164 replies to this topic

[Hans]

[Admin note:  this discussion has been split off from the original discussion of the production.  This thread has great details and photos about the production:

http://ballettalk.in...showtopic=24998]


Tickets go on sale this coming Thursday, April 9, for the Bolshoi's performances of 'Le Corsaire' at the Kennedy Center, June 16-21.  Casting is here: http://www.kennedy-c...amp;event=BJBSH

[Marc Haegeman]

Hans, on Apr 7 2009, 06:04 PM, said:

Tickets go on sale this coming Thursday, April 9, for the Bolshoi's performances of 'Le Corsaire' at the Kennedy Center, June 16-21.  Casting is here: http://www.kennedy-c...amp;event=BJBSH

Great that they still list Alexei Ratmansky as Bolshoi Director of Ballet. Can somebody update them?

[Helene]

In an attempt to make lemonade of lemons, and in an attempt to stimulate the economy with my upcoming baby tax refund, I was thinking of taking the train to DC for the Osipova "Le Corsaire" on the 19th, and returning to NYC the next day for the Part "La Sylphide" at ABT.

But looking at this cast list,

PRINCIPAL CASTING (subject to change)
June 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Medora – Maria Alexandrova
Conrad – Nikolai Tsiskaridze

June 17 & June 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Medora – Ekaterina Shipulina
Conrad – Ruslan Skvortsov

June 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Medora – Maria Alexandrova
Conrad – Alexander Volchkov

June 19 at 7:30 p.m. & June 21 at 1:30 p.m.
Medora – Natalia Osipova
Conrad – Ivan Vasiliev

June 20 at 1:30 p.m.
Medora – Anna Nikulina
Conrad – Alexander Volchkov

should I see Shipulina before NYC, and actually pay attention to my best friend on whose couch I will be surfing on Friday night?  There's a rare chance I could make the Osipova Sunday matinee, if I can figure out the logistics of getting there on time and stashing a suitcase, but that might be a bit much, since "I" and "leave at the crack of dawn" are rarely uttered in the same sentence.

[nysusan]

Helene, on Apr 7 2009, 02:58 PM, said:

In an attempt to make lemonade of lemons, and in an attempt to stimulate the economy with my upcoming baby tax refund, I was thinking of taking the train to DC for the Osipova "Le Corsaire" on the 19th, and returning to NYC the next day for the Part "La Sylphide" at ABT.

But looking at this cast list,
...
should I see Shipulina before NYC, and actually pay attention to my best friend on whose couch I will be surfing on Friday night?  There's a rare chance I could make the Osipova Sunday matinee, if I can figure out the logistics of getting there on time and stashing a suitcase, but that might be a bit much, since "I" and "leave at the crack of dawn" are rarely uttered in the same sentence.

I have seen Shipulina several times and always enjoyed her dancing but if it's a question of her or Osipova Ms O wins hands down. Plus Vasiliev is partnering her. I'm going to the V Part Sylphide on Saturday and then hopping on a bus Sunday morining to catch the Osipova/Vasiliev Corsaire matinee in DC. My big regret is that I can't go to opening night with Alexandrova and Tsiskaridze but it's impossible for me to get away early in the week

[Helene]

This may be coming together, although I won't be able to get home from DC Sunday night.  If I use the Alaska 15K miles for a discounted plane ticket, the difference should cover the hotel room Sunday night, and I'd have most of Monday to be a tourist.

Many thanks for the advice, nysusan!

[YID]

Helene, on Apr 7 2009, 05:02 PM, said:

This may be coming together, although I won't be able to home from DC Sunday night.  If I use the Alaska 15K miles for a discounted plane ticket, the difference should cover the hotel room Sunday night, and I'd have most of Monday to be a tourist.

Many thanks for the advice, nysusan!

Helene, try www. megabus . com. i just got my two round trip tickets for $4.50 (I haven't got the tickets yet for the performances, only to the Burlaka talk and the dress rehearsal). I tried megabus twice, and they are NICE and reliable (conveniently leaving from Penn Station in NYC, and only within 25-30 min WALK from Kennedy center)..... I might gamble and get the Sat & Sund. Matinee and the openning night.
Added after checking their site
they have a 6:45am from Penn Station for $5, 7am from Pike Street for $1, and 8am from Penn for $5.
I am NOT a morning personmyself, but for the russian ballet - i MADE myself get up early several time,,,,,, sleeping in on the bus ;_))

[Natalia]

Ticket sales to the general public began this morning, for both Bolshoi and Royal Ballet runs this summer. They seem to be selling very quickly for Corsaire. Alas, you must telephone if you want to specify your exact seat location. The on-line "pinpointing system" that I used on the Kennedy Center website last week to buy the Washington Ballet tickets is not working for Bolshoi or Royal Ballets. They seem to be back to the old system of specifying a price range, then the computer selects the tickets for you and you have a certain time to buy them.

[Helene]

Many thanks for the advice.  When I know what day I'm traveling from DC to NYC, I'll use megabus.  I've booked the train for Sunday morning, though.  I know I'm going to be up late on Saturday night, and, unfortunately, I'll sleep through the bus ride and "Le Corsaire" if I have to get up by 5:30am.  Everything else has fallen into place.  Now the dancers just have to show up

I had the same experience with the website -- I chose sections, and the system assigned the tickets.  I just plunged right in on this one.

Edited to add:  I just found the seating chart for the Opera House on the Kennedy Center site, and for one performance, I'm in row K of the left section of the orchestra facing the stage, four seats from the center-most aisle, and for the other, I'm in the first tier, in the right hand section, row D, about center.

I'd rather know bad news up front rather than be surprised later, and if there's something I need to know, I'd appreciate it if you'd tell me.

[nysusan]

YID, on Apr 9 2009, 10:51 AM, said:

Helene, on Apr 7 2009, 05:02 PM, said:

This may be coming together, although I won't be able to home from DC Sunday night.  If I use the Alaska 15K miles for a discounted plane ticket, the difference should cover the hotel room Sunday night, and I'd have most of Monday to be a tourist.

Many thanks for the advice, nysusan!

Helene, try www. megabus . com. i just got my two round trip tickets for $4.50 (I haven't got the tickets yet for the performances, only to the Burlaka talk and the dress rehearsal). I tried megabus twice, and they are NICE and reliable (conveniently leaving from Penn Station in NYC, and only within 25-30 min WALK from Kennedy center)..... I might gamble and get the Sat & Sund. Matinee and the openning night.
Added after checking their site
they have a 6:45am from Penn Station for $5, 7am from Pike Street for $1, and 8am from Penn for $5.
I am NOT a morning personmyself, but for the russian ballet - i MADE myself get up early several time,,,,,, sleeping in on the bus ;_))

YID, I checked the Megabus website a few minutes ago and all the NY departures they're showing for 6/21 are from Pike Street in Chinatown PLUS their website indicates that these are operated by Eastern Express - a known low service Chinatown bus company. Do you know anything about this? The Megabus website also indicates that some of their departures from Penn Station & DC are also operated by Eastern. I was ready to give them a try but not if I'm taking the chance on a Chinatown bus ride! I might try Bolt instead

[YID]

Susan,
6:45 & 8am are indicated by the blue bus i.e operated by Megabus (but then you never know). I bought it (for Saturday though) but should just be ready to hop on Amtrak. I forgot which company it was but when i was using them in Feb to go to Philly, the administrator (of tickets) said that they were bought by someone else. I will need to explore your BOLT.

Helene, Kennedy is designed the way that if your seat is before 6th row (usually M row), you'll need to have a very straightned back to see the tips of point shoes, however, it's great seats. I got my tickets for Sat & Sunay Matinee row M 14 & 12. Susan, will you be in your favorite spot?

[Helene]

The seating chart says that my section begins with row B, which would make K the 10th row back (unless they remove some rows).  I hope that's far enough back, but I'm sure there will be plenty to see.  I appreciate the warning, though, and will assume I will miss some of the pointe work to avoid the risk being hit over the head by the person in back of me.

The Sunday matinee sounds like a great time for a Ballet Talk get-together, at least during intermission, and maybe for a drink/snack after the performance, before everyone heads back to NYC if there's time.  (I fly out the next day.  Alas the bus to "Washington" is not to Washington State!)

[Natalia]

Helene, you should be fine in Row K sides, especially if you're just four seats from the aisle. The side-orch rows begin with a lower letter of the alphabet than does the center, when there is an orchestra pit.

I already saw this beautiful Bolshoi CORSAIRE in London in '07, so I'm going to 'only' two performances here, to see new casts for me -- the opener with Tsiskaridze/Alexandrova on June 16, then Osipova/Vasiliev's first outing (we hope!) on Friday night, June 19. To me, it's quite a shock that the prima ballerina who was showcased as the star of those London performances, Svetlana Zakharova, will not come. Too busy with politics, perhaps, or other tour commitments? Another of the London Medoras, Lunkina, is also out. Back in '07, Osipova only danced the 3rd Odalisque but, my, what a solo, performing all of the pirouettes of the famous diagonal as double-tours en l'air and not pirouettes en terre, as is normally done! I am hoping that she may dance Odalisque #3 here at least once, so that the USA can see this incredible feat.

I'll be out of town on the Saturday & Sunday, so I'm very sorry to miss the BT get together. I'll be back in time for Alexandra Ansanelli's MONTH IN THE COUNTRY on the 24th, though.

p.s. on the Royal - Skipping the MANONs; I can't take another MANON in my life, except for an occasional gala pdd. What a shame that the Royal is not bringing SYLVIA or ONDINE instead.

[Helene]

Your reviews of this, Natalia, and Marc Haegeman's photos made me very anxious to see it.  If nothing else, the ABT Osipova "in or out of 'La Sylphide' discussion made me aware of how the close the dates were, and that I could hop down on the train and see ABT and the Bolshoi on the same trip.  I had filed "Le Corsaire" in my "too bad they're not bringing this to Berkeley" envelope.  

I am looking forward to seeing all of the dancers in featured roles.  When the Bolshoi visited Seattle, I guess five years ago now, they brought "Don Quixote" and "Romeo and Juliet", and while it was interesting to see Juliet bite and scratch Romeo, I'm much more interested in seeing the Company in the classical rep, and in a ballet that has so many roles for soloists.

I know how unreliable the programs can be, and with a company in the women can look so physically similar, I'm pretty much restricted to "the taller/shorter dark-/light-haired on the right", which is about all I'll be able to report on the Berkeley "Bayaderes".  I'm hoping that Ballet Talkers who are familiar with the dancers in DC can set the record straight

[carbro]

Bolt Bus also runs frequent service from Penn Sta. area to DC's Chinatown.  I believe it's a Greyhound subsidiary.  Theoretically, you can get fares ranging from $1.00-25.00  (plus .50 "handling", which makes no sense, since you print out your own tkt), but for the super-cheaps, you have to grab as soon as the bookings for that date become available.

Greyhound, too, offers frequent service and, if you e-book long enough in advance, fairly low fares.  The sole advantage is that in case of bad weather, you leave from a terminal, protected from the elements.  Big drawback is that on the DC end, the walk to the terminal from the Metro is several dreary blocks long and mostly uphill.

[Leigh Witchel]

Those dates are already available on Megabus, but someone already grabbed the absolute cheapest fares for some of the buses that weekend.