mnacenani

Stepanova's fouettée at time 1:11 in this gala video is quite acceptable in my view, but she cannot be relied on for perfect execution each and every time https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1451&v=BQiIA3Hyqfc

Dear Naomi I saw Sevenard live as Paxita last June at Mariinka during the Vaganova graduation show. Imho damn good dancer technically but does not have the "allure" of Kovalyova and can never have, it's a gift of God. I could maybe liken Sevenard vs Kovalyova to Alexandrova vs Zaharova. Alexandrova was my default Gamzatti - not even knowing her name at the time I was simply stunned by her performance when Mezzo livecast the current production of Bayaderka from Bolshoy in 2012 or 13. But she does not have the allure of Zaharova "who can simply go out on the stage, just stand there and not move at all and still create incredible beauty" in the words of Vaziyev. PS - between you and me : my friends in Moscow used to and still tease me regarding my sympathy for Alexandrova, saying I have betrayed my affinity towards "strongly built women" ! Hope I won't get reported and censored for these harmless quips !

Polina at the 2009 Zurich Spoerli staging : any resemblance would you say ?? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU0DPmcjvYc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBk8XzVGfWo The more I watch the clips being posted on YT the more I am thinking Kovalyova and Tissi put up a very acceptable performance regardless of it being their debuts. Matters of aesthetics are quite personal and I have total respect for your view - I have yet to arrive at a final appraisal. One cannot, at least I cannot capture everything as the live performance flashes past : saw Vishnova as Giselle (with Ganio) live at Mariinka last year and could not really connect, probably because I was infatuated with Vishnova as Juliet for a long time (her performance made me dump opera for Russian classical ballet). Earlier this month Mezzo Live HD telecast the very same performance I saw and I recorded it, watched it three times so far. Woken up to what a great, possibly incomparable portrayal Diana made of Giselle - now she is my joint No. 1 Giselle, tied with Cojocaru. For me it does take some time to fully digest and appreciate a performance or portrayal.

Watching all these clips a couple of times now I wonder why I wasn't too impresssed by Alyona on Saturday, should have been. As a late starting amateur can't even dream of evaluating or even noticing the subtleties of technique, but this aside she looks fine and could very well become Zaharova-2 ! Same for Tissi, surely will take over Bolle's mantle, and to my eye seems to have better mime and characterisation than Bolle.

Imho she projected well, had very good stage presence. Will see whether any of my Russian ballet friends can find the adagio. One of the reasons why I did not rush out after the performance bellowing "Eureka - it is a star" may be that Swan Lake is not my favourite ballet as drama. Have never been affected by Swan Lake the way R&J, Giselle or Bayadere touches me. Last year I saw two casts of Swan Lake at Bolshoy London tour, Smirnova/ Chudin and Zaharova/Rodkin, and did my homework before flying over by watching 9 different productions of various houses on dvd looking at characterisation : did not change my feeling for Swan Lake. The British critics could not praise Smirnova enough but I thought Zaharova was the better of the two - seems I just don't connect well with this work.

I found a couple of others, hopefully members will comment on whether they see a Zaharova Jr. and a Bolle Jr. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIkGnsxPjP4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip8ElPVBtX0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl21LclkaHw

I could not say to myself, however much I hoped for and wished it, "YES - a star is born and I was one of those who predicted it !" Will keep tracking and hopefully seeing - the problem is that it's very hard to track specific dancers at the Bolshoy : online booking opens 3 months before performance and casting is posted only 2 max 3 weeks before, by which time it's long sold out. I was able to see Kovalyova by being tipped off by an insider before casting was posted - the show was sold out months before (Swan Lake Saturday matinee !) but someone I knew was able to help find a seat.

I would hate to alienate Stepanova admirers but on the three occasions I saw her last year it was"all over the map" in your terms, and if I remember correctly same at her Medora debut at Bolshoy this year. Seems she somehow cannot get the timing right and lands couple of counts early. I believe members who have written that on the occa- sions they saw Stepanova perform fouettees she executed it perfectly, a dancer can have his/her off days.

In view of the striking similarity between my impressions of the dancers and company and those of Ms. Cappelle I posted both here on the suggestion of one of our members. My report was posted earlier than Ms. Cappelle's tweets ! Am sure she will write a full review, hopefully for FT which I cannot miss. https://twitter.com/bellafigural/status/909404624725127168 https://twitter.com/bellafigural/status/909406367487873024 https://twitter.com/bellafigural/status/909406717745811459 https://twitter.com/bellafigural/status/909408017422192641

Dear Buddy : Laura Cappelle of FT also has seen this performance and posted her comments on Twitter and funnily enough we could have copied from each other - I think I posted earlier than her ! I have asked my Russian friends to trawl for any reviews from local critics and was told some could appear tomorrow. I think Alyona handled her debut rather well - my hope and wish to discover a fully-fledged star -Zaharova Jr.- who would hit the ground running was a bit far fetched for starters. Will try to get some insider feedback if I can, and wait for what Vaziev will cast her for next. Would like to see her in something a bit more dramatic than S.L., say Bayaderka.

