yudi

Very interesting! I remember she was talking about her own interpretation of this role from beginning in the interview Natalia Osipova, Bolshoi Ballet ‘A role for a lifetime - a conversation after a debut’ by Mikhail Smondyrev. Curious to see what new interpretation she is going to show us this time.

I have been doing some homework for ballet Lost Illusions and looking forward to seeing it, because this ballet is so mysterious to me. IMO, ballet, especially classical ballet is an art to tell simple stories by leaving time and space for colorful entertaining dances. To tell complicated and confused stories is movie's job, in which people can talk, use close-up cinematography, even technical/special effects, …. I am really curious to see how Ratmansky "blends thwarted love, ambition and disillusionment with 19th century Paris as a backdrop" in ballet. I had read many Balzac's novels, including this one - Lost Illusions, when I was very very young. I like Balzac's stories in his La Comédie Humaine, but I got lost in his "Lost Illusions" thoroughly. I was too young, too simple and naive, lack of life experience to know the complexity of human nature. I used google-translation to read reviews from newspapers and other forums. It seemed that Ratmansky’s Lost Illusions didn't get "warm acceptance" at Paris during Bolshoi's tour two weeks ago, especially for this couple of stars going to be in Bolshoi's broadcasting. I will try my best to drive another 1.5 hours to see ballet Lost Illusions on HD screen, if the weather is cooperated. My driving of last Sunday for Bolshoi's Jewels was so hard that was in complete darkness, PLUS heavy fog, …… I am always wondering why Bolshoi and Ratmansky picked up Balzac's Lost Illusions for ballet. Didn't they try Tolstoy's "War & Peace", or Ethel Lilian Voynich's "The Gadfly"? The Gadfly was extremely popular in Soviet time. Voynich was living on copyright paid by Soviet in her late years. The music in movie The Gadfly was composed by Shostakovich! That is so beautiful and magic. IF he would have made another ballet music, ……

I was soooooooo happy to see that "Krysanova received far and away the most bouquets, twice as many flowers as she could hold."

I do see PatheLIVE's icon on the screen before and during the intermissions of Bolshoi ballet show. Could Pathe be the only distributor and technically responsible for the transmissions? It may not be bad thing. Some other movie theater-lines could also pick up the program. Oh well, there were only 4 audiences, including me, in the show-room of JEWELS this morning. A local movie theater has done MET Openra LIVE in HD for years. The manager once said："The business is really doing good!" Sometimes they even sold out a HD opera show.

Will Bolshoi broadcast LIVE on YouTube also? Check, at the end of the following clip, they say: на канале Большого театра в YouTube 19 января в 19：00 .

There would be an Encore show on Tuesday night: LIVE Sunday, January 19, 2014 @ 10:00AM ET / 9:00AM CT / 8:00AM MT / 7:00AM PT Encore Tuesday, January 21, 2014 @ 7:00PM Local Time Although I saw Bolshoi's Jewels last summer at ROH, I would still like to go to a theater to see them dancing on HD screen.

