Birdsall

If someone already announced this, forgive me, but I just saw on the Ballet in Cinema site that the following Bolshoi ballets will be played at the movies this coming season: Oct. 20: Spartacus (live) Nov. 17: Corsaire (it does not say live so I assume a re-broadcast of what played before) Dec. 15 or 22 (both dates in different places): not live so probably re-broadcast of Zakharova/Hallberg Jan. 19: Jewels (live) Feb. 2: Lost Illusions (live) March 30: The Golden Age (live)

The strange thing is that the Mikhailovsky, for example, hires famous dancers like Marcelo Gomes and Polina Semionova as "Guest Principals" Meanwhile, the Mariinsky hires Olga Esina as "Guest Principal." Nothing against her. But why? The Bolshoi hires famous David Hallberg to join the troupe. The Mariinsky hires Keenan Kampa to join its troupe. It makes sense to hire famous brand names to join as regular members or as "Guest Principals," but I think it is strange to hire non-famous people to supplement your troupe when there are so many good "home team" members waiting and able....... Basically, big names probably help create interest and sell tickets. So hiring big names to make news sort of makes good business sense. Names that are not household names do not create sudden interest or more ticket sales. So what is the point when there are so many talented people already in the Mariinsky? It sure seems like the Bolshoi and the Mikhailovsky understand this. They hire BIG NAMES when they go outside of their troupe. The Mariinsky does not make sense in this respect.

Olga Esina dances the last act variation in the Mariinsky's commercially released Don Quixote (Novikova and Sarafanov). So I assume she was a member of the Mariinsky at one point and left for Vienna and now she is back. Someone who knows her history more, please correct me if I am wrong.

That's Tereshkina in the Vasiliev video clip.

Yes, he is starring in various ballets at the Mariinsky (3 days in a row)....

Thanks, Sandik! That explains it! I never saw acrobats/dancers in a circus have such artsy upper bodies! So that explains it!

Thanks, Kristen! It was a great time!!!!

Yes, I have NO IDEA how that happened. I was handing the guy my boarding pass and he stopped and started doing something in the computer and printed a new boarding pass for me and said I was upgraded. I was thrilled. The only other time such a thing happened was when the airline delayed a flight which caused me to miss a connecting flight to San Francisco and take a different, much later flight. And that made sense to upgrade then. This time was for absolutely no reason! It was like winning the lottery!!!! It was a good trip, and for anyone reading, I posted a topic under Everything Else ballet called "tidbits" to let you all know about side ballet things on the trip. But since they were not Mariinsky related I did not post here, but since St. Petersburg in general is sort of Mariinsky-related, I might have been able to post here. Not sure.

I am posting this, since it doesn't quite fit into another topic on Ballet Alert, but I thought it would interest many people. I wanted to mention the ballet-related sights or exhibits I saw during this July 2013 trip. Kschessinska's mansion is a political history museum (many of you probably know this already). The mansion itself is a wonderful example of Art Nouveau or Style Moderne. So architecture lovers will enjoy visiting it. Also, history buffs will love to see the balcony where Lenin gave his speech. Currently, there is an exhibit "Fouettes of Fate" that is in one room and includes many rare photos from Kschessinska's life. The only other rooms you see are the White Hall and the entry foyer. So there isn't much to see, but I think most ballet lovers would enjoy it nevertheless. Her mansion has been joined with another mansion (by building a very modern building that joins them both) to create the museum of political history, and I personally found the rest of the museum not very interesting, but history buffs might enjoy it. To me the majority of the museum feels contrived and a real stretch at making it worthwhile for a visit. Maybe history people will disagree with me. The only part I loved was seeing the outside of the mansion, and the couple of rooms that were in Kschessinska's home. I post this info so you can decide if it is worth visiting or not. I enjoyed it. But it is not a museum I will likely ever visit again. Nevsky Monastery and Cemetery: Tchaikovsky's and Petipa's graves are here, so go!!!! Someone left a tiny ballerina slipper on Petipa's grave! Other graves include Glinka's, Mussorgsky's, Rimsky-Korsakov's, Dostoevsky's........the cemetery has lots of trees and the tombstones are actually beautiful in many cases, so it is a nice, calm walk. I recommend this. It is a pilgrimage of sorts. Sheremetev Palace: some fascinating violins and variations on violin instruments on display. A violin that belonged to Glinka is on display. Only a few rooms are available for viewing, and if you only have one visit to St. Petersburg I think this can be passed up because Peterhof, Pavlovsk, and the Catherine Palace are must see palaces. Alexander Golovin exhibit at the Russian Museum. This only lasts until September 2, 2013. It included his well-known paintings of Chaliapin as Boris Godunov and as Mephistopheles as well as many stage designs and even his original design of the Mariinsky's stage curtain. Mikhail Chemyakin's exhibit "Pavements of Paris" at the Marble Palace (on the Neva river) will be over on August 5 (in a few days), but it is an interesting exhibit. The ballet connection is that he created the Mariinsky's new avant garde Nutcracker, and I have to say that I feel this exhibit of his "Pavements of Paris" (unrelated to ballet although some ballet characters in his works in this exhibit) help me to see him as a true artist. He took images he found on the sidewalk and turned them into figures and it was amazing to see the picture of a crack in the ground and what he ended up painting from that image. He also took pieces of discarded paper/trash or leaves and then painted with that shape and made it into a figure. The same twisted type characters that appear in his designs for Nutcracker are in these works also (not the same exact characters but the same style). Beyond this exhibit the Marble Palace is worth a visit simply to see the gorgeous staircase and the Marble Room that is amazing!!! Circus: I was snapping pics of myself in front of the gorgeous Circus building because it is the fanciest circus I ever saw (looks like an opera house), and I noticed people with children going inside. I thought the shows were only at night, but it was the weekend so I went in and caught a matinee. It was a cross between Cirque du Soleil and a circus. Lots of dancing and acrobatics, clowns, animal acts, etc. But why I post this is that many of the dancers/acrobats had the same flowing arms and upper bodies that Mariinsky dancers have. I am wondering if the Vaganova graduates who did not get into a ballet company or left the academy before finishing end up working for this circus. My hotel was right around the corner from the Mariinsky, and I saw several dancers and coaches talking with friends or eating dinner or walking past. There are so many things to see in St. Petersburg, and I saw much more, but those are the things that I thought might be of interest to other ballet lovers. WebRep currentVote noRating noWeight

