Posted 02 June 2012 - 07:51 PM
Sat., June 2, 7:30 pm
SimonA, you were right about Alexandrova's mature and refined take on Swanilda! I decided to nab a last-minute ticket to tonight's performance (Alexandrova/Skvortsov), mainly to see the 'alternate Act III soloists' in the Divertissements and was also blessed with a mighty-fine Swanilda-Frantz pairing!
In a nutshell -
Maria Alexandrova was far from the cutesy soubrette doll of Kaptsova but more 'the woman with substance'...and certainly more secure technically. She had the most energy and truly STOMPED on Dr C's book! Her long balance in arabesque near the end of the pdd adagio (Act III) was TO DIE FOR. Audience went wild! Still, if allowed to see only one Swanilda among the two, I'd still go with Kaptsova for overall character and adorability factor.
Ruslan Skvortsov, although not often cast in demi-caractere roles, came across as quite tender and boyish, similar to Lopatin (who I saw in Moscow with Osipova in '09 but not here with Stashkevich). He offered the more solid partnering among the Frantzes and, while fine in his leaps and pirouettes, seemed to run out of gas a bit at the end of his big solo, yet everything was 'completed.' It's almost almost a 'toss-up' between him and Ovcharenko...if pressed to name a fave, I'd go with Ovcharenko because of his character allure -- almost a Nureyev air -- as well as gorgeous line and feet.
Now for the chief reason why I bought a ticket for tonight - the four Act III solo ladies, all different than the first-night casting. In order of appearance:
Dawn solo - tonight it was young Anna Okuneva, with a radiant face and effortless pirouettes-in-attitude that were soft as butter. No contest here - her technique, softness (not overly thin/brittle), and facial glamour makes her the winner in this role. [Yes, I confirmed that it was indeed Stashkevich the first night; she must have lost several kilos since I saw her dance this very role in 2009...no softness now...choppy movements. One wonders how she fared in the title role on thursday night and today's matinee? Yikes.]
Prayer solo - Yulia Grebenschikova (who I also saw in Moscow in '09) essayed this gentle solo, with languid developes and turns. She wins over first-cast Anna Nikulina. Grebenschikova did not hesitate one bit and was spot-on, almost one with the music. Nikulina may have the more beautiful instrument -- gorgeous legs, feet, Veronika Part face -- but was way too tentative...like (gulp) Part at ABT.
Work ensemble's soloist - Daria Kokhlova, a pretty round-faced newcomer, was pleasant in this solo full of pirouettes and fleet pointework...but first-cast Anzhelina Vorontsova had cleaner pirouettes, sharper piques, and had more natural 'sparkle.'
Folie solo - Vorontsova was tonight's Folie, chaming, quick...but not quite the impact of first-cast Anna Tikhomirova in this particular role, full of leaps, entrechats, and grands jetes. HOWEVER, give credit to Vorontsova for doing the last set of grand jetes in 'double time'...not waiting as long as did Tikhomirova between jumps. Vorontsova, who is 3 or 4 yrs younger than Tikhomirova, is certainly 'getting there'! [In contrast, the Folie who I saw in Moscow in 2009, Chinara Alizade, had very low jumps...although I love Alizade in slower dances/legato.]
Another great performance with instant standing ovation! However, the audience stopped clapping abruptly when the curtain came down, so there were no curtain calls at the very end of the night...even though the spotlight came on and curtain slightly parted....but dead silence. C'mon Washingtonians???!!!
Natalia, on 01 June 2012 - 06:58 AM, said:
