19 replies to this topic

[anin]

Natalia, on Feb 19 2008, 06:27 AM, said:

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

I couldn't agree more. I saw her Giselle when she was a guest at the Kirov with Baryshnikov in 1974( his very last performance with the Kirov as it turned out). Unforgettable. After almost 34 years since, I can't get over the impact of that performance.No words can really describe it. It was the second time I cried during ballet ( first being Plisetskaya in Carmen).Her marriage to Grigorovich has nothing to do with her greatness.Mabey he miscast her sometimes,but as a great dancer and artist she stood on her own and actually became a great Giselle before her marriage.
She was unique and always will be in the hearts and memories of all those who love and appreciate ballet and Bessmertnova's extrordinary contibution to the art.

[oberon]

Bessmertnova was my first Swan Queen when the Bolshoi visited the Met in 1975. It was the only time I ever saw her dance 'live' and even though it was at the beginning of my ballet-going 'career' she left a memorable impression which made SWAN LAKE my favorite among the full-length classics. I remember at the time thinking her Odette was rather cold but then I had no frame of reference. Her Odile was brilliant and she reaped several ovations during the Black Swan pas de deux.

[MakarovaFan]

Does anyone know anyone who will be attending her funeral at the Bolshoi on Friday?

[Drew]

I only just read of Bessmertnova's death today--here on this site. The news makes me sad, though I only saw her twice.  I especially remember and will always treasure her liquid bourrees in Ivan the Terrible. (In my mememory she melts backwards on point with her arms wafting before her in heightened and softened third positions -- alternating arms if that makes sense and rolling them forward through the air as her points carried her backward with a speed that should be blurry but somehow seems completely articulate and altogether at one with the music.) I am very sorry never to have seen her dance Giselle.

[dirac]

There have been surprisingly few obituaries.  I suppose because she was not a famous Western dancer and never defected. It's a shame.