19 replies to this topic

[cygneblanc]

She died from a long illness.

http://www.lefigaro....a-est-morte.php

May she rest in peace

[Natalia]

Very sad news. A Giselle for the ages. May she rest in peace.

[rg]

2 soviet era postcards of Natalya Igorevna Bessmertnova, as Giselle, circa 1970.

Attached Files

•  __NBgiselle1.JPG   85.66K   54 downloads
•  __NBgiselle2.JPG   57.67K   48 downloads

[FauxPas]

I was actually rather surprised to see that this made Yahoo's newsboard:

http://news.yahoo.co...letbessmertnova

Lovely picture of Bessmertnova with Plisetskaya.

I love Bessmertnova and saw her live close to the end of her career in Chicago in the late eighties on a "Stars of the Bolshoi" tour.  I think she did the "Dying Swan" and "Giselle" Act II with Yuri Vasyuchenko.  Anyway, I find her a perfect blend of feminine expressive lyricism with sterling classical strength underlying it.  She is a perfect blend of technique and lyricism.  Sometimes a little distant as a dramatic interpreter but a wonderful, wonderful dancer.

Interesting note:  there are some expatriate Russians who review ballet videos on Amazon.com who consistently belittle and trash her.  They don't see what all the fuss was about and try to pass off her status as derived from her marriage to the detested Grigorovich who was the ballet Czar under the Communist regime.  Gennady Smakov in "The Great Russian Dancers" delivers a whole chapter to her and despite the marriage and politics is very clearly favorably decided about her importance as a dancer and talent.  He compares her interestingly with her near contemporary Makarova and finds Bessmertnova the better technician.  

Bessmertnova I think elevated everything she touched from her deeply expressive and moving Phrygia in "Spartacus" to that rather flat, cardboard role of Anastasia in "Ivan the Terrible".

[Paul Parish]

She was glorious as Juliet in the Bolshoi film.

ALso, her Giselle -- hte second act adage is one of hte greatest I've seen.
The jumps are so light, the penchee is a reverence.


Thanks for the photographs, RG.

Edited by Paul Parish, 19 February 2008 - 10:34 PM.

[dirac]

I add my thanks for the photographs.  She was indeed a wonderful Juliet in the film. I hope those who had the good fortune to see her in performance live will talk about it here.

[atm711]

I was so fortunate to have seen her Phrygia (with Vasiliev).  Such sad news--she was far too young to leave us.

[Cygnet]

She was a wonderful and influential Giselle, as well as Juliet.  She will be sorely missed.

[Marga]

What a great loss for the ballet world.  

[MakarovaFan]

This is such sad news. I love her Raymonda and find myself playing it over and over again. Hope the NY Times gives her a great obit tomorrow.

[Rosa]

What sad news!   For over ten years I have loved watching her Swan Lake with Alexander Bogatyrev; and I've really enjoyed her in Raymonda. What a loss for the ballet world.

[Rosa]

CNN also has an article on her. It includes a picture of Natalia and an unidentified dancer.

http://www.cnn.com/2...a.ap/index.html

[cubanmiamiboy]

...lovely Mme. Bessmertnova, your exquisiteness and fluffy dress in Giselle have helped save my day in many many ocassions...you may RIP  

[rg]

the CNN photo doesn't have an 'enlarge' option, but i think it shows the late N.Bessmertnova w/ U. Lopatkina.

[scherzo]

I think it might be Galina Stepanenko rather than Lopatkina.