92 replies to this topic

[Natalia]

According to his bio in the back of the Kennedy Center Playbills during the last two times that the Mariinsky has toured here: Fateev is a co-producer (i.e., INVESTOR) of the Ardani project 'The Kings of Dance.' That is a fact.

The Kevin MacKenzie connection: I am going by what has been written in Haglund and other blogs...BUT we do know that many (if not all) of ABT's 'guest principals' happen to be represented by ARDANI.

[aurora]

I thought other blog's speculation was not allowed here.

Ardani represents a lot of dancers from many different companies all over the world. This hardly seems a vast conspiracy theory at ABT. What of the new dancer swap program they have instituted? Is this an Ardani plot too?

[Natalia]

Aurora, many of us old-timers have been calling ABT 'Ardani Ballet Theatre' for a while. Just a fact - not something from a blog.  

[aurora]

Natalia, on 17 January 2013 - 03:00 AM, said:

Aurora, many of us old-timers have been calling ABT 'Ardani Ballet Theatre' for a while. Just a fact - not something from a blog.  

I'm guessing that while I'm younger than you, I've been seeing ABT about as long as you have if not longer. I'm no johnny come lately.
As for my blog mention, it was in reference to your own words where you said:

"The Kevin MacKenzie connection: I am going by what has been written in Haglund and other blogs...BUT we do know that many (if not all) of ABT's 'guest principals' happen to be represented by ARDANI."

Haglund hardly comes across as an unbiased source.

And lastly, while it may be a fact that you and your cohort call ABT "Ardani Ballet Theater," that does not make it a fact that it is such a thing. I could call my cat a dog, it is still a cat.

[Natalia]

So will any of us be close to a theater showing the 'new and live' Swan Lake on Valentine's Day, starring Kondaurova and conducted by Gergiev?

[Natalia]

Still no mentionof this Feb. 14 'live' 3-D telecast on the Mariinsky web/playbill. The mystery performance!

[Birdsall]

The performance of Swan Lake with Kondaurova this past evening had lots of microphones hanging to capture sound, I assume. I am guessing this was the performance that will be used for the Feb. 14 3D movie. This could be why there is basically no info about it. Maybe they were waiting to make sure the performance went okay and if they can finish processing it or whatever they have to do before releasing into movie theaters.

[puppytreats]

I keep reading about the Valentine Day La Scala broadcast, but not in NY :<  We have to wait a few weeks for that.

[volcanohunter]

The 3D Swan Lake that never materialized on Valentine's Day has been rescheduled for June 6. Note that the trailer states "captured live" rather than "live." And no, I don't know why the trailer begins with Sleeping Beauty references.

[abatt]

Is there any info on where in the US this film will be shown?

[Birdsall]

I hope this promo ad that looks like it was shot in front of the Winter Palace is just the ad for the performance. I hope the actual performance they filmed is inside on stage at the Mariinsky. If they shoot it in various places around St. Petersburg (some operas have been filmed that way) it might look really cheesy! LOL

[volcanohunter]

I fear that 3D is inherently cheesy.

I would like to ask the opinion of those who have seen ballet in 3D, because I have not yet seen such a thing. I did see a couple of operas filmed in 3D at the Royal Opera House, and there was an exceedingly strange effect that could really hamper a dance performance. When a shot was taken from a downstage corner camera, you would expect people standing closest to the camera to look very large. Instead they looked like microcephalic midgets. I'm guessing it was some sort of misguided overcompensation, but it was extremely disconcerting to see such a bizarre change in a performer's proportions. Has anyone noticed this in the Mariinsky's 3D ballets?

[Birdsall]

volcanohunter, on 11 April 2013 - 12:31 PM, said:

I fear that 3D is inherently cheesy.

I would like to ask the opinion of those who have seen ballet in 3D, because I have not yet seen such a thing. I did see a couple of operas filmed in 3D at the Royal Opera House, and there was an exceedingly strange effect that could really hamper a dance performance. When a shot was taken from a downstage corner camera, you would expect people standing closest to the camera to look very large. Instead they looked like microcephalic midgets. I'm guessing it was some sort of misguided overcompensation, but it was extremely disconcerting to see such a bizarre change in a performer's proportions. Has anyone noticed this in the Mariinsky's 3D ballets?

I think I agree with you. 3D does seem cheesy. Historically I think it was used to freak audiences out for horror films or other genres that were just "fun" movies. Serious art films were never in 3D. They would make sure to have knives or other things look like they are about to poke us in the eye.

I haven't seen ballet in 3D either. I saw the Mariinsky's Nutcracker at the movies that was supposed to be in 3D, but the movie theater I went to presented it without 3D for some reason.

My partner did twist my arm to see The Hobbit in 3D and I was shocked there were no things poking me in the eye. It was only used to make you feel like you were there sort of, so I guess they were trying to make it "classy 3D" if that is possible! LOL Maybe that is going to be the new type of 3D....simply making you feel like you are watching a hologram and/or right there with the people you are watching as opposed to gimmicks like knives and fingers poking you in the eye.

[Jayne]

volcanohunter, on 11 April 2013 - 12:31 PM, said:

I fear that 3D is inherently cheesy.

Then I may need to smuggle in some wine to pair with the cheese.  My goodness, the MT doesn't need "tricks" to present a gorgeous Swan Lake.

[Birdsall]

Jayne, on 11 April 2013 - 03:20 PM, said:

volcanohunter, on 11 April 2013 - 12:31 PM, said:

I fear that 3D is inherently cheesy.

Then I may need to smuggle in some wine to pair with the cheese.  My goodness, the MT doesn't need "tricks" to present a gorgeous Swan Lake.

I agree with this. I wonder why the Mariinsky seems to want to do their ballets in 3D. They should simply do what the Bolshoi does and do them regular for movie theaters.