Thanks! Sorry I can not give exact technical details (not a dancer), but I try my best to describe what I saw. I had so much fun once again. And a tip to everyone: Mamaliga restaurant (Caucasian food) behind the Kazan Cathedral is AMAZING!!! I discovered it last time and went several times on this trip. Do not pass up the opportunity to eat there. I think I have eaten there a total of 5 times altogether, and ever meal was to die for.......

I am finally home and had a full night's rest and long shower. I was upgraded to Business class on Air France coming home. Heavenly! I could turn the seat into a bed and lie down completely. What a spectacular way to end my trip! Real glasses for wine. Real silverware. White tablecloths....I wish Air France could take over all American airlines and implement their style and class. Even when I have flown Coach (and that is what I was supposed to fly this time), Coach has more room and also you are treated better on Air France than any American airline. Anyway, the reason for posting is that I forgot to mention that seeing the Mariinsky corps in Giselle was amazing! I mean, you just can't take your eye off them! It is like the loveliest thing in the world!!! It becomes really hard when the lead dancers are dancing with the corps dancing in the background because you want to see both things even if the corps is repeating the same steps. It is mesmerizing. The audience at Somova's Giselle was very different (from my impression) than the other shows. It felt more like a truly Russian audience as opposed to tourists. Maybe because the White Nights festival was officially over. I don't know. The two shows at M-2 (both Little Humpbacked Horse) had lots of empty seats, but, in contrast, the historic theatre was always totally packed. I wonder if this is how it will always be. One of the clerks at my hotel told me she thought the M-2 was horrible. I told her that I know it has been controversial and I understood why someone would not like it.

I think she is saying all the things we are worried about. Giselle tonight was very nice. I know how many feel about Somova, and I wasn't going to post and cause people to fight, but here goes: I thought she was lovely tonight. A couple of grand jetes had her legs coming more into a upward curve rather than straight horizontal so some will complain about that, but I thought her acting and dancing were great. The audience seemed mostly Russian (all other nights I heard lots of other languages), and they loved her. I know I am going to be beat up for liking her! Ivanchenko was sort of himself and all that implies. I think he would be wonderful if someone gave him 5 espressos before going onstage because he is very capable. He just seems lethargic. In contrast, Smekalov as Hans was very dramatic and high energy!!! Promote this guy!!! Kampa was much better tonight than in the past. Her Queen of the Dryads last week was really sad, in my opinion, but tonight she had a good night for her. But there are better Myrthas in the company. But I do want to give her credit for improving. Yevseyeva was smooth as silk in the peasant pas de deux!!! She handled the turns that end with the two linking arms as if it were the easiest thing in the world! Timofeyev partnered her wonderfully, and was also terrific in his variation. I saw him as I walked back to my hotel, and I said, "Bravo!" and he smiled and said, "Spasiba!" These little moments like that are fun!

I wanted to make some comments about last night that I didn't have time to make until now. Both Humpbacked Horse casts (last night and the night before) were strong, and I would tie Osmolkina and Kolegova. Both were terrific as the Tsar Maiden. They both are technically strong, charming, and incredible upper body and seaweed flowing arms. To me that is a Mariinsky trademark and even the men have it to an extent. if the seaweed's not flowing I look at the bio and usually that explains it (not Vaganova trained or did not train the whole time at Vaganova). The only thing Kolegova has over Osmolkina is that Kolegova is a stunning beauty that probably turns most men's heads when she enters a room! I actually preferred Maxim Zyuzin's Ivan better than Alexander Sergeyev's Ivan. Sergeyev looks like a stronger technician, but Zyuzin had a boyish charm and dramatic commitment that made you care about Ivan. Grigory Popov was the better humpbacked horse, but Shumakov had a solid debut in the role the night before. I believe Popov has danced it many times, and it shows. His entrechats during the boiling cauldron scene were amazing! I felt Petushkova was a much better Mare and Sea Queen than Gumerova the night before. The rest of last night's cast was the same otherwise. Tonight I see Somova's return as Giselle, and I have to say I might not report on it because it always causes attacks on her no matter how she dances. It will depend on my mood whether I report.

Another wonderful night! Tonight was another performance of The Little Humpbacked Horse at the M-2. Anastasia Kolegova is a favorite. She has to be the most beautiful (face) ballerina at the Mariinsky, in my personal opinion. She has a reserved stage presence usually so I was unsure if she could make the more "pop" moments of LHBH work, but she did better than I imagined. She was as good as Osmolkina, but in different ways! More later. Have met a friend out at a bar tonight.

Yes, 2nd row of orchestra is where I sat, and I saw feet without problem. However I noticed the first few rows are level so a tall person could block your view. After the 4th or 5th row the orchestra seats are raked and start to go up. So it is better to sit in Row 5 probably. I chose using the online diagram and it looked like the seats started farther away from the stage because the pit is large so it looked like row 2 was far enough back but I think Row 5 or 6 might be better. I liked seeing the faces up close though. Thank you. Looking forward to hearing about other performances you see... I have another Humpbacked Horse with Anastasia Kolegova and Sergeyev and then Giselle with Somovs and fly home Thursday. As much as I love it here, I am ready to go home and hug my dog! My partner says she killed a chicken that somehow got in our backyard the other day. She is a boxer/lab and loves to hunt (father was a boxer and mother was a lab). Some fools have chickens that walk loose around the neighborhood, and it is a historic neighborhood near downtown!!! Not really a farming area!!! So I am not paying to replace the chicken!!!!

Yes, 2nd row of orchestra is where I sat, and I saw feet without problem. However I noticed the first few rows are level so a tall person could block your view. After the 4th or 5th row the orchestra seats are raked and start to go up. So it is better to sit in Row 5 probably. I chose using the online diagram and it looked like the seats started farther away from the stage because the pit is large so it looked like row 2 was far enough back but I think Row 5 or 6 might be better. I liked seeing the faces up close though.

Just got back from seeing the Little Humpbacked Horse (Ratmansky's) at the Mariinsky II theatre. Osmolkina was DIVINE!!! She made this ballet better than it is, in my opinion. She did the Ratmansky version of Italian Fouettes wonderfully. Not sure how else to describe them. They aren't exactly Italian Fouettes but she turns and one foot never touches the ground. There are also hops on demi-pointe several times. Zyuzin was good but not as good as Sarafanov in this role. Zyuzin did turns in 2nd instead of the turns Sarafanov did. But Zyuzin's boyish puppy dog look was perfect for the role! He acted very well. I find him a little too "Boy Next Door" for princely roles but his face and temperament are perfect for Ivan. Gumerova was a bit disappointing when I compare her to Kondaurova as Sea Queen. Gumerova did not have as fluid an upper body and I think it is especially important for the Sea Queen. There is a new dancer (or one I never heard of) Trofim Malanov who looks a little stiff! He and Smekalov played the big horses and sea horses and Smekalov showed how it is done! Islom Bauradov was deliciously evil as the Gentleman of the Bedchamber. Vladislav Shumakov had a great debut as the humpbacked horse. His solos were very good. The boiling water is no longer clear with moving bubbles. Now it is cloudy and bubbles sitting on top like a bubble bath. It helps the transformation of Ivan to come off more smoothly but no longer looks like it is boiling. Some will disagree with me for saying this but I liked the interior (lobby) of M-2. It was nicer than I thought, and the 4th level had a gallery of costumes which was nice. I got to go to the terrace on top before the show, but I don't think the view is all that great. The exterior of M-2 is very ugly but the lobby (mainly due to the gold onyx) is nice, I think. The actual inside (seating area) is bland and I don't love it or hate it. The acoustics (at least from the second row) sounded great. The historic theatre is still much more beautiful, but I thought the new M-2 looked better than many American performing arts centers. I saw lots of empty seats though. The seats are much more comfortable than in the historic theatre. You have tons of leg room!