Please do so - I don't follow Twitter or Instagram, have been looking for videos on YT but could not find any. My Russian friends are looking for any reviews from Russian critics which I will post, if any. Please at least post link/s to the Instagram video/s !

Kovalyova got big enthusiastic applause during and after the performance. It was a good enought performance, regardless of the fact that this was her debut in a top-profile role at 18. Magnetic stage personalities come around once in a blue moon and it may turn out that K is not one, one has to wait and watch. Wonder what Osipova was like at 18.

Had written up almost a full page of my impressions at the airport while waiting for my plane back home. It vanished when I tried to submit it when the damn airport wifi suddenly cut in asking for payment. Now the spontaneity is gone, don't feel like writing anything but I will try to put something together. Full casting for Swan Lake matinee of Saturday 16 September : http://www.bolshoi.ru/en/performances/36/roles/#20170916120000 It seems this matinee was a casting experiment by Vaziev, as no fewer than 6 dancers were debuting in their roles : Kovalyova, Tissi, Soares, Koshkin, Zhiganshina and Marchenkova. First Kovalyova : imho good presence, looks like a young Zaharova. Her solos in both acts went well, except the Odile fouettee when she wobbled a bit at the end and finished one count early, can be perfected (Stepanova is a principal and still cannot do it !). I see great potential here but time will tell whether this is the bright comet we have been expecting or a size- able meteor. She was good as Odette, excepting one point I attach importance to : the realistic surprise, the recoil which should be displayed when Odette sees Siegfried first time, which can take the viewer in and make the rest of the action believable (Aksana Kardash acted this to perfection when I saw her at Stasik couple of months ago). This also can be perfected - the Russians are so superior in developing character dancers. As Odile she was good also but again could benefit from some acting coaching - if Odile is to come out as a scheming seductress. But what am I talking about - this is an 18-year-old last year's Vaganova graduate, if I was expecting to be dazzled that was unrealistic. Let's see what she is up to later in the season, next season. Jacopo Tissi : Vaziev imho certainly has an eye for talent. If Kovalyova is a Zaharova in the making here we have a Bolle in the making ! Currently no Rodkin, Lantratov or Chudin but I again saw great potential. Small wonder Vaziev brought Tissi over from Scala with him. Handsome, elegant dancer, good PdB, good elevation (I was told his lines were not perfect !). Imho good characterisation, has good mime ability. First act solos not impressive, has to do better if he is to match Rodkin and Chudin. I thought the second act solos were better, with well executed tournes-en-l'air. Soares as the Evil Genius was perfect - ready for the showroom. I believe he is a graduate of Moscow Academy, must say he held his own against my default "Zloy Geniy" Belyakov - can appear at any performance anywhere. Koshkin as the Fool was also perfect - Balshoy has so many of them, Tsvirko et al. In these character parts I find the Russians peerless and these parts acted to perfection to me are as important as the lead roles - they add so much to the enjoyment or effectiveness of the performance. Even the Wolf, Cats, Bluebird etc in Sleeping Beauty are in a different league in Russia. Friends of the Prince were Zhiganshina and Denisova - much has been made of them elsewhere on this forum but I will stick my neck out and say I saw nothing extraordinary (maybe due to my ignorance) : good soloist class dancers, Now the Balshoy CdB : they are also in a league unto themselves ! I will probably be roundly condemned and tagged as ignorant and of poor taste but ........ I find the Balshoy CdB better than the Mariinsky . So well rehearsed, a whisker away from absolute perfection in every way. Even those changes of formation in Swan Lake and Bayaderka which last only a few seconds are pure bliss which linger in my memory long after the curtain has fallen.

No, will fly back home right after today's matinee.

Уважаемые дамы и господа - Я приехал в Москву ! I know I am going to draw the ire and fire of some (if not all) of our esteemed members by my false pretenses but what's wrong with having a bit of fun once in a while ? I'm hoping our Russian speakers won't call my bluff right away Anyway, in Moscow for tomorrow's matinee debut of Alyona as Odette/Odile. I have no chance of evaluating her technique at micro level so my friend and ballet tutor Vita Khlopova will join me to discuss the performance at the intervals and at lunch afterwards. Vita is a graduate of Moscow Ballet Academy and was a former dancer herself. She is a well-known ballet historian, writer and lecturer in Moscow and founder of the website nofixedpoints.com (Russki only). I hope to be able to post my impressions, and hers, late tomorrow evening Moscow time.

Alina was my default Giselle, now tied with Diana V. Sadly have never been able to see Alina live. I am hoping to see Osipova as Sylvia too (keeping my fingers crossed) and I just got tix today for her Giselle on March 1st with Hallberg. If she appears this will be the first time I will have seen Osipova in a "real classic" after four tries.

