mnacenani

I think I read somewhere that a decoding guide had been found at one time in the Mariinsky archive - is there any truth in this or am I making it up ?

For a long time I was under the impression that POB management did not want an AD whose AIDS was an open secret although he never admitted it. However the issue was almost totally administrative it seems. Ballet lovers must surely be thankful to Nureyev for having staged Bayadere at POB after being dismissed. It seems incredible to me that this great classic was unknown in the West until Nureyev smuggled out the score and notation after a trip to Russia. Are you familiar with the "Dancer's Dream" docu series on dvd, the "making of" of Nureyev's ballets at POB after his death ? Wonderful stuff imho.

How's this for fouettee - anyone seen this before ? :

This may be old hat for seasoned membership but maybe there are some nouveaux like myself who are/were not sure as to the reason why Nureyev had to leave POB in 1989 after just six years. From watching docus and interval interviews over the years I had learned that he had a falling out with Pierre Bergé, but wasn't sure whether the reason was administrative, artistic or "personal", Bergé being the "partnyor" of YSL. The marvellous docu "Constellation Nureev" recast by Mezzo some days ago also did not shed much light on this matter, so doing a web search I found a NYT article from November 1989 which sets it all out, and it is here for anyone who may be interested : https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/02/arts/nureyev-and-head-of-paris-opera-hold-a-peace-conference.html

Correction : this documentary is based on the Nureyev Colloquium held at Paris City Hall on 17th March 1997, Nureyev's birthday. Wonderful docu of his lifetime, recorded it and already watched it three times - wish I could post it here somehow.

A video of the Nureyev Collection permanent exhibit I found on the Nureyev Foundation website : https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=20&v=NifaXV1xcU4

Thank you so much rhys ! Now I know what to expect on 2nd May - not too bad but will never replace Alexandrova as my "Gamzatti Assoluta" ! Imho Marchenkova needs some acting coaching, however am looking forward to the high extensions of the long-limbed Bolshoy young generation, so reviled by some of our membership ! PS - Dailymotion is a very good source for Bolshoy pirate videos - why do I keep forgetting to look up from time to time .....

It's available on dvd which I have but could not find it on YT to post.

There was a one-off concert performance of Carousel in 2013 at Lincoln Center which I happened to see later on satellite and was mesmerised by the dancers who danced "Heaven's Ballet" in front of the orchestra on stage. This was before I had taken up ballet and didn't know who they were, but was very impressed especially with the ballerina, and rushed to my laptop to look up as soon as it ended : Tiler Peck and Robbie Fairchild ! Sadly only a glimpse of it is posted on YT, wish I could have found it for the benefit of those who might not have seen it : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPQp-Re-PlA

Dear Gnossie I saw this production in March 2016 at the Bolshoy when Yekaterinburg performed it as their entry for Z. Maska. What struck me as somewhat unusual was the performance beginning and ending with a "ballet class", otherwise it was FMG as I know it - could you kindly shed some light on this ? (a somewhat funny story - I could not get to grips with the ZM website where tix sales page is in Russki only, so asked my hotel concierge to get tix for me to Yekat FMG at Bolshoy. But when they called ZM they were told there was no FMG scheduled. It later turned out that FMG is known in Russia as "Tshetnaya Predostorojnost" ..... good to know ! )

Have not seen Misty in any classic Petipa and doubt that I ever will, however I saw the livecast of her Juliet at Scala last year (vs Bolle) and thought she was very good in role. This is on YT and if you haven't seen it please do so and let me know how you rate her performance :

Ibraimova is now officially "first soloist" at Bayerische Staatsballett, joining her joint 2013 Moscow Competition top prizewinner Ksenia Rijkova (principal) who Zelensky had brought with him from Stasik. https://www.staatsoper.de/en/staatsballett/ensemble.html#c6061

Please do excuse my ignorance : I have seen a number of SB at POB, Bolshoy and Mariinka but don't recall either the music or the choreo - presume it's particular to the RB.

Thank you very much - good for me to know the production history.

This settles it - thank you. I had read Ismene's blog at the time but Vikharev's stint at Novosibirsk evidently did not register. So the Coppelia reconstruction was not premiered at the Bolshoy.

Re Bolshoy Vikharev Coppelia : I am a bit confused after reading the production history on the website : https://www.bolshoi.ru/en/performances/3333/details/ What I knew was that the Vikharev recons was first staged at Bolshoy in 2009 and was not revived until this season. But there is a reference to another staging in Novosibirsk in 2001 .... these dates don't tally. Can anyone put this right ??

You are right - the Russian site normally has much more info and/or info is posted earlier on the Russian site - it took one month for the new ticket sale conditions to be posted in English. However casting info is normally posted simultaneously.

Dear Drew the video will be available from 1-2 hours after performance ends till early afternoon the next day. Only live cinecasts are streamed and posted on website.

Watched Bolshoi video from 2013 (available in full on Medici TV, couldn't find on YT) and it doesn't show what I wanted to display : (if my memory doesn't fail me) when Nikiya/Zaharova is bitten Gamzatti/Alexa. (having previously seen her father give instructions to Aya) steps down from her throne and looks at her father in horror and disbelief - great moment which "takes one inside". The need to do close-ups for tv broadcast or dvd recording really takes much away from dramatic ballet imho.

You may be right - a Gamzatti shorter than Nikiya may not have "looked right". Re Vaganova : Alexandrova wasn't a graduate but she was my default Gamzatti, so let's wait and see. I am hoping to post my humble opinion in due time.

Don't rub salt into my wound ! I'll be in London for Chess between 27-29 April

Yes it'll be her debut in role and boy - isn't she making progress ! I expect her to do well as Nikiya, but I attach great importance to Gamzatti in this ballet who is Marchenkova in this performance. For me dramatically Gamzatti is as important, if not more, than Nikiya. Alexandrova was GREAT in this role re both tech and characterisation - don't know Marchenkova at all. There is great scope for drama in the second act - when Nikiya is dancing with the basket and is bitten the reaction and facial expression of Gamzatti can make or break the drama, and no recording can do justice to this scene - you have to be there and see the whole stage. I will now go and watch this scene on Bolshoy Zaharova-Alexa. dvd to post further comment.

Thank you dear Buddy - casting must have been posted within the day, it wasn't when I looked up early this morning. I got a ticket last evening, acting on a tip-off by someone with access to insider info, good to know that I haven't thrown money away. Bayaderka I really can see five nights in a row with different casts, but not possible this time. Would have liked to see Zaharova and Krysanova too.

FURTHER cast changes for Manon - what an ill-fated production. Am due to see it next FRIDAY THE 13th and am expecting Natasha also to call it quits any day !! http://www.roh.org.uk/news/cast-changes-manon-on-19-28-april-and-5-may-2018