23 replies to this topic

[NO7]

Many thanks for your review, A.M.
I'm so green with envy!
Your description about the venue's decor intriques me as much. I believe its majesty matches that of the Kirov quite well.

BTW, do you have any information who will dance in the second programme?

[NO7]

Many thanks for your review, A.M.
I'm so green with envy!
Your description about the venue's decor intriques me as much. I believe its majesty matches that of the Kirov quite well.

BTW, do you have any information who will dance in the second programme?

[Kevin Ng]

A.M., thanks for your wonderful report.  I am so happy reading your detailed comments; it has partly made up for my regret that I cannot be present myself.

Igor Zelensky was guesting in Greece last weekend, which explains his absence from France.  It's good to hear that Andrei Batalov, who was absent from the London season, is dancing again with the Kirov.  (I heard that he danced Le Corsaire pas de deux in Granada with Elvira Tarasova during the Kirov's tour there a fortnight ago.)

It's interesting that they did Tchaikovsky pdd in Versailles.  What a pity that they didn't do it at Covent Garden as part of the all-Balanchine programme.  They did include it in Japan last winter.

[ 07-16-2001: Message edited by: Kevin Ng ]

[Kevin Ng]

A.M., thanks for your wonderful report.  I am so happy reading your detailed comments; it has partly made up for my regret that I cannot be present myself.

Igor Zelensky was guesting in Greece last weekend, which explains his absence from France.  It's good to hear that Andrei Batalov, who was absent from the London season, is dancing again with the Kirov.  (I heard that he danced Le Corsaire pas de deux in Granada with Elvira Tarasova during the Kirov's tour there a fortnight ago.)

It's interesting that they did Tchaikovsky pdd in Versailles.  What a pity that they didn't do it at Covent Garden as part of the all-Balanchine programme.  They did include it in Japan last winter.

[ 07-16-2001: Message edited by: Kevin Ng ]

[Juliet]

Batalov is part of Royal Danish Ballet now, so perhaps it's not unexpected that he missed London.  He wasn't used enough at Kirov, in any event.  Lucky for those who got to see him in France, while he is still dancing so beautifully.

I also enjoyed visualizing the performances in that setting--thank you so much for the review.

[Natalia]

Delightful review, AM!

I am so happy to see young Irina Golub receive more and more solo roles & attentions. She was, for me, the 'star' of the February 1998 performances of the Vaganova Academy at Brooklyn Academy of Music...and, indeed, the most promising of the Class of 1998 Vaganova graduates. In Brooklyn, she sizzled as Carmen in an excerpt from Igor Belsky's version. I can well imagine her Kitri!

[Kevin Ng]

A.M., thanks for the list.  Look forward to your report on the second programme this week.

As an aside, the second Maryinsky International Ballet Festival will be held in St. Petersburg from 9-18 March 2002.

[Kevin Ng]

A.M., thanks for the list.  Look forward to your report on the second programme this week.

As an aside, the second Maryinsky International Ballet Festival will be held in St. Petersburg from 9-18 March 2002.

[Marc Haegeman]

Quote

Originally posted by A.M.:
Here's the list of dancers Kirov brought on Versailles' tour:
Janna Ayupova
Farukh Ruzimatov
Uliana Lopatkina
Diana Vishneva
Victor Baranov
Irma Nioradze
Svetlana Zakharova
Danila Korsuntsev
Maya Dumchenko
Veronika Part
Igor Kolb
Sofia Gumerova
Andrei Batalov
Anton Korsakov
Irina Jelonkina
Andrian Fadeev
Ilya Kuznetsov,
and corps-de-ballet...
[ 07-17-2001: Message edited by: A.M. ]

That's what the program book says. Vishneva, Dumchenko, Nioradze, Ruzimatov, Fadeev, are not in Versailles and Kolb got himself injured the day before yesterday.

Yesterday's program was quite interesting because of two rarely seen pieces: the concert version of "Middle Duet" by Ratmansky, excellently danced by Sologub and Baimuradov; and the Pas de Quatre danced by Part, Gumerova, Tarassova and Zhelonkina.

We also had "Corsaire" pas de deux again with Dmitry Semionov who danced it even better than the night before and Gumerova who was even worse than the night before. The evening almost fell completely apart with a poor man's "Don Quixote" pas de deux, danced by Batalov who is definitely off form, and Golub whose presence among these soloists is still a mystery.

The opening "Chopiniana" led by Ayupova and Baranov was, however, a thrill.

[NO7]

Thanks for the update, Marc.

What a pity that I missed a chance to see Dmitry Semionov's Corsaire pas de deux. It must have been the fireworks! And sorry to hear Kolb is injured. Hope it's not that serious.

[ 07-18-2001: Message edited by: NO7 ]

[Marc Haegeman]

Igor Kolb landed badly after a jump in his variation in "Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux" and had to be replaced on the spot by Anton Korsakov still in costume for "Carnival in Venice". In any case Kolb won't be dancing anymore in Versailles and there will be no more "Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux" as apparently he was the only one around who danced it.

Tonight is the final performance starting with "Serenade", followed by a divertissement consisting of Manon, Harlequinade, Black Swan Pas de Deux, Middle Duet, Don Quixote and Corsaire Pas de Deux.

Semionov is certainly a promising dancer, especially on his own, but he is in my opinion still too young (19) and inexperienced to be highlighted as a soloist in a killer number like "Le Corsaire" Pas de deux (his partnering has a long a way to go). (NO7, in London he danced Lankedem not Ali).

[Sonja]

Marc, seems your critical eye picked out every weakness and you put your finger on the wounds of this company... Hope you will enjoy tonight's performance despite of.... so much!

[Kevin Ng]

Sonja, it won't be long before you have the pleasure of seeing the Kirov in your city Munich in September.  Are the several performances of "Jewels" nearly sold out?

I suppose I'll try to see the Kirov again somewhere in the world before the end of this year.

[ 07-18-2001: Message edited by: Kevin Ng ]

[NO7]

I partly disagree about Semionov. Based on seeing his Blue Bird, Lankedem, Swan Lake pas de trois, he is only a few steps behind a young soloist like Anton Korsakov. And Semionov's partnering skill, although not yet first-rate, is definitely on the way.

BTW, I saw three performances of Le Corsaire in London last month and remember quite well who danced Lankedem or who danced Ali.  ;)
I meant it's a pity I missed Semionov's Corsaire pdd, to be exact.

[Kevin Ng]

I agree with you, NO7.  Dmitri Simeonov is most promising as a soloist.  Though he didn't do a leading role in Covent Garden this season (as he did Solor last year), I was impressed by him in the Swan Lake pas de trois and his Blue Bird.  He also danced elegantly in Emeralds.  I unfortunately missed his Lankedem.  Actually his partnering skills are not bad, he strongly partnered Yulia Makhalina in La Bayadere last year.