562 replies to this topic

[sandik]

Tangential to main discussion -- I thought it was interesting that the newsreaders referred to Filin by his first name, a practice that is not considered professional in most newsrooms for this kind of report.  Is this standard in Russian reporting?

Beyond that, though, I sincerely hope that the reporter is correct, and the surgeons have been able to save Filin's eyesight.

[bart]

A question to those of you who know the intricacies of the current Russian Ballet world.  What do you think about Alexei Ratmansky's comment that the pathologies of the Bolshoi are wrapped up in the power of the claque and the influence of the media?

Quote

Alexei Ratmansky, one of Mr. Filin’s predecessors as artistic director and now an artist in residence at American Ballet Theater, wrote on Facebook that the incident was “not a coincidence.”
He added, “Many of the illnesses of the Bolshoi are one snowball — that disgusting claque which is friendly with artists, ticket speculators and scalpers, half-crazy fans who are ready to slit the throats of their idol’s competitors, cynical hackers, lies in the press and scandalous interviews of people working there.”

It's sad and astonishing to see that people work themselves up to such extremes of hate and rage, all in the name of "art."  Ratmansky is well out of it.

[puppytreats]

bart, on 19 January 2013 - 06:12 AM, said:

A question to those of you who know the intricacies of the current Russian Ballet world.  What do you think about Alexei Ratmansky's comment that the pathologies of the Bolshoi are wrapped up in the power of the claque and the influence of the media?

Quote

Alexei Ratmansky, one of Mr. Filin’s predecessors as artistic director and now an artist in residence at American Ballet Theater, wrote on Facebook that the incident was “not a coincidence.”
He added, “Many of the illnesses of the Bolshoi are one snowball — that disgusting claque which is friendly with artists, ticket speculators and scalpers, half-crazy fans who are ready to slit the throats of their idol’s competitors, cynical hackers, lies in the press and scandalous interviews of people working there.”

It's sad and astonishing to see that people work themselves up to such extremes of hate and rage, all in the name of "art."  Ratmansky is well out of it.

Firstly, I pray for Mr. Filin. I hope he does not suffer physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, artistic, or financial pain, from his attack or its scars.

Secondly, I do not think the phenomenon described by Ratmansky is unique to Russia.  We have observed claques, reporters, fans, agents, politicians, and other manipulators of media, boards, and other outlets influence casting, hirings, promotions, and pay.  This is the topic of many discussions on BT.

[elena]

I truly hope that the report video linked in the previous page is accurate and his eyesight has been saved... from what I have read and put together with the conflicting reports of the status of his vision, he was to have a transplant of the corneas and then in 2 weeks they would know more details of how he is healing (and also that one eye was affected more than the other). However if the operation was a success that must be a good sign and I pray it has been saved for certain.

The ironic thing about this whole attack is that it will probably achieve the opposite of what that deranged maniac wants - it will give him more support than ever for his leadership I believe. Let it be so... may he come back healthy and with more support and success than ever.

[cubanmiamiboy]

This incident is truly way beyond anything I've heard before.  Is so sad-(and scary)-that from now on we have to start thinking of such venerable, loved institution as the Bolshoi of Ulanova, Bessmertnova and Maximova now linked to such level of criminality and craziness....

If this is ever demonstrated to be as a professional turmoil, then something has been broken forever....

[Helene]

I think Mr. Ratmansky has worked for or with enough major institutions to understand the difference between the situation in Russia and other attempts at influencing casting and hierarchy.

[Cygnet]

Jayne, on 18 January 2013 - 09:03 PM, said:

One of the links references a quote from Nikolai Tsiskaridze who stated the attackers were related to Mr. Filin's love life or his control over the Bolshoi budget.  At the very minimum, these comments are certainly are unhelpful and distressing for Mrs. Filina.  They may be slanderous (we know nothing of his love life or if he has much control over the money pots).  They may even be a distraction, to throw attention away from Mr. Tsiskaridze's on-going office politics war with the current management at the Bolshoi.

While he may be an amazing dancer, and caring partner to his ballerinas, he certainly does not show the type of diplomacy in a crisis situation that would be needed to run the Bolshoi.  I think Mr. Tsiskaridze should thank his lucky stars that he was not selected for management, and hasn't put himself in the position to be harassed, extorted and maimed by Russian criminals.  I think he may be fired for his comments, and most certainly will fall under suspicion as a backer of the attack, after the severe response to his December letter to the Kremlin advocating for the Management position.