See: http://www.franceconcert.fr/portfolio/le-gala-des-etoiles-2eme-edition/ Google Translation: This program is one of Homage to Manuel Legris 1 and 2 March 2014 at the Palais des Congrès in Paris, it is subject to change. Part 1 SWAN LAKE - adagio act 2 Corps de Ballet / Olga ESINA / Roman LAZIK PARTING Maria SHIRINKINA / Vladimir Shklyarov DONIZETTI - No 2 - Choreography: Manuel Legris Evgenia Obraztsova / Mathias Heymann FACTUM - Choreography: Patrick DE BANA Patrick DE BANA / Ketevan Papava MANON - Choreography: Kenneth MAC MILLAN Maria EICHWALD / Friedemann Vogel SYLVIA - Choreography: John NEUMEIER Aurélie Dupont / Manuel Legris DON QUIXOTE - Choreography: Marius Petipa Corps de Ballet / Marianella Nuñez / Thiago Soares Part 2 AIMLESS - Choreography: Dimo KIRILOV MILEV Tamako AKIYAMA / Dimo ​​KIRILOV MILEV MARIE ANTOINETTE - Choreography: Patrick DE BANA Olga ESINA / Roman LAZIK / Kirill KOURLAEV THE CORSAIR - Choreography: Joseph Mazilier Maria SHIRINKINA / Vladimir Shklyarov WINTER DREAMS - Choreography: Kenneth MAC MILLAN Marianella Nuñez / Thiago Soares CASIMIR COLOR - Choreography: Bigonzetti Maria EICHWALD / Friedemann Vogel NOT GREAT CLASSIC Evgenia Obraztsova / Mathias Heymann FLEDERMAUS (THE BAT) Olga ESINA / Manuel Legris __________________________________ DISTRIBUTION OF THE TOUR (France and Belgium) LIEGE MARCH 4 Ekaterina Krysanova / Andrei MERKURIEV (Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow) Anastasia Kolegova / Danila KORSUNTSEV (Mariinsky Theatre) Aurélie Dupont / Hervé Moreau (Paris Opera) Anna TSYGANKOVA / Matthew GOLDING (Het Nationale Ballet) Ketevan Papava / Kirill KOURLAEV (Vienna State Opera) Patrick DE BANA (Nafas Dance Company) Kirilov MILEV (International Dancer) GHENT MARCH 5 Ekaterina Krysanova / Andrei MERKURIEV (Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow) Anastasia Kolegova / Danila KORSUNTSEV (Mariinsky Theatre) Aurélie Dupont / Hervé Moreau (Paris Opera) Anna TSYGANKOVA / Matthew GOLDING (Het Nationale Ballet) Ketevan Papava / Kirill KOURLAEV (Vienna State Opera) Patrick DE BANA (Nafas Dance Company) Kirilov MILEV (International Dancer) BRUSSELS, March 6 Ekaterina Krysanova / Andrei MERKURIEV (Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow) Anastasia Kolegova / Danila KORSUNTSEV (Mariinsky Theatre) Aurélie Dupont / Hervé Moreau (Paris Opera) Anna TSYGANKOVA / Matthew GOLDING (Het Nationale Ballet) Ketevan Papava / Kirill KOURLAEV (Vienna State Opera) Maria Yakovleva / Denys CHEREVYCHKO (Vienna State Opera) Patrick DE BANA (Nafas Dance Company) Kirilov MILEV (International Dancer) Silvia Azzoni / Alexandre Riabko (Hamburg Ballet) TOURS MARCH 8 Isabelle Ciaravola / Mathieu Ganio (Paris Opera) Anastasia Kolegova / Danila KORSUNTSEV (Mariinsky Theatre) Ekaterina Krysanova / Andrei MERKURIEV (Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow) Matthew GOLDING (Het Nationale Ballet) Maria Yakovleva / Denys CHEREVYCHKO (Vienna State Opera) Ketevan Papava / Kirill KOURLAEV (Vienna State Opera) Patrick DE BANA (Nafas Dance Company) Kirilov MILEV (International Dancer) NANTES MARCH 9 Isabelle Ciaravola / Mathieu Ganio (Paris Opera) Anastasia Kolegova / Danila KORSUNTSEV (Mariinsky Theatre) Ekaterina Krysanova / Andrei MERKURIEV (Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow) Matthew GOLDING (Het Nationale Ballet) Maria Yakovleva / Denys CHEREVYCHKO (Vienna State Opera) Ketevan Papava / Kirill KOURLAEV (Vienna State Opera) Patrick DE BANA (Nafas Dance Company) Kirilov MILEV (International Dancer) NICE MARCH 11 Isabelle Ciaravola / Mathieu Ganio (Paris Opera) Anastasia Kolegova / Danila KORSUNTSEV (Mariinsky Theatre) Ekaterina Krysanova / Andrei MERKURIEV (Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow) Matthew GOLDING (Het Nationale Ballet) Maria Yakovleva / Denys CHEREVYCHKO (Vienna State Opera) Ketevan Papava / Kirill KOURLAEV (Vienna State Opera) Patrick DE BANA (Nafas Dance Company) Kirilov MILEV (International Dancer) Clermont Ferrand on March 13 Isabelle Ciaravola / Mathieu Ganio (Paris Opera) Anastasia Kolegova / Danila KORSUNTSEV (Mariinsky Theatre) Ekaterina Krysanova / Andrei MERKURIEV (Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow) Matthew GOLDING (Het Nationale Ballet) Maria Yakovleva / Denys CHEREVYCHKO (Vienna State Opera) Ketevan Papava / Kirill KOURLAEV (Vienna State Opera) Patrick DE BANA (Nafas Dance Company) Kirilov MILEV (International Dancer) LYON MARCH 14 Isabelle Ciaravola / Mathieu Ganio (Paris Opera) Anastasia Kolegova / Danila KORSUNTSEV (Mariinsky Theatre) Ekaterina Krysanova / Andrei MERKURIEV (Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow) Matthew GOLDING (Het Nationale Ballet) Maria Yakovleva / Denys CHEREVYCHKO (Vienna State Opera) Ketevan Papava / Kirill KOURLAEV (Vienna State Opera) Patrick DE BANA (Nafas Dance Company) Kirilov MILEV (International Dancer) Silvia Azzoni / Alexandre Riabko (Hamburg Ballet) PARIS MARCH 16 Anastasia Kolegova / Danila KORSUNTSEV (Mariinsky Theatre) Ekaterina Krysanova / Andrei MERKURIEV (Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow) Matthew GOLDING (Het Nationale Ballet) Maria Yakovleva / Denys CHEREVYCHKO (Vienna State Opera) Ketevan Papava / Kirill KOURLAEV (Vienna State Opera) Patrick DE BANA (Nafas Dance Company) Tamako AKIYAMA (National Ballet of Spain) / MILEV Kirilov (International Dancer) Silvia Azzoni / Alexandre Riabko (Hamburg Ballet) ANTWERP MARCH 18 Anastasia Kolegova / Danila KORSUNTSEV (Mariinsky Theatre) Ekaterina Krysanova / Andrei MERKURIEV (Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow) Anna TSYGANKOVA / Matthew GOLDING (Het Nationale Ballet) Maria Yakovleva / Denys CHEREVYCHKO (Vienna State Opera) Patrick DE BANA (Nafas Dance Company) Kirilov MILEV (International Dancer) YERRES MARCH 19 Anastasia Kolegova / Danila KORSUNTSEV (Mariinsky Theatre) Ekaterina Krysanova / Andrei MERKURIEV (Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow) Patrick DE BANA (Nafas Dance Company) Kirilov MILEV (International Dancer) MARSEILLE MARCH 21 Ludmila PAGLIERO / Mathias Heymann (Paris Opera) Anastasia Kolegova / Danila KORSUNTSEV (Mariinsky Theatre) Ekaterina Krysanova / Andrei MERKURIEV (Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow) Marianella Nuñez / Thiago Soares (Royal Ballet of London) Silvia Azzoni / Alexandre Riabko (Hamburg Ballet) Patrick DE BANA (Nafas Dance Company) Kirilov MILEV (International Dancer) Courtesy of Brigitte Lefèvre Director of Dance the Paris Opera.

