87 replies to this topic

[Cygnet]

Maya Plisetskaya (on tape)

(Live)
Altynai Asylmuratova
Daria Pavlenko
Olga Thyentchikova
Natalia Makarova
Cynthia Gregory
Dame Merle Park

[Hans]

You've seen Asylmuratova live, Cygnet?  Details please!

[Cygnet]

Hans, on Sep 12 2005, 08:31 PM, said:

You've seen Asylmuratova live, Cygnet?  Details please!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi Hans!  Search 'Altynai Asylmuratova,' then click to page 3 and the "Backstage at the Kirov" thread  .

[Mme. Hermine]

The last time she came to New York with the Kirov, I saw her in Giselle, Sleeping Beauty (1890) and Fountain of Bakchisarai.  Before that I had seen her in Swan Lake.

[Paul Parish]

Antoinette Sibley is the greatest I've seen live..... the freest, most imaginative, most classical, and most beautiful.

It must be said that she had an uncanny sensitivity to Anthny DOwell, who was her partner. Their rapport was so strong you could feel them communicating when their backs were turned to each other. Each had a cool demeanor, but they were attuned like twins, they managed to suggest impossible love in almost every dimension. So the two of them made a single thing, and I can't mention her without including him.

[drb]

Paul Parish, on Sep 13 2005, 11:08 PM, said:

... they were attuned like twins, they managed to suggest impossible love in almost every dimension. So the two of them made a single thing...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I never had the good fortune to see their Swan Lake, but your words describe their Giselle!  I was new to ballet and was disappointed when I read the casting.  I'd expected Nureyev.  Instead, Perfection.

[silvy]

Live: Ulyana Lopatkina

on tape: Yulia Makhalina, Galina Mezentzeva

[mohnurka]

I'm with you, Silvy! I'd just add Plisetskaya (though I haven't seen her live).

[Azulynn]

Live : Daria Pavlenko
Agnès Letestu (for her Odette mostly)

But I haven't had a chance to see so many Odette/Odile. I'm supposed to see Marie-Agnès Gillot from the POB in early January - maybe a future favourite of mine as well.

[Evelio Sierra]

Melissa, on Jun 29 2001, 02:48 PM, said:

I realize this may be a tough question to answer since few ballerinas have the technical and dramatic abilities to dance both roles successfully.

My favorite Odette is Natalia Makarova. No other ballerina I've seen has captured the pathos of the character or brought out the poetry of Ivanov's choreography more eloquently than her. Some may not like her swan mannerisms, but to me they're exquisite.

I've yet to see the perfect Odile. Plisetskaya acted and danced the role to the hilt, so she's probably my first choice. Makarova would be a close second, even though she didn't project Odile's wickedness as effectively as Plisetskaya.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My favorite Odile/Odette was Alicia Alonso, and I should mention also her Giselle, because Alicia was born to prevent Giselle's death.

[bart]

Welcome to Ballet Talk, Evelio.

I notice that you are from Miami.  I hope that you will introduce yourself on the "Welcome" forum and that you'll be able to share with us your impressions, reviews, etc., of Miami City Ballet, Maximum/Gamonet, and other groups in the south Flroida dance community.

[bart]

The Feb. 2006 issue of Dance Magazine has quite a spread on Swan Lake, including an article on several different complete versions due for premiers this season:  Victoria Morgan's at Cincinnati, Stanton Welch's at Houston, and Christopher Stowell's at Oregon Ballet Theatre.

There are also some fascinating comments on performing the Odette-Odile role by a number of ballerinas:

Yuan Yuan Tan (SF Ballet), who advises studying videos for ideas that suit your body.
Irina Dvorovenko (ABT), who feels the urge to cry in the last act.
Uliana Lopatkina (Kirov):  "some people say that my Odile lacks eroticism, temptation, black magic.  But that wouldn't be me.  Evil is more dangeerous when concealed."
Svetlana Zakharova (Bolshoi);  "In St. Peterburg I was taught to show Odile as a bright, beautiful seductress.  But in the Bolshoi's version, Odile is more mysterious, more secretive and deceiving."
Karen Kain (National Ballet of Canada):  "As a partner, Nureyev, with his emotional generosity, forced me to look into his eyes and believe in the moment."
Lauren Anderson (Houston): "When you finish the ballet, you feel like you'[ve been hit bya truck and then it backs over you two more times.  But it's satisfying."
Evelyn Hart (Royal Winnepeg)
Cynthia Gregory  (ABT):     "Think about what you want to do with the role and who you want to be.  And then put that out of your head and just work on getting the technique as pure and clean as possible.  And then onstage, those thoughts from before will come through in your dancing."
and Wendy Whelan (NYCB):  "The Balanchine one-act version is the Reader's Digest version and you don't have to have that dark side.  In the Martins version, you have to develop that.  It's a marathon versus a spring."

As of this date, there's nothing on the website about this issue.

[cubanmiamiboy]

Mmm...tough question.  Need some time to think about it...

[fandeballet]

Favorite Odettes: Natalia Markarova and Nina Aniashvilli.

Favorite Odiles: Cynthia Gregory and Nina Aniashvilli

[vipa]

Definitely Cynthia Gregory