RT (www.rt.com), Headline News continues updates.  In today's report, it's astonishing that Mr. Tsiskaridze once again went on camera and offered no sympathy, but made calm, cool and collected statements on the job description of an Artistic Director.

[innopac]

Masked attacker throws acid at face of Bolshoi Theater’s artistic director, RT 18 January, 2013

Filin had received threats from anonymous callers before, Novikova explained to Channel One: “We never imagined that a war for roles – not for real estate or for oil – could reach this level of crime.”

Bolshoi general director Anatoly Iksanov said he believed the attack was linked to Filin's work at the theater. “He is a man of principle and never compromised,” Iksanov said. “If he believed that this or that dancer was not ready or was unable to perform this or that part, he would turn them down.”

Vladimir Urin, the general director of the Moscow Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theater, called the assault on Filin “an attack on Bolshoi Theater beyond any boundaries.” Urin stressed that Filin has been the Bolshoi’s artistic director for three years, and “you could always discuss any problem with him, reaching a compromise decision.”

http://rt.com/news/b...cid-attack-255/

[innopac]

cubanmiamiboy, on 19 January 2013 - 08:35 AM, said:

This incident is truly way beyond anything I've heard before.  Is so sad-(and scary)-that from now on we have to start thinking of such venerable, loved institution as the Bolshoi of Ulanova, Bessmertnova and Maximova now linked to such level of criminality and craziness....

If this is ever demonstrated to be as a professional turmoil, then something has been broken forever....

I feel the same. . .

[solo]

Quote: “I think he may be fired for his comments, and most certainly will fall under suspicion as a backer of the attack.”

Tsiskaridze is the most outspoken critic of the situation in the Bolshoi Theatre and continuously criticizes many bosses there: the Director General, successive Artistic Directors, the firms which did reconstruction and restoration of the historic building of the theatre, etc. He did it face to face, he did it publicly on the theatre’s premises, he did it in interviews to the press, radio and TV. He is an example of a man living ‘with an open visor’.

Can he, after all this public exposure, back a low criminal night attack on his colleague to allow all fingers to be pointed back at him?

[Natalia]

Amy Reusch, on 18 January 2013 - 09:34 PM, said:

RT reports that Filin's eyesight has been saved.  I hope it is true:  

Interesting that this RT report features footage of POB dancers at a dress rehearsal (Ould-Braham and Thibault)! Also, funny how this reporter keeps referencing the film, Black Swan, in his reports.

Back to topic:  I am happy to hear that, apparently, Filin's eyesight has been saved.

It's almost too easy to pin this on Tsiskaridze. If this were TV show like NCIS or Law & Order, the first person dragged in for questioning would be Tsiskaridze but, as often happens, the first 'obvious perpetrator' is very often innocent. In fact, there are other trails to follow in the Filin case, not just NT. Time will tell. The police are doing their jobs.

[Mme. Hermine]

Bolshoi art director Filin undergoes eyes surgery, no complications



MOSCOW, January 19 (Itar-Tass) - Bolshoi Theatre Ballet Troupe Artistic Director Sergei Filin has undergone surgery without complications. Pains do not bother him, chief physician at the 36th hospital Alexander Mitichkin told Itar-Tass.

Sergei Filin's state corresponds to the severity of the trauma, he said.

“The first day has passed after the surgery. There are no complications. Pains do not bother him. The patient is transferred from the intensive care ward to a regular room. He walks, eats, he has an appetite, Mitichkin added.

As for his eyesight, it is early to make predictions, the doctor noted.

Filin has a blindfold on his eyes after the surgery. The question about sight may be answered no earlier than in 14-21 days, the specialist said.

[Mme. Hermine]

A friend whose daughter is married to an eye surgeon said something, when we asked him about this, and if I have it more or less correctly, is that it wouldn't just be, say, damage to the cornea that the would have to worry about, or a corneal transplant, but also damage to the structures around it and to whatever it is that the cornea is attached to, and how those structures would heal, that would have something to do with whether his eyesight could be saved at all.  

[puppytreats]

solo, on 19 January 2013 - 01:13 PM, said:

Can he, after all this public exposure, back a low criminal night attack on his colleague

What does this mean?

[Mme. Hermine]

it sounds like they're accusing him of implicit approval of what happened.  i think that if he wanted to be seen more sympathetically he should be stronger in denouncing it.