It seems they are already selling tickets. Any casting info?

Although revolutionary modern ballets are not new for me, I was still very surprised to see how modern it is, when I saw the Flames of Paris on DVD. Did they make this in 30s of last century? I like those Soviet's modern ballets, the Flames of Paris, Bright Stream, and Golden Age. Hope Bolshoi could put them all on DVD. Did ABT dance the Bright Stream last year? How was it? I have doubts that they could catch Bolshoi's success. We can see the special Russian outburst of enthusiasm from their folk dances, pretty unique. I like your articles in your blog, which makes me more knowledgeable about ballet in general. I am preparing my money & time for visiting Moscow and St. Petersburg. Your <A Guide to the Bolshoi for First-time Attendees> helps a lot.

WOW! did you see all of the performances in theaters? I wish I would have these chances. ‣ Bolshoi's Flames in Paris can be easily picked up as my best one, best dancers, best performances, above all. I cannot ask for more. ‣ The bottom one might be The Royal New Zealand Ballet's Giselle I saw last spring in Beijing. As a small theater, RNZB actually did decent job. I persuaded my sister to sped $100 for a ticket. However, on the second day, she saw Bolshoi's Giselle on DVD and said: "That is different ballet!"

http://youtu.be/ceQZhXSBdmU Images in this video have been cleaned up. Unfortunately, they also cut the dancers' feet.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/083075c2-2b48-11e3-a1b7-00144feab7de.html#ixzz2h0TRe6y1 Financial Times October 2, 2013 5:05 pm The Red Detachment of Women, Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris – reviewBy Laura Cappelle The National Ballet of China performs a Mao-era classic with a strongly feminist slant

Comment & Review by La Loge d'Aymeric: Le Détachement féminin rouge Théâtre du Châtelet 1er octobre 2013 Ballet National de Chine Zhang Jian, Zhou Zhaohui, Li Jie, Wang Qi, Wang Hao http://lalogedaymeric.over-blog.com/le-d%C3%A9tachement-f%C3%A9minin-rouge la Loge d'Aymeric seems to be a ballet goer and has written quite a few ballet reviews： http://lalogedaymeric.over-blog.com/tag/Danse/

A Story Behind the Event (in French) on Planet.fr Rencontre avec la papesse du soft power chinois Publié par Atlantico le Dimanche 29 Septembre 2013 à 09h44 http://www.planet.fr/revue-du-web-rencontre-avec-la-papesse-du-soft-power-chinois.464057.1912.html

There is an article about the Chinese ballet The Red Detachment of Women on French Les Echos . Fusil au poing, ballerines aux pieds Par Marc-Antoine Hartemann | 01/10 | 13:00 | mis à jour à 16:51

Last Tuesday a group of school kids visited Théâtre du Châtelet. They met and chat with some Chinese dancers. I found a video ballet national de Chine on YouTube.

BTW, I think this ballet, Red Detachment of Women, deserves a spot in ballet history. Hundreds of millions of Chinese people for the first time in their life learned the word BALLET (芭蕾 in Chinese) and saw dancers wearing pointe shoes to dance from THIS ballet in 60s - 70s of last century.

The opening night performance of Red Detachment of Women by the National Ballet of China, Time: 8:00pm, October 1st, 2013 Casts: Wu Qionghua: Zhang Jian Hong Changquin: Zhou Zhaohui Xiao Pang: Wang Hao Commander: Li Jie Nan Batian - Li Ke Music is from recorded soundtrack. Premiered in 1964, the ballet "The Red Detachment of Women" is a miracle in the history of the world ballet, a landmark of blending Western and Chinese culture, in which chinese character dance is integral to the classical ballet. Same as the classical ballet Swan Lake performed by the NB of China, Red Detachment of Women was received by Paris audiences with full enthusiasm. At the end of the show, the curtain calls and applauses lasted for 20 minutes. Photographer: Liu Yang (摄影：刘阳) Copyright: The National Ballet of China. 2013. The Artistic Director of the Edinburgh International Festival Jonathan Mills, who is an old friend of the NB of China, said: "The NB of China has made big progress since we met two years ago, we can see that from your performances, dancers' attitude and mindset. The NB of China is a troupe with her own history. Different time should have different work, but it is also important to continue your tradition." Jean-luc Choplin, the general manager of Théâtre du Châtelet, was very happy to see the packed house of audiences. One of his friends is a veteran frequent show-goer. He mentioned that "in 2009 I watched Red Detachment of Women at the Palais Garnier. I watched again tonight and you performed better. The whole troupe is in very good shape. Your dancing was passionate, energetic and expressive." Marc Piton is the general coordinator of the 50 anniversary celebration for establishing diplomatic relations between France and China. He said:"Your performance was full of passion. The audiences were deeply impressed. Thank you very much, the NB of China." [ NOTE: This an abstract of the story published in Chinese on the blog page of the National Ballet of China. More pictures are posted on http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_473f97a00102esa7.html I did the translation into English. I hope the words and sentences from original English/French -> translated into Chinese -> my translating into English could make sense to you. ]

