61 replies to this topic

[MakarovaFan]

For those among us who are attending the Vishneva-Gomes-Osipova La Bayadere on Memorial Day Weekend, what are you anticipating most about the performance?  To my knowledge this is the first time these 2 ballerinas are dancing together.  I'm very excited about this.  Hopefully the Act I catfight will be memorable.  The gold standard for me is Komleva-Terekhova on the Kirov 1977 dvd.  Please share your thoughts!

[Drew]

I totally understand being very excited about seeing these two ballerinas in the same cast. Unfortunately, I feel as if I ought to be more excited than I am. I bought tickets because although I have seen Vishneva in several major roles, the only nineteenth-century classic I have seen her dance is Giselle. For the rest, I find Gamzatti an utterly thankless role and even the thought of seeing Osipova (whom I adore) dance the part does not change that opinion, though I can't help but be curious about anything she does.

Some years ago, I did find Dvorovenko's interpretation of Gamzatti as a silent movie style seductive villainess mildly entertaining and I vaguely remember that she even made something of the classical divertissement in Act I, but neither Cynthia Gregory nor Elizabeth Platel (in Nureyev's version) nor Dvorovenko herself in that divertissement could make me think it anything other than middling Petipa indeed. It goes w/o saying that lesser lights as Gamzatti have made no impression on me at all. So I'm afraid that despite the toe-to-toe encounter of two such remarkable ballerinas in Act I, it's still the case that the one thing I most anticipate about this performance is what I always anticipate about performances of Bayadere--Act II.

But I AM hoping, albeit not too optimistically, that Osipova somehow surprises me.

[cubanmiamiboy]

I will be there...worth to jump on a plane..  BT'niks who want to meet, hit me with a PM, e-mail @  christianrey78@yahoo.com  or by phone @  786-873-6198..!!   Would LOVE to put some more faces on screen names..

[Birdsall]

I will be there too and hope to meet some of you!

[Birdsall]

Do ballet alert members ever have a group meet up during intermission? It is common at opera events. I bet lots of Ballet Alert members will be at the Vishneva/Osipova Bayadere. We could meet during the first intermission somewhere. I usually go down to the basement level and look at the Rosa Ponselle painting (favorite diva), although that little gallery area is sort of cramped. Any other suggestions?

[Helene]

I don't know whether there's a common place, but when I've been in town for the last couple of summers, I've met my friends by the center costume case at the top of the entry stairs.

[cubanmiamiboy]

Well, I'm open for meeting.  If interested, let me know.

[Birdsall]

Okay, I will meet where Helene suggests during the first intermission!

[cubanmiamiboy]

Same here.

[Birdsall]

Getting back to Makarova's question...I have heard Vishneva's Nikiya is terrific. I also think Gamzatti would fit Osipova's personality better than Nikiya. She is a spitfire, extroverted personality, and there are flashy balances and leaps. I can't wait for the engagement scene. The music in that act is my favorite!

[cubanmiamiboy]

I'm all for the Shades entrance and Grand Pas.  I watched that part repeatedly during a certain period in my private life, so I have it in an iconic place...It became very personal, and I still get goosebumps when I see it...

[MakarovaFan]

Bart Birdsall, on 13 April 2012 - 10:55 AM, said:

Okay, I will meet where Helene suggests during the first intermission!

Me too Bart and Cristian!  So looking forward to meeting fellow Alerters.

Melissa

[Birdsall]

Cool!!!! I think it is always fun to put a face to a name!

[Kristen]

The meet up sounds great - I'll be there and look forward to putting a face on all these posters - and to personally thank cubanmiamiboy for his posts about Miami City Ballet (I'm up the coast here and catch them at the Kravis in West Palm Beach)  Cheers,  Kristen

[cubanmiamiboy]

Kristen, on 15 April 2012 - 07:09 AM, said:

The meet up sounds great - I'll be there and look forward to putting a face on all these posters - and to personally thank cubanmiamiboy for his posts about Miami City Ballet (I'm up the coast here and catch them at the Kravis in West Palm Beach)  Cheers,  Kristen