115 replies to this topic

[abatt]

I've been looking for casting info. on this engagement.  Vishneva's website indicates that she will perform Giselle on Feb 8 and 13.  If anyone comes across additional casting info, please post.  So far there is nothing on the Kennedy Center website regarding casting.

[nysusan]

I've also been keeping my eye out for casting. Probably won't go unless there is extraordinary casting that I can't resist. Visheva's Giselle is wonderful - one of today's best - but I can see her in NY this spring. I would be tempted by Obraztsova but I just checked her website and she's scheduled to dance in Berlin from 2/8 - 2/11, so I guess she won't be coming to the KC with the Mariinsky and it looks like I can save some money and stay home!

http://www.evgeniaob...com/afisha.html

Unless, of course, they do something crazy like bring Lopatkina...

[abatt]

Casting is up on the Kennedy Center website:


Tue., Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Giselle: Diana Vishneva
Alberth: Andrian Fadeyev
Hanz: Yuri Smekalov
Mirtha: Ekaterina Kondaurova

Wed., Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Giselle: Viktoria Tereshkina
Alberth: Vladimir Shklyarov
Hanz: Konstantin Zverev
Mirtha: Alexandra Iosifidi

Thu., Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Giselle: Alina Somova
Alberth: Evgeny Ivanchenko
Hanz: Yuri Smekalov
Mirtha: Ekaterina Kondaurova

Fri., Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Giselle: Viktoria Tereshkina
Alberth: Vladimir Shklyarov
Hanz: Konstantin Zverev
Mirtha: Alexandra Iosifidi

Sat., Feb. 12 at 1:30 p.m.
Giselle: Alina Somova
Alberth: Evgeny Ivanchenko
Hanz: Yuri Smekalov
Mirtha: Anastasia Petushkova

Sat., Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Giselle: Uliana Lopatkina
Alberth: Daniil Korsuntsev
Hanz: Konstantin Zverev
Mirtha: Ekaterina Kondaurova

Sun., Feb. 13 at 1:30 p.m.
Giselle: Diana Vishneva
Alberth: Andrian Fadeyev
Hanz: Yuri Smekalov
Mirtha: Alexandra Iosifidi


Does it make sense for Lopatkina to come here for only one performance?

[Natalia]

Well, Lopatkina has gone to DC before for only The Dying Swan at a combined opera-ballet gala, so she could very well be going this time for one Giselle. Of course, the harsh reality is that, most likely, casting will change and - greatest of cruelties! - people who pay top-dollar for tickets (and maybe even travel expenses) for Saturday night end up with Somova at that performance. Such cruelties have happened in the past to lure big-name critics and ensure a sell-out house for Somova, who could never achieve that on her own. I hope I'm wrong but...

Too bad that neither Obraztsova (busy at a Malakhov Gala in Berlin) nor Skorik are slated to dance Giselle in DC.

Terioshkina is wonderful but more so as Mirtha, not Giselle.

On the positive side:  Andrian Fadeyev with Diana Vishneva at the opening and closing performances (maybe).

[cinnamonswirl]

Oh I hope you're wrong I'm going to get tickets for 2/12, and while I don't mind seeing Vishneva or Tereshkina twice, Somova instead of Lopatkina might make me cry.

[Cygnet]

Natalia wrote:

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Well, Lopatkina has gone to DC before for only The Dying Swan at a combined opera-ballet gala, so she could very well be going this time for one Giselle. Of course, the harsh reality is that, most likely, casting will change and - greatest of cruelties! - people who pay top-dollar for tickets (and maybe even travel expenses) for Saturday night end up with Somova at that performance. Such cruelties have happened in the past to lure big-name critics and ensure a sell-out house for Somova, who could never achieve that on her own. I hope I'm wrong but...

I'm surprised and delighted that Lopatkina is coming.  

Quote

Too bad that neither Obraztsova (busy at a Malakhov Gala in Berlin) nor Skorik are slated to dance Giselle in DC.

I'm not surprised that Genya isn't coming. If she were scheduled for Giselle at Kennedy, I'd crawl through glass and walk through walls to be there.  

Quote

Terioshkina is wonderful but more so as Mirtha, not Giselle.

I totally agree with you.  And IMO, Uliana is superior in classical, not Romantic roles such as Giselle.

Quote

On the positive side:  Andrian Fadeyev with Diana Vishneva at the opening and closing performances (maybe).

Well I hope so, but nothing is etched in stone.  It could have been you know who, and it could still be you know who as the bookends for Kennedy. Do you remember last year's Covent Garden summer engagement?  That went well .  What would be more notable than an American debut as Giselle and the opening night at Kennedy Center?  This is how Fateev thinks regarding you know who. In other news, irony of ironies, the powers that be have named Yuri Fateev an Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.  

http://www.mariinsky.../2_228december/

[nysusan]

I know in my heart that I'm soooo much more likely to wind up gritting my teeth through a (bait & switch) Somova Giselle - but I can't pass up even the slightest chance to see Lopatkina's Giselle. I guess I'll be buying a ticket for Saturday night.

[abatt]

There seems to be an unwritten rule that Vishneva gets every opening night at the Kennedy Center.  This has been the case for several years.  That works for me, since I have high regard for her. Let's just hope that we don't have another blizzard for this season's Kirov engagement.

[canbelto]

I've already seen Vishneva's Giselle at the ABT, I think Tereshkina is more of a Myrtha type than a Giselle, I've seen clips of Lopatkina's Giselle and I wasn't impressed, and let's not mention Somova. So I guess I'll be saving my money.

[bianca]

I've heard that Tereshkina got very good reports from Russian audience. I've seen only photos:
http://0ika.livejour...com/148541.html
She reminds me of Mezentseva here.

[Natalia]

bianca, on 10 December 2010 - 10:08 AM, said:

I've heard that Tereshkina got very good reports from Russian audience. I've seen only photos:
http://0ika.livejour...com/148541.html
She reminds me of Mezentseva here.

She is indeed wonderful and a "can-do" dancer. It's just that her face is more 'queenly' -- with strong angular features -- than sweet ingenue, which is of importance to many in the audience. Terioshkina is perfect in every way for Mirtha, as was Lopatkina back in the 90s. There's more to it than being able to do the steps.  Vishneva and Obraztsova are the two Mariinsky ballerinas who have it all - perfect 'ingenue' faces and physiques for Giselle, lovely technique, strong acting, musicality.

[Helene]

I'm a contrarian by nature, and I am looking forward to hearing about Tereshkina's performances most.

[canbelto]

Natalia, on 10 December 2010 - 11:08 AM, said:

bianca, on 10 December 2010 - 10:08 AM, said:

I've heard that Tereshkina got very good reports from Russian audience. I've seen only photos:
http://0ika.livejour...com/148541.html
She reminds me of Mezentseva here.

She is indeed wonderful and a "can-do" dancer. It's just that her face is more 'queenly' -- with strong angular features -- than sweet ingenue, which is of importance to many in the audience. Terioshkina is perfect in every way for Mirtha, as was Lopatkina back in the 90s. There's more to it than being able to do the steps.  Vishneva and Obraztsova are the two Mariinsky ballerinas who have it all - perfect 'ingenue' faces and physiques for Giselle, lovely technique, strong acting, musicality.

I might add that the best Giselles I've seen are able to transform themselves from shy ingenue to a more mature, otherworldly ghost in Act 2. I wish Daria Pavlenko was coming along, but didn't she just have a baby? Maybe she doesn't want to tour to the U.S. because of her young family.

[nysusan]

canbelto, on 10 December 2010 - 08:42 PM, said:

Natalia, on 10 December 2010 - 11:08 AM, said:

bianca, on 10 December 2010 - 10:08 AM, said:

I've heard that Tereshkina got very good reports from Russian audience. I've seen only photos:
http://0ika.livejour...com/148541.html
She reminds me of Mezentseva here.

She is indeed wonderful and a "can-do" dancer. It's just that her face is more 'queenly' -- with strong angular features -- than sweet ingenue, which is of importance to many in the audience. Terioshkina is perfect in every way for Mirtha, as was Lopatkina back in the 90s. There's more to it than being able to do the steps.  Vishneva and Obraztsova are the two Mariinsky ballerinas who have it all - perfect 'ingenue' faces and physiques for Giselle, lovely technique, strong acting, musicality.

I might add that the best Giselles I've seen are able to transform themselves from shy ingenue to a more mature, otherworldly ghost in Act 2. I wish Daria Pavlenko was coming along, but didn't she just have a baby? Maybe she doesn't want to tour to the U.S. because of her young family.

If only Pavlenko was coming either to DC or to Toronto in March, but that would be a miracle.

Don't count Tereshkina out just because she's not a natural Giselle.  She didn't strike me as a natural Kitri either, but she was wonderful in DON Q.  She is a very intelligent artist as well as being a great technician, I'm betting she'll  be a heartbreaking Giselle.  The only pity is that we won't get her Myrtha anymore, hers was the best I've ever seen.

[YID]

Nysusan,
i've heard you can exchange the ticket for the same company (for a nominal fee/$5). I may try to explore it if any of my tickets co-inside with Somova (looking forward to Lopatkina)