No replies to this topic

[Natalia]

Here are relevant ballet-related snippets from a large article in recent St Petersburg Times. Well, I eat crow on the nomination of Ratmansky's horrendous [IMO] 'Cinderella' although I agree with the praise for Vishnyova's performance as Cinders.
***********
golden mask festival set to shine

                     by Galina Stolyarova
                     STAFF WRITER
                     FOR SPT

                     The Golden Mask awards, Russia's top
                     performing-arts festival, are usually held in
                     Moscow but, this year, are coming north, and
                     kick off at the Alexandriinsky Theater on March
                     27. The productions nominated for awards will
                     show for two weeks at various venues, and the
                     award ceremony will be held at the Mariinsky
                     Theater in April.

                     According to Golden Mask Director Eduard
                     Boyakov, the idea of holding the festival in St.
                     Petersburg first occurred to him in 2000. (Perhaps coincidentally, the
                     decision was announced shortly after Vladimir Putin, a St.
                     Petersburg native, was elected president.) Few would argue that the
                     city, which claims a hearty share of each year's prizes, deserves to
                     host the country's most prestigious arts event.

                     St. Petersburg actors, directors and designers have been nominated
                     for 34 awards in 15 categories. Somewhat oddly - especially given
                     the location of the final ceremony - perennial conducting nominee
                     Valery Gergiev has been passed over this year.

....[snip - snip...opera stuff]

                     Alexei Ratmansky is nominated twice as best choreographer, for the
                     Mariinsky's "Cinderella" and "Lea" at Moscow's Bolshoi Post
                     Modern Theater. His only rival is France's Rolan Petit, for "The
                     Queen of Spades" and "Passacaglia," both at Moscow's Bolshoi
                     Theater. "Cinderella" is also listed for best set design (by Ilya Utkin
                     and Yevgeny Monakhov), best female dancer (Diana Vishnyova who,
                     earlier this month, was named Europe's best dancer, also for
                     Cinderella, by Dance Europe magazine), and best male dancer
                     (Andrei Merkuriyev, as the Prince). "Cinderella" is also nominated as
                     best ballet.