MadameP

I wrote recently that of all the great performances that I've seen I'm still maybe waiting for the one that wins my heart. This may be the one. ____________________ I agree! I watched and it was really like seeing the ballet afresh! Such a beautiful partnership, heartfelt acting, and for sheer beauty of lines, epaulement, artistry - it was a staggering achievement for this young ballerina. I can't remember when I enjoyed a Swan Lake as much as this one! Bravo indeed to both Ilyshkina and Korneev!

Excerpts show she was an absolutely stunning Odette-Odile. She has such beauty of line and epaulement and such artistry - it's a superb debut for this young ballerina, and to think this is her first principal role. It is an amazing achievement.

Buddy, yes, I think Chebykina was still a coryphee when she debuted as Odette/Odile. I'm delighted that Ilyushkina is to have this opportunity - she's such a lovely young dancer with those beautiful lines!

What a beautiful video - thank you!

I love the Mariinsky Vainonen version with the gorgeous pas de six in the final act, and also the Sir Peter Wright version. Both beautiful!

Some really great news today - Maria Bulanova has been promoted to Second Soloist, bypassing the Coryphee rank! She is a wonderful, dramatic ballerina with real presence on stage and acting ability! I am so pleased for her, and hope to see her in many more roles now! Congratulations!

Can you post a link to the ballet/piece?

He was a wonderful Hooligan when I saw him in the role - technically brilliant, and truly rough around the edges in character, instead of being a bit too much like an Oliver Twist type as some are. Truly poignant in his acting. A very talented boy.

More superbly landed double tours here also... not to mention the ease, poise and control and beautiful lines in arabesque, and the series of entrechats 6 ... quality...

Agree he is wonderful. I have seen him in many roles at Mikhailovsky. It is a tragedy really that with his amazing talent, he is not a Mariinsky principal instead of Mikhailovsky. He has beautiful lines, that cruising ease of movement, high jump, spectacular turns - EVERYthing. He also has great charm and presence on stage. I don't want to say he is wasted at the Mikhailovsky, because that would be to imply Mikhailovsky is not a good company, which it certainly is, but from Lebedev's own point of view, he has missed out on the worldwide exposure and opportunities that being a principal at Mariinsky would have brought him. As it is, I can only say, yes, he's stunning.

I have to say - I realised that some of it at least was not live - moving directly from Eleonora Sevenard's interview to the middle of her rehearsal with Rodkin, for example. I did not realise that the whole Bolshoi segment is taped in advance. It's a great pity.

I do not have this book, so could you explain what exactly Valery Lagunov meant? I remember a few years back watching several classes taken by Boris Akimov, and he was equally courteous to all dancers and spectators, and full of the most incredible vigour and enthusiasm for his work.

I love this production of Raymonda. I think some of the effects for the corps, such as when we first see them grouped together, are particularly beautiful! Belyakov was absolutely spectacular and I also thought Tsvirko was well cast. I do like Olga Smirnova very much as a dancer, but she did seem extra cool to me in this video - it's a minor point, but I think a softer stage make up would make her look less severe.

Olga Smirnova also said she is to be dancing, although she was not rehearsing because of having a light day before Raymonda...

So many people lining the route. Yes, very touching.