Tiara - Thank you for your thorough review. How I wish I had been there! Do you suppose any of the critics heard the buzz about Yulia? It seems that the audience appreciated her performance. I've always been so impressed with her port de bras and the incredible, almost talking suppleness of her back, on top of her marvellous technique. I've never seen anyone inhabit her character so completely that I actually forget she's performing, even though I've only ever seen her on YT.
Perhaps Stepanova will come to NYC one of these days and i might get to see her.The Bolshoi came to Toronto a couple of years ago (not sure that will ever happen again) but I want to see the Mariinsky so badly.
Thanks again!