Sure seems to boost Yana's performance and make her glow - watch the clip of them dance the Don Kixot Grand Pas : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_5lto74MF4

http://www.mezzo.tv/nos-programmes/giselle_de_marius_petipa__mariinsky_?date=2017-09-09 "MEZZO LIVE HD" has today started telecasting last year's July 11th Mariinsky performance of Giselle with Diana & Mathieu Ganio. I wholeheartedly suggest all members who can get this channel on cable or satellite not miss it - I saw it live on location. I think these July 11+13 per- formances were the last Giselles Diana danced at Mariinsky. Telecast times are CET.

Dear Drew : you DO have a point here !! In the Nineties we used to visit the ROH regularly, and Guillem, Darcey Bussell and Viviana Durante were the only dancers I got attracted to, knowing next to nothing about classical ballet. Now I know a little more than at the time, and I think Darcey was the one and only home grown talent who could hold her own against the best in Russia. There is her docu-monologue "A Ballerina's Life" which is still on YT and I would like to draw your attention, and of other members too, to what she has said starting from 17:00 mins : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju27oD0mkqI So can a a foreign star have a great impact on the repertoire and casting of a company ?? You tell me please ! (Re Ashton : couple of years ago I had to ask the admin of a British ballet forum to delete my membership when I asked whether the "Ashton style" known for "exquisite footwork" could be due to his having to work with a company which had dancers of limited physical potential who could not hope to "touch their ear", quoting this same excerpt from Darcey, which caused a firestorm of condemnation - would still like to have some answers from our learned members)

Dear Mashinka : have seen Yana Salenko both live in Berlin and on Mezzo quite a few times. I totally agree with you that she is an excellent dancer ...... especially when she is not dancing with her husband !! Here is a clip of Yana partnered by Simkin in the Don Kixot Grand Pas : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_5lto74MF4 I haven't seen Yana anywhere near as radiant when she dances with hubby Marion. Last year for the premiere of the Duato Sleeping Beauty Berlin brought in Sarafanov, which I thought was a wise choice, but again this is my half baked personal view ! PS : just learned that Simkin is joining Berlin effective September 2018 !!

Dear Ashton Fan : Natasha is the only reason why I am still a member at ROH, and the only reason I will travel to London to see "ballet" at the ROH. Please do excuse me but to me at least, everything in London, Paris, Berlin and Wien seems second best after having discovered at a late age in Russia what classical ballet can be. I know that some members may take exception to what I have just written : it is quite personal and subjective ("beauty is in the eye of the beholder") - an emotional thing. Western born dancers can be excellent technically, but I find the characterisation, "emotionality" and "spirituality" of Russian dancers superior. When Osipova pulled out of Giselle last year I saw Sarah Lamb - I thought she was excellent technically (as far as I can tell) in the 2nd act, but she was not "Giselle" for me in the 1st act, and I could not get taken in emotionally, if you know what I mean. PS : when Osipova pulled out of Don Kixot two years ago I sent an email to the RB begging them to bring in someone from the Balshoy, explaining that I and probably many other people would be flying in specially to see Osipova and deserved to see someone of comparable status. On the night I got Tsygankova, was OK under the circumstances !

http://www.ismeneb.com/blogs-list/170906-osipova-i-wont-ever-leave-royal-ballet.html Ismene Brown just posted this on her blog - could well be interesting for her British fans. Natasha danced Giselle in Perm this Tuesday 5th and I again missed her : logistics from Istanbul did not work out. Last November she danced Juliet in Perm, would have loved to see her as Juliet.

Seems there has been a wholesale transfer to working under contract within this week. I looked at this couple of days ago and there weren't this many people under this section !

Balshoy has posted official casting for Swan Lake performances on 15-17 September and as some insiders had reported last week Alyona Kovalyova will dance Odette/Odile at the matinee on Saturday 16th September, partnered by Jacopo Tissi. Am hoping to report from location in due time if I can find a good parter seat. As some members may recall, I had posted some videos of Alyona earlier this year likening her to Zakharova and some senior members actually agreed with me, which was a big boost to my self-confidence. Alyona I am told was the star of the Vaganova 2016 graduation class and Vaziev who cer- tainly has an eye for talent scooped her up. She is being coached by Vaziev's wife (Chenchi- kova) and had already been given solo roles towards the end of last season. It is said that this will be the first occasion an 18-year-old who graduated only last year will dance the lead role in Swan Lake at the Balshoy ! Links below : http://www.bolshoi.ru/en/performances/36/roles/#20170916120000 http://www.bolshoi.ru/en/persons/ballet/3306/

On second thought - this will be at the Balshoy New Stage where tix are normally one-third the price of ballets at the historic stage so I might still go see it ...... and post my half-baked amateur appraisal as usual ! I'm certain to approach it negatively as I am dead against the great classics being "updated" or "re-interpreted" ........ especially with Western-born dancers who are usually light years away from the spirituality and emotionality of Russian dancers.