I also saw the Sleeping Beauty broadcast today. I was excited at first, because it would be the first time I would get to see Olga Smirnova and Yulia Stepanova in a full role. I had just seen the Bolshoi DVD version from 2011 with Svetlana Zakharova and Maria Allash the day before for a frame of reference. I have to say, the 2011 DVD version was outstanding compared to the broadcast. I know that the Bolshoi is trying to bring along a younger group to take over from the established stars. But IMO, they have some way to go before they can stand up to the 'old guard.' I did not see much to be excited about in either Olga or Yulia's performances. Many people have raved about both, so I must be missing something. In the DVD version, Svetlana Zakharova captivated as Aurora with her every move. As much as I love ballet, I actually caught myself nodding off during the broadcast during a few of Olga's parts. That should not happen. