27 replies to this topic

[Lidewij]

I've looked for another thread about this ballet, but couldn't find one; I'm sorry if there already was one.
I will be going to a performance of Spartacus by the Bolshoi ballet in two weeks (the 26th).  I have never seen this ballet before, nor have I seen any full version on film.  (I did see some excerpts; the two Phrygia-Spartacus adagios and a dance by Aegina)  If I order a film now I don't think I'd be able to watch it before the performance, so, just to be prepared I want to ask any of you who have seen it whether there is something to bear in mind during the performance, or anything like that?
I'd also be interested in your overall opinions on the ballet.

The announced cast for the performance is Nina Kaptsova as Phrygia, Ivan Vasiliev as Spartacus, Rinat Arifulin as Crassus and Maria Alexandrova (can't wait to see her live!) as Aegina.

Thank you very much.  

[innopac]

Have you searched youtube?  Two youtube search suggestions are:

    spartacus ballet vasiliev
    spartacus ballet mukhamedov

[Lidewij]

Thank you for your reply, innopac.  I had seen some clips on youtube, but I hadn't seen all of them apparently.  
Seeing those different interpretations is very interesting.  

[Ostrich]

Would that be Ivan Vassileiv's premier as Spartacus? That should be very interesting and I'd love to hear about your impressions.

[Lidewij]

I think he already danced the part before (I'm not sure), but still it is probably just his second or third performance in the role.
I will of course tell you about it after I've seen it, but I have to warn you that I'm not an expert, and as I said, it will be my first Spartacus; so at times I might be a little too busy with watching the ballet itself to watch the dancers carefully.  

[Lidewij]

Hmm, I was just looking around on the Bolshoi's website, and two different pages give two different casts for the performance I'm going to see.  
So it's possible that I won't get to see Ivan Vasiliev and Nina Kaptsova, but Yegor Khromushin and Anna Antonicheva.  I still hope for Ivan & Nina, but the other cast will be amazing as well, I suppose.    But then I won't be able to tell you about Ivan Vasiliev in the role of Spartacus, of course.  

[Ostrich]

I haven't heard of Yegor Khromushin before. Does anyone have any info about this dancer?

Either way, I'll be interested in what you have to say about the performance!

[Marc Haegeman]

Khromushin is a young corps de ballet dancer (graduated in 2003), seen quite often in small solo roles over the last year or two. He was among others chosen by Alexei Ratmansky (who obviously sees something in him) as one of the guys in his ballet "Card Game". Spartacus seems like a very strange choice for him. He also seems to have already danced Ferkhad, the leading male role in "Legend Of Love" last year.

Here's his bio on the Bolshoi site(in Russian).

[Lidewij]

Thank you for the information, Marc!  I hadn't heard of him either.
I emailed the Bolshoi about it, I always like to know the cast before I go to a performance..
And in any case, there's still Maria Alexandrova to make me happy; I'm sure it will be fine with both casts.  

[Marc Haegeman]

Lidewij, on Jul 17 2008, 04:39 PM, said:

Thank you for the information, Marc!  I hadn't heard of him either.
I emailed the Bolshoi about it, I always like to know the cast before I go to a performance..
And in any case, there's still Maria Alexandrova to make me happy; I'm sure it will be fine with both casts.  

Actually I have a picture up of Khromushin with Alexandrova in de Pas des éventails from the new "Corsaire": (click here, 3rd photo top row). Also a bit of surprise to see him in the role of the cavalier of the principal ballerina. His performance there was by all accounts average.

Not to worry, Lidewij, if this is your first "Spartak", you will find plenty to enjoy!  

[Lidewij]

I think I found out.   Dmitry Belogolovtsev, who was cast for the performances on the 25th and 27th is badly injured, so Vasiliev-Kaptsova get to do these two performances, and Anna Antonicheva who was supposed to dance with Belogolovtsev twice, now does one performance with Yegor Khromushin.
Oh, and the Dutch newspaper I got this information from says that it is Vasiliev's debut in the role.
Well, I just hope Belogovtsev will quickly recover..

[Marc Haegeman]

Lidewij, on Jul 20 2008, 01:48 PM, said:

I think I found out.   Dmitry Belogolovtsev, who was cast for the performances on the 25th and 27th is badly injured, so Vasiliev-Kaptsova get to do these two performances, and Anna Antonicheva who was supposed to dance with Belogolovtsev twice, now does one performance with Yegor Khromushin.
Oh, and the Dutch newspaper I got this information from says that it is Vasiliev's debut in the role.
Well, I just hope Belogovtsev will quickly recover..

It is his debut in the full-length ballet. So far he only danced the 1st Act in Moscow, in a special performance.

[Lidewij]

I'm actually going quite    here, perhaps I should make a new thread for this question..?

My mother (who was going with me) has to go to a funeral on the day of the performance.  I didn't really know that person, so I still want to go, but I would like to get rid of the ticket.  I don't really have any friends I can ask to come to the ballet with me (well, actually I could try that.. But I think I'd have to 'prepare' them for it. Maybe next time.), so I would want to sell it.  Now, selling it that day at the theatre would not be appreciated by the theatre people, I think..  Is it possible to return the ticket to the theatre (and getting my money back), so they can sell it last-minute or something like that?  
As you can see, I'm not at all experienced in theatre-going..

[Marc Haegeman]

Lidewij, on Jul 20 2008, 10:25 PM, said:

I'm actually going quite    here, perhaps I should make a new thread for this question..?

My mother (who was going with me) has to go to a funeral on the day of the performance.  I didn't really know that person, so I still want to go, but I would like to get rid of the ticket.  I don't really have any friends I can ask to come to the ballet with me (well, actually I could try that.. But I think I'd have to 'prepare' them for it. Maybe next time.), so I would want to sell it.  Now, selling it that day at the theatre would not be appreciated by the theatre people, I think..  Is it possible to return the ticket to the theatre (and getting my money back), so they can sell it last-minute or something like that?  
As you can see, I'm not at all experienced in theatre-going..

Each theatre has different rules. Just give a call to the box-office and they will tell you what's possible and not.

[Lidewij]

Not entirely sure yet whether I will go to tomorrow's performance; I'll see.

Today's was very impressive in my opinion, but then it was my very first Spartacus, so that could kind of influence my opinion..
Yegor Khromushin did a fine job as Spartacus, his jumps were good, but on practically every pirouette he did, he almost lost his balance when he got to the 4th or 5th turn..  Whereas Crassus (Vladimir Neporozhny)'s turns were all perfectly executed, but his jumps weren't so impressive.  Still, he did bring the role very well in my opinion.  And he really impressed me with the ugly faces he can make.  
About it seeming a strange choice for Khromushin, I really can't tell.  I think he brought a convincing Spartacus today; his acting was fine to me, and his technique was okay (just the pirouettes..).  Of course, I haven't seen him do anything of the classical repertoire..
Can't really say anything about Anna Antonicheva; she danced very nice, but I haven't seen enough Phrygias to really tell..
And then Maria Alexandrova was absolutely stunning; to me she was perfect as Aegina, and I just couldn't take my eyes off het whenever she was onstage.
There was one other thing I really liked about this performance; Vyacheslav Lopatin as one of the three shepherds.  He was smiling constantly and seemed to have so much fun on stage, it really made my day.  (The other two were Denis Medvedev and Ruslan Pronin, they were fine too, just didn't seem that enthousiastic to be on stage.)
I was a little annoyed by Antonicheva's tights that were full of makeup from the first lift, but then I had chosen for seats in the front to see the dancer's faces, so it's my own fault, really..  

Well, I absolutely loved the ballet and if I ever get the chance to see it again, I certainly will.  And this also made me look forward to my October trip to Moscow even more.