Few days ago I asked the same question in a Chinese ballet forum. Someone, who can speak, read & write French, replied and gave some links: We might have to wait for few days to find out how the French critics say about the performances of the NB of China. At this moment, there is an overview of ballet in Asia, a preview of the show, and some discussions in a French ballet forum. L'Asie, nouvel eldorado de la danse by Le Figaro, Sept. 24, 2013. Des cygnes en col Mao au théâtre du Châtelet on L'Express, Sept. 25, 2013. Dansomanie Forum discussion on Chinese Ballet, from Sept. 24, 2013. I read the French ballet forum using Google translation into English. The traffic of French ballet forum is not as high as here. But, there have been some discussions and reviews posted about the performance of NB of China. Some of the forum members made interviews with Feng Ying, the head of the NB of China, prima principles Zhang Jian and Qiming Wang, when the NB of China visited Paris last time in 2009. You may find links to the interviews listed in Dansomanie Forum discussion on Chinese Ballet.

The world famous ballet star Natalia Makarova and her husband traveled from London to Paris to watch the Swan Lake performed by the National Ballet of China at Théâtre du Châtelet in the evening of September 28, 2013. In 2007 Natalia Makarova went to Beijing to stage her own version of Swan Lake for the NB of China. The young dancers in NB of China admire her and call her "Grandma Makarova". She is very happy to see that the NB of China has impressively danced her Swan Lake for last six years. When Makarova heard that one of her trained dancers, Qiming Wang, was injured and couldn't perform this time in Paris, she concerned about her and asked to meet her at once. During the breaks and after the show Natalia Makarova praised highly the performance of NB of China, made commends on principles and corp dancers dancing. She also made some suggestions on stage lighting, costumes and etc. Makarova genially asked the young ballerina Cao Shuci when and whom she learned to dance Odette/Odile from, and coached her to express character and emotion through dancers' feet. Natalia Makarova & Chinese dancers at Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, France, September 28 of 2013. Odette/Odile - Cao Shuci, Prince Siegfried - Ma Xiaodong. Photographer: Liu Yang (摄影：刘阳) Copyright: The National Ballet of China. 2013. [ NOTE: This an abstract of the story published in Chinese on the blog page of the National Ballet of China. More pictures are posted on http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_473f97a00102es7y.html I did the translation into English. Hope this helps.]

If so, Tsiskaridze needs someone to help him to communicate and cooperate with the choreographers of modern ballets in the world. Oh, poor Ratmansky and Wheeldon! Tsiskaridze is absolutely charismatic on stage and surely knowledgeable in classical ballet, which I could know from YouTube only so far. When I saw his dancing on YouTube for the first time, I was instantly caught. I felt so disappointed, when I knew he was not going to London with Bolshoi troupe last summer.

There was a report "Sylvia dances for China" published on Shanghai Daily in 2004, which said： In 1979, former prima ballerina Lycette Darsonval choreographed a version for Opera de Paris and one year later the same version was staged by the National Ballet of China in a collaboration between the two companies. More detailed information can be found in the following link: http://english.eastday.com/eastday/englishedition/node20665/node20667/node22808/node36685/node36686/userobject1ai646490.html "Even POB does not dance this version of Sylvia any more," that is what I read from some Chinese new paper. Did I answer your question? I wish I knew more about their work since the NB of China has really done marvelous job to achieve artistic success.

The second night performance of Swan Lake by the National Ballet of China, Casts: Odette/Odile - Cao Shuci Prince Siegfried - Ma Xiaodong Evil Rothbart - Cui Kai Benno - Zhang Xi Friends of Prince - Wang Qi, Wang Ye Swan Lake, at Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, France, September 26 of 2013. Odette/Odile - Cao Shuci, Prince Siegfried - Ma Xiaodong. Photographer: Liu Yang (摄影：刘阳) Copyright: The National Ballet of China. 2013. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Brigitte Lefevre, the artistic director of the Paris Opera Ballet watched the performance of ballet Swan Lake at Théâtre du Châtelet in the evening of September 26, 2013. After the performance she congratulated Feng Ying, the head of NB of China, and spoke to the dancers: "Your performances in Paris has once again succeeded. All of you are very good dancers, including the principals, soloists and the corp dancers, which is proved by your dancing. The exchange programs between the NB of China and POB has been very good and effective. I hope such programs would continue. Best wishes for your success in following performances of next few days." The friendship and culture exchange between the NB of China and Paris Opera Ballet have started from the beginning of 80s of last century. In 1980 for the first time the NB of China invited French artists to direct the ballet Sylvia, the version choreographed by former prima ballerina Lycette Darsonval for POB. Their performance of Sylvia received high praise. In 2009 the NB of China took Sylvia back to Paris and presented it at the Palais Garnier. In 1985 the NB of China performed Don Quixote that was taught, staged and directed by Master Nureyev. Some dancers of NB of China, Bai Shuxiang, Feng Ying and few others, had been invited to practice or take one-year training classes with POB. In the new century contacts and exchanges between the two ballet companies have become more common. Roland Petit had stayed in Beijing for months to teach and train Chinese dancers. Manuel Legris becomes a frequent visitor to the NB of China. The NB of China has made significant progress through the exchanging and interconnecting with top ballet theaters in the world. By opening its door, the NB of China is improving her programs, gaining more creative achievements, as well as continuing artistic exploration and innovation. The outstanding Chinese ballet talents are constantly trained and promoted in the NB of China generation by generation. For example, the leading roles of Swan Lake on the night of Sept 26 are played by the youngest principles Cao Shuci and Ma Xiaodong. Their excellent performance won enthusiastic applause and cheers from the audiences. After the show, the dancers bow again and again, the audiences won't leave. The audiences in Paris may be very "demanding & critical", as the Chinese dancers were told, but the young dancers of NB of China have won the praise of audiences, earned peer acclaim. [ NOTE: The original report is published in Chinese on the blog page of the National Ballet of China. http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_473f97a00102es43.html 撰稿•Writer：蒋山, 审稿•Editor：孙元娜, 摄影•Photographer：刘阳 I did the translation into English. I am a cross-disciplinary ballet enthusiast. If my translation confuses you, the ballet experts in Ballet Alert's forums, please let me know! I will try my best to correct it. ]

Ballet - 2008 2.9%, 2012 2.7%. (2.7percent, or 6.3 million adults.) -- This quite surprised me! The population of Great Los Angeles area is about 18 million, 2.7% is 488,200. Almost a half of million people go to see ballet?! The NEA Study probably just asked New Yorkers? Few years ago, when I lived in L.A., it was very hard to find someone around me who's interested in ballet. I had pushed some of my friends to go to see ABT's Giselle. They loved it! "Its so beautiful!" But, they have never gone to another ballet since then. One day, one of my colleagues told me: "My wife would play cello for a ballet performance by Joffrey Ballet this Friday night, so I have got a free ticket. I am not interested in going. I would like to give it to you!"

The opening night performance of Swan Lake by the National Ballet of China, Time: 8:00pm, September 25, 2013 Casts: Odette/Odile - Zhang Jian Prince Siegfried - Sheng Shidong Evil Rothbart - Cui Kai Benno - Zheng Yu Friends of Prince - Wang Qi, Wang Ye Three Swans - Lu Na, Li Jie, Lu Di Four Swans - Wang Qi, Zhan Xinlu, Xie Lijun, Sun Xiaoqiàn Conductor - Zhang Yi Swan Lake, Opening night at Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, France, September 25 of 2013. Odette/Odile - Zhang Jian, Prince Siegfried - Sheng Shidong. Photographer: Liu Yang (摄影：刘阳) Copyright: The National Ballet of China. 2013.