which stars are coming to Berkeley?

[Paul Parish]

A friend writes me:

"There was another short item about the Kirov warehouse fire in

yesterday's NY Times. It mentioned that the St. Petersburg season

will nevertheless start as scheduled on October 10th. That made me

curious, so I went to the Kirov's web site. The opening night is the

Opera, but the ballet will be performing 10 times in October,

starting with the 11th and 12th. In that case, whom are we going to

see onstage in Berkeley, I wonder. "

What a good question, I say. THe Kirov plays Berkeley October 7-12.

Anybody got an idea?

[Marc Haegeman]

Paul, the Mariinsky is a big enough company (over 200 dancers) to perform at home and on tour at the same time. They do it all the time; this situation is quite normal for them. Usually they bring their best forces on the tours.

[Paul Parish]

Thanks, Marc--

[millamant]

I've heard report that for opening, Lopatkina and Ruzimatov will appear in Scheherezade; Vishneva in opening Rubies. Of course, with the Kirov, cast changes are not at all uncommon (ballet as well as opera). I have been waiting to see Lopatkina for years so would be very pleased if the above is true. On top of that, Gergiev is officially announced for the opening (which means he flies out immediately after the performance since he's scheduled to conduct Traviata at the Met the following evening!), so I take it their major dancers will be on hand.

[Marc Haegeman]

Yes, that's the situation for the moment - Vishneva is also bound to dance opening night's Firebird. We hope you will let us know what and who you saw, Millamant! ;)

[dirac]

I'll be there Wednesday and Saturday p.m. Gergiev is going to conduct tonight, with Agrest taking the other performances. I don't mind missing Gergiev but I'll be sorry not to see Vishneva's Firebird....