Hurray!!!! That is great news! I saw she will dance Cinderella in September too!

Another great night at the Mariinsky! Kondaurova showed me she can soften her personality and look vulnerable. She had a very slight mishap when she kicked one of the flower hoops she was supposed to step into, but she showed confidence in this role. Korsuntsev was a stronger Conrad than Ivanchenko. Yevseyeva was fabulous once again as Gulnare. Kim Kimin made the crowd go wild. I also went to the circus in St. Petersburg earlier today. The circus building looks like an opera house on the outside and the circus includes acrobatic/dance displays that made me think some girls not accepted to a ballet company might work for this circus. They had a Vaganova style upper body movement!

By the way, the Mikhailovsky Theatre has a much more professional program and the crowd looks more dressed up on average compared to the Mariinsky. That is my impression from my first time there. Of course, the Mariinsky Ballet is the more important one. I am just talking about the crowd. I think there is much more variety in dress at the Mariinsky (very casual to business dress).

Just saw Le Corsaire tonight! No, Helene, the Mariinsky does not have set pieces. As enjoyable and exciting as the Bolshoi's reconstruction is (especially the Jardin Anime scene), the Mariinsky's has a delicacy and beauty like transported to a world of immense beauty. My thoughts about tonight were sent to a friend, and I copy my first initial thoughts here too. Ivanchenko was more "on" than usual. He looks thinner and has a little more energy. He gets a lot of criticism on this board but I think he is a good partner, tall, and tonight he was more involved than usual. Kolegova was gorgeous as usual. What a beautiful woman and dancer! This woman could turn me straight! LOL Yevseyeva was lovely. Lovely arms! Stepin was a terrific Lankedem. He already has charisma and acting ability. Shklyarov was very good as Ali. The audience went wild for him. Smelalov made the most of his role (Birbanto). Nikitina was one of the Odalisques. So graceful! I recognized Xander Parrish in the lobby and said hello. Very nice person. Then, as I walked home I saw Timofeyev talking to someone on the street next to his car, and I nodded. I did not want to interrupt his conversation. This is the fun thing at the Mariinsky. You see dancers inside and outside of the theatre if you know their faces!

Yes, the poster is correct. Kim Kimin was Basilio. Yevseyeva (or your spelling) was Kitri. My eyesight is too bad to try to identify the two flower sellers (which is which) simply watching the video on my phone. I can't remember which was on which side of Kimin when I was watching live.

Yes, I believe this Mikhailovsky version is definitely trying to honor the original. For example, a friend shared a clip of how the Basque scene was danced in the 50s and how the main ballerina did not dance the Basque scene (the Bolshoi's DVD has Osipova as the lead dancer and also in the Basque dance). So from what I read and saw I think the Mikhailovsky has stayed closer to the original.

I feel like I saw something historic tonight! The reconstructed Flames of Paris is terrific!!!! It was a combination of it being new, a terrific production, the reconstruction, and a starry cast! The first act is mostly acting but a nice pas for Antoine and Diana Mireille (characters). Borchenko and Lebedev were amazing! She does a parade and hops on pointe in her variation. Act 2 was amazing! If it doesn't make people want to start a revolution I don't know what will. So much more exciting than the Bolshoi's version! Mariam Ugrekhelidze danced an ultra aggressive and committed Basque dance that made Osipova on the Bolshoi's DVD seem like a wallflower! I am not joking! This entire show was 10 times more exciting than the Bolshoi's Ratmansky version!!! Ironically outside in the lobby during the first intermission a woman was screaming her head off wanting a cheap ticket. Meanwhile we had expensive tickets and watched about equality and revolution. But I never saw someone scream like that and only found out from a stranger what she was screaming in Russian. Act 3 amazing grand pas. Vasiliev let it rip like you never see in most dancers. Some say he has no classical line but he is like 100% beef a true force of nature that approaches it like an Olympic event! Audience would NOT let them go. Vasiliev did a grand jete during one curtain call and a turn in the air during another. His female fans went crazy! Bondareva held her own with magnificent turns throughout the night! She was like a spinning top! It was a FUN evening!!!!!

Tonight I will be seeing the Mikhailovsky's Flames of Paris which should be different than the Bolshoi's version that Ratmansky choreographed for the most part. This version is being reconstructed by Messerer. I will let everyone know how it goes. Ivan Vasiliev is dancing Phillipe.