Kevin Ng

There were many memorable performances to be seen over the weekend. Manuel Legris was splendid as the soloist in Rubies partnering Diana Vishneva, who once again confirmed my opinion that she is the finest Rubies ballerina anywhere at present. (Vishneva, incidentally, is on the cover of the latest issue of the Russian magazine "Ballet Art" which was just published last weekend.)

Nicolas Le Riche won ovations for his moving performance of The Prodigal Son, and Daria Pavlenko was alluring as the Siren. Vladimir Malakhov danced beautifully as Des Grieux in Manon, and the ending when he cried after Manon's death was truly heart-breaking.

Natalia Sologub was dancing at almost every performance - in the two Neumeier ballets yesterday afternooon, in the Waltz in Serenade, and as Lescaut's mistress in Manon. Vasily Sherbakov danced impressively as Lescaut. Irina Golub made two outstanding debuts - as the Russian ballerina in Serenade, and in the Troubador pas de deux in the Lavrovsky Romeo and Juliet.

Aurelie Dupont was a lyrical and moving Juliet, well matched with Andrian Fadeyev. Their pas de deux were poetic. Fadeyev's acting was richly nuanced. The tragic ending was heart-rending. Fadeyev also showed his dramatic intensity as the composer Schnitke in Neumeier's Sounds of Empty Pages.

[ March 19, 2002, 03:36 AM: Message edited by: Kevin Ng ]

I have just been informed of a change in the casting for tonight's closing Gala. Le Jeune Homme et la Mort will be danced instead by Yulia Makhalina and Andrian Fadeyev.

[ March 19, 2002, 03:34 AM: Message edited by: Kevin Ng ]

Manon on Wed. was led by a stellar cast - Diana Vishneva and Manuel Legris. Vishneva was absolutely splendid in the title role. She was totally immersed in the role, and her acting was richly nuanced. Her solo in Madame's salon was beautifully danced. Vishneva was more moving in the role than Svetlana Zakharova whom I saw in London last summer. Legris's beauty of line in adagio - in those arabesque penchees - recalled Dowell, the creator of the role of Des Grieux. It was a marvellous partnership.

Le Corsaire the night before was grandly danced. Svetlana Zakharova displayed her iron-clad technique as Medora, and Elvira Tarasova danced marvellously as Gulnara. Igor Kolb dazzled as Ali, though slightly lacking in charisma. In the Jardin Anime scene, the corps de ballet was enhanced by six pairs of students from the Vaganova Academy, unlike at Covent Garden. And there were three fountains in the Maryinsky Theatre instead of two in London. Irina Golub was delightful as the first odalisque.

Tonight, Nicolas Le Riche will dance The Prodigal Son with Daria Pavlenko in the Balanchine programme. Manuel Legris will dance Rubies with Vishneva.

[ March 16, 2002, 03:26 AM: Message edited by: Kevin Ng ]

What a feast of dancing there is on offer in this Festival - 10 performances with a different programme every night. There is more variety than in the Kirov's London seasons. I wrote on the new Cinderella last Saturday in another thread.

On Sunday night, the Bolshoi star Nikolai Tsiskaridze brought the house down with his electrifying performance as the Golden Slave in Scheherazade. Vladimir Malakhov danced stylishly as the poet in Chopiniana and gave a touching performance in Petrushka. Daria Pavlenko danced beautifully in the Prelude in Chopiniana.

Last night I saw for the first time the Kirov's new production of Nutcracker (choreographed by Kirill Simonov) which was premiered in the Maryinsky Festival last year. I remember that NO7 reviewed it in length here last year.

Whatever the faults of this production, it was redeemed by the marvellous dancing, as usual, of the Kirov company. Daria Pavlenko danced the Snow Queen with grandeur. Natalia Sologub portrayed Masha's teenage innocence with feeling, and in the grand pas de deux in Act 2 her dancing shone with brilliance. She coped well with the many off-centred pirouettes in her solo choreographed by Simonov. And she was lucky in having Andrian Fadeyev as her partner.

I have long admired Fadeyev's pure classical style since I first saw him in the Kirov's 1997 London season. Fadeyev was sublime as the Nutcracker Prince. His performance was truly classical, had grace and harmony. His solo, with many quick jumps packed in a sequence in Simonov's choreography, was seemlessly danced as if in one phrase. What musicality! I greatly look forward to his Romeo on Saturday with the Paris Opera Ballet etoile Aurelie Dupont.

Kevin Ng,

Hotel Astoria, St. Petersburg

[ March 15, 2002, 08:06 AM: Message edited by: Kevin Ng ]

Nicolas Le Riche will not dance in Le Corsaire on Tue. Igor Kolb will instead dance Ali.

The programme of the Gala on 18 March is as follows, according to the Festival programme which I bought last night in the Maryinsky Theatre.

Le Jeune Homme et la Mort - Agnes Letestu, Nicolas Le Riche

Le Spectre de la Rose - Zhanna Ayupova, and Vladimir Malakhov

Grand Pas Classique - Agnes Letestu, Jose Martinez

Bakhti - Diana Vishneva, Faroukh Ruzimatov

Tchaikovsky pas de deux - Aurelie Dupont, Manue Legris

Artifact II - Ballett Frankfurt

Diamonds - Svetlana Zakharova, Vladimir Malakhov

[ March 13, 2002, 07:00 AM: Message edited by: Kevin Ng ]

This new production is certainly uneven in terms of choreography. The choreography for the corps de ballet is pedestrian. Unusual features of this production include casting the four seasons for male soloists, and having two dancing teachers instead of one. The fairy godmother is replaced by a fairy tramp. In the last act, in the Prince's journey round the world in search of Cinderella, there are two solos - the first beautifully danced with allure by Irina Golub leading a group of women who seem to be lesbians, and the second by the promising soloist Ivan Popov.

The best part of Alexei Ratmansky's new production are the pas de deux. Last night's cast - Natalia Sologub, and Denis Matvienko - was superlative. Sologub wasn't particularly convincing as the bullied sister in the first act, but she really blossomed in the ballroom act. Her initial solo before she met the Prince was beautifully danced. She was moving in the two pas de deux full of soaring lifts. In the pas de deux in the last act, Sologub danced the classical choreography with aplomb, the climax of which was a develope a la seconde which she did perfectly.

Her Prince was Denis Matvienko whom I had never seen before. This young charming blond dancer was a noble prince. His solo was impeccably danced - big grands jetes and double assembles en tournant.

In the audience I spotted the Bolshoi star Nikolai Tsiskaridze who is to dance in Scheherazade tonight, and the two Paris Opera stars Aurelie Dupont and Manuel Legris.

Kevin Ng,

Hotel Astoria,

St. Petersburg.

Jeannie, thanks for your review of the new Cinderella. I guess that I probably won't enjoy it much either when I see the second cast - Sologub and Matvienko - on Saturday. What a pity that the Kirov is to open the Maryinsky Festival on Sat. with this production.

[ March 10, 2002, 06:54 AM: Message edited by: Kevin Ng ]

Giuseppe Picone is now based in Italy, and does frequent guesting in Vienna, Moscow (with the Bolshoi), and Japan.

Jeannie, thanks so much indeed for your tips and your warning about the icy roads. I now know what to pack in my suitcase. I look forward to meeting you in St. Petersburg after my arrival this weekend.

I just checked the Kirov site and the March casting has been updated for some performances.

http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill?pbmy=200203

The performance on 9 March will be danced by Natalia Sologub and Denis Matvienko.

Actually the Kirov premiered Apollo in Washington in 1991, before their NY performances in 1992. I can remember because I was in Washington that year to see the Kirov.

Roma, I also think it's wonderful that the Kirov keeps adding to its Balanchine repertory. I look forward to seeing their "Prodigal Son" which was just premiered last Dec.

NO7, I think that Igor Zelensky is still 'off' due to injury. In early February, Danila Korsuntsev replaced Zelensky as Svetlana Zakharova's partner in Swan Lake with the New National Theatre Ballet in Tokyo.

In June, Zelensky is scheduled dance the first cast of English National Ballet's Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall, with Zakharova.

[ February 20, 2002: Message edited by: Kevin Ng ]

Sologub is probably in one of the casts of this new Cinderella. The cast dancing the premiere on 5 March will be Diana Vishneva and Andrian Fadeyev, from what I've heard.

The performance of Cinderella on 9 March opening this year's Maryinsky Festival will in fact be the second performance of Alexei Ratmansky's new production. The premiere of this Cinderella will be on 5 March, and I was informed that the first cast will be Diana Vishneva and Andrian Fadeyev.

Yes, Roma, Natalia Sologub dances Giselle. I didn't realise that till I checked her biography just now on the Kirov's website.

http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/ballet/soloist/sologub

Alexandra, I agree with your point about emploi. It would be ideal if Anton Korsakov were an inch or two taller.

Ginny, yes, the Kirov director Makhar Vaziev seems to have high hopes for Natalia Sologub. Out of the roles I've seen danced by her, I think her best role is Lescaut's mistress in Manon. I didn't like her Aurora that much either, her dancing lacked shading. At Covent Garden last year, she was to our surprise the first-night Aurora (dancing with Andrian Fadeyev). Apparently she had only made her debut in the role in St. Petersburg not long before her London performance.

Jeannie, I am very interested to read your comments of this cast.

Alexandra, I think Irma Nioradze's coach is still Ninel Kurgapkina, who also coaches Lopatkina.

Thanks for your impressions of Anton Korsakov, LLM. You asked about his age; he is 22. His coach at the Kirov is Anatoly Nisnevitch.

[ February 17, 2002: Message edited by: Kevin Ng ]

LLM, did you like Anton Korsakov's Prince Desire?

I have travelled to Amsterdam from London quite a few times in the past to see the Dutch National Ballet, e.g. in their Balanchine programme. I normally bought tickets before the performance, and didn't have any problems on those occasions.

[ February 17, 2002: Message edited by: Kevin Ng ]

What a pity that Andrian Fadeyev didn't dance Blue bird in DC as scheduled. I didn't actually realise that Fadeyev dances this role; he was only cast as Prince Desire but not Blue Bird in the last two London seasons.

Originally posted by Jeannie:

especially, the bouyant Anton Korsakov. This lad -- winner of last year's Helsinki IBC gold medal -- has really come into his own since his wet-behind-the-ears appearances at the Met three years ago. Bravo, Anton!

---

I am really heartened to hear that Anton Korsakov is dancing so well again, in the Emeralds pas de trois. Korsakov had a knee operation last autumn after an injury during the Kirov's tour to Munich, and he only started doing class at the Maryinsky in late November. I don't think he has danced a single performance at the Maryinsky since his recovery. This performance in DC must be his first for nearly 5 months.

[ February 15, 2002: Message edited by: Kevin Ng ]

Thanks for your reviews, Jeannie and Alexandra. I love this sumptuous production of Beauty; I saw every single performance of Beauty that the Kirov danced in London in 2001 and 2000. I remember that Robert Greskovic called it "the flagship of all Beauties" in the Wall Street Journal. I miss the Kirov so much. There's no other company in the world which I adore more!

[ February 14, 2002: Message edited by: Kevin Ng ]

Lolly, to be fair, those four people might have had to dash off to make the last train from London. I do find that nowadays the intervals in Covent Garden - no less than 25 minutes if not more - are too long. But I understand that they have to cater for those people dining in the intervals.