55 replies to this topic

[nysusan]

Obrastzova's April 23 O/O debut is sold out.

http://www.stanmus.c...l?Month=2011-04

http://www.ticketlan...?id=3619&view=1

Yes, I noticed that when I tried to book.

Maybe a hotel concierge can find alternatives?

Oh no - what torture to be in town and not be able to see Obraztsova's debut. I'm sure you'll find a way. Do they sell returns on the day of the performance?

[Natalia]

NY Susan, not to worry. Tickets are available on the street, usually at much lower price, half an hour or so before the performance. That's my 'Plan B.' Important to take ca$h...

[elena]

I hope those who can go let us know how it goes!!

[Lidewij]

A video of her Odile has appeared on Youtube!

[elena]

A video of her Odile has appeared on Youtube!

Thanks for that! I never would have found it on my own... I hope her Odette gets on to youtube as well. Waiting for it to load so I can watch!

[Helene]

A video of her Odile has appeared on Youtube!

Thank you so much for this

Obratzova has wonderful detail in her hands, expression, and timing. Her gifts were clear in the "Ballerina" film, when she was just a second year. There is something so finished and complete about her dancing. How I wish I could have been there!

I really like Chudin as well. He has lovely free leg position in his pirouettes and lovely ballon. I love how in his variation he is dancing for her, not just an academic or show-off exercise, and it's so full of surrender. I also love how the nationals swirl around Odette and Siegfried, like the swans will in the next act.

[Angelique]

Sorry for not sharing your enthusiasm, guys. I have watched the video most carefully: Obraztsova's arms are floppy, shoulders drooping and the pirouettes are positively epileptic. Not awful, of course, but hardly a revelation I was hoping for. Semen Chudin, on the other hand, is a pleasant surprise.

PS. of course, this is only my impression and I hope it is OK to express one (?)

[richard53dog]

Semen Chudin, on the other hand, is a pleasant surprise.

I take it Chudin is the Siegfried? Actually I found his habit of flinging his head backwards for emphasis got old pretty quickly. It seemed like an instant mannerism.

Actually, I thought he was even floppier and more brittle than Obraztsova.

[cubanmiamiboy]

The choreography and staging of Odile and Siegfried variations is getting more and more liberal every time...

[Helene]

PS. of course, this is only my impression and I hope it is OK to express one (?)

Opinions and impressions are fine, when they are backed up; you described what you saw, even if others of us saw the performance differently.

It's agendas that are not.

[Angelique]

PS. of course, this is only my impression and I hope it is OK to express one (?)

Opinions and impressions are fine, when they are backed up; you described what you saw, even if others of us saw the performance differently.

It's agendas that are not.

I agree with you wholeheartedly, Helene. Agendas, whether they aim to elevate or down trod a dancer, should have no place on a dance forum.

Having said that, I saw what I saw on the video introduced. Perhaps, Evgenia is better as Odette. I am looking forward to her Odette video with untainted opinion and uncorrupted heart.

I apologie once again that my impression doesn’t align with your own.

[Paul Parish]

I'm with you, Jayne -- i see Kirkland and Hepburn in her -- they all three made me want to protect them, as if they were real to me and I TO THEM.... yes, of course, "that way madness lies,' but that is in fact the way artists affect me, as if they were not only in my world but making my world for me.... Obrasztova is one of those performers that God makes you care about.... I don't really believe in God, but I don't know any other way of saying it...

[Paul Parish]

Cristian, this looks like Bourmeister's choreography, which the Stanislavsky Ballet has been dancing for quite some time. They brought it here to San Francisco about 10 years ago, and most of us agreed that it is a coherent, powerful version of the ballet, quite different from the classic version the Royal Ballet dances, rather lurid but internally consistent. More recent versions like ABT's clearly owe a LOT to the Stanislavsky version -- especially in their versions of Rothbart ("Swamp thing"), without having the solid deep theatrical structure that Bourmeister's does....

Clips of Roberto Bolle in Swan Lake make it look like La Scala does Bourmeister's version as well. There's a very good first act.

[Jayne]

A video of her Odile has appeared on Youtube!

This was fun to watch. I thought Obratsova's tutu made her pirouettes look floppier than they would otherwise look with a smaller, stiffer tutu. Chunin looked like he was flinging his head back to get his hair out of his face. Rather distracting. The set decor and corps look sumptuous in their tudor-esque costumes, especially the headgear.

Did you notice the dropped / flung tambourine?

[Natalia]

Obraztsova is an extraordinarily beautiful Odile, as we rarely see nowadays. I had tears simply watching, she is so exquisite. As if a treasure from the past has been recovered. Thank you, Genya...and her coach, Stanislavsky prima of the 1960s & Pavlova Prize winner, Margarita Drozdova.

Obraztsova and Kondaurova - two extraordinary (yet different) -- Odette-Odiles of our time!