[BalletNut]

I see that Alina Somova is now listed as Aurora for the 14th.  Esina is still the Lilac.

I'm almost tempted to buy tickets for that one, just to see what the fuss is all about. If I can afford them.

[Cygnet]

BalletNut, on Sep 16 2005, 05:23 AM, said:

I see that Alina Somova is now listed as Aurora for the 14th.  Esina is still the Lilac.

I'm almost tempted to buy tickets for that one, just to see what the fuss is all about. If I can afford them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

BalletNut - buy the tickets!  Farce, like history needs witnesses!  Did a miracle take place over the summer that we don't know about  :mellow:?  
(Personally, I'd pass on Somova.  Pardon my French, (d----- to h---):   Per her reputation, IMO if she couldn't handle O/O or Nikiya in Act 3 of Bayadere,  there's a very strong possibility that she can't handle Aurora either).

[nysusan]

Cygnet, on Sep 16 2005, 12:42 PM, said:

BalletNut, on Sep 16 2005, 05:23 AM, said:

I see that Alina Somova is now listed as Aurora for the 14th.  Esina is still the Lilac.

I'm almost tempted to buy tickets for that one, just to see what the fuss is all about. If I can afford them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

BalletNut - buy the tickets!  Farce, like history needs witnesses!  Did a miracle take place over the summer that we don't know about  :mellow:?  
(Personally, I'd pass on Somova.  Pardon my French, (d----- to h---):   Per her reputation, IMO if she couldn't handle O/O or Nikiya in Act 3 of Bayadere,  there's a very strong possibility that she can't handle Aurora either).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I 've seen Somova once, at the so called "Kirov Spectacular" in DC this past January. It was also the only time I've seen Lopatkina. Somova is blonde, long legged and very pretty. She is also prone to Zakharova/Guillamesqe hyperextensions.  At the performace I saw she & Sarafanov did the pas de deux from Le Corsaire. I found her dancing somewhat brittle, and it seemed like she had a phony smile plastered on her face throughout. Part of that may have been due to the too much too soon syndrome but in hindsight she may also have been terrified - turns out Sarafanov actually dropped her out of one of those overhead lifts, failed to get her up into another lift and then led her out to the front of the stage for a curtain call just as the curtain was coming down. She had to jump back at the last minute to keep it from coming down on her head.

Hopefully she'll be more relaxed dancing with Fadeev, but I think the bottom line is that if you like a neoclassical line & hyperextensions you will like her. If you like a classical line in the classics then you won't.  If you're only planning to see one performance I wouldn't choose hers, but if you're going to catch a couple it could be interesting...

[Paul Parish]

Frankly, I think I'd rather see Nioradze as Carabosse than Aurora.....

I've only seen her twice, as the Firebird (horrifying) and as Zobeide (stunning), when the Kirov did their Fokine program -- oh, yes, I also saw her as the ballerina in Rubies, in which she was overwrought but plausible....

Her Firebird was certainly a powerful individual, but the interpretation was so amped-up, hysterical, and her lines so turned-in and spiky it put me in mind of the Trockaderos....

Perhaps she can also do well-bred; it's possible....

Marc, what do you think?

[Gina Ness]

Oh dear, Paul!    Well, the great thing about Sleeping Beauty is that there is just so much else to enjoy, even if Aurora may leave something to be desired...This is why I prefer this ballet to Swan Lake!  All the fairy variations, Blue Bird Pas de Deux, etc...One is able to see a variety of soloists dancing wonderful variations.

[carbro]

Gina, on the very same logic that you state, I once attended a SB despite an Aurora I was bound to dislike.  Hey, it's not like Giselle (or your example, Swan Lake), dependent on the ballerina.  There's plenty else going on . . . . .  

Among those I went to see were three or four prologue fairies, Lilac, the Prince, and several of the wedding soloists.  It was not enough.  Sleeping Beauty needs an Aurora who can deliver the goods.  It is like Giselle/Swan Lake.

[Marc Haegeman]

Yes, Paul, Irma Nioradze would be on much better grounds as Lilac than as Aurora. I rather liked her as Lilac Fairy, but yeah, that was ten years ago and it's somewhat surprising she is listed now.

As a friendly reminder to anyone, please remember preliminary Mariinsky casts are liable to change and what is announced here now, won't necessarily be what you will actually see!
Just think like Gina and be happy to see any cast.  

[richard53dog]

Marc Haegeman, on Sep 18 2005, 09:59 AM, said:

As a friendly reminder to anyone, please remember preliminary Mariinsky casts are liable to change and what is announced here now, won't necessarily be what you will actually see!
Just think like Gina and be happy to see any cast. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Marc, I think that is probably wise advise. I've sort of been toying with the idea of traveling from NJ to Detroit, I'd like to see Visneva/Zelensky/Lopatkina, but I'm thinking it's a long way to travel for something so chancy.

And It's not like I'd like to see the Sergeyev version for it's own sake. It can understand why some love it , but I'm not one of them.

Richard

[Starr]

richard53dog, on Sep 18 2005, 07:37 PM, said:

Marc Haegeman, on Sep 18 2005, 09:59 AM, said:

As a friendly reminder to anyone, please remember preliminary Mariinsky casts are liable to change and what is announced here now, won't necessarily be what you will actually see!
Just think like Gina and be happy to see any cast. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Marc, I think that is probably wise advise. I've sort of been toying with the idea of traveling from NJ to Detroit, I'd like to see Visneva/Zelensky/Lopatkina, but I'm thinking it's a long way to travel for something so chancy.

And It's not like I'd like to see the Sergeyev version for it's own sake. It can understand why some love it , but I'm not one of them.

Richard

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I want to see the same cast as you in Detroit, but I am going to role the dice since I only live an hour from downtown Detroit.

[drb]

From Diana Vishneva's website:
Oct 28 2005 Berlin: STAATSOPER The Sleeping Beauty
Oct 26 2005 Berlin: STAATSOPER The Sleeping Beauty
Oct 15 2005 San Francisco: Berkeley, Zellerbach The Sleeping Beauty
Oct 12 2005 San Francisco: Berkeley,Zellerbach Hall The Sleeping Beauty
Oct 8 2005 Los Angeles: Music Center The Sleeping Beauty
Oct 5 2005 Los Angeles: Music Center The Sleeping Beauty
I tend to believe her site--she turned up for every listed performance in NYC this Spring.  Naturally, especially in such a physical endeavor as ballet, things can change.  Hopefully, the site hasn't been updated in a while (her last personal responses seem to have been entered at the end of July): so one can hope for the opening night performance in Detroit (as reported in the Detroit News on September 17).    
http://www.vishneva.ru/eng/

[socalgal]

Her site matches the listed casting at the L.A. Music Center's web site.  The casting for all performances is listed there under Dance and it seemed to me that the casting roster was quite similar to the Berkeley dates........

[nysusan]

socalgal, on Sep 19 2005, 05:59 PM, said:

Her site matches the listed casting at the L.A. Music Center's web site.  The casting for all performances is listed there under Dance and it seemed to me that the casting roster was quite similar to the Berkeley dates........

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, except the Music Center still shows Sologub cast for 10/7 , which is unlikely since the Berkeley casting is more recent & it shows Sologub replaced by Somova. Also - no sign of Pavlenko in LA.

Well, I've never seen either Kirov production of Sleeping Beauty live, and cheap airfares from NY to LA have helped me decide to make the trip out for the 10/5 and 10/6 performances. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the opening night casting will hold,and that Pavlenko will show up as the Lilac Fairy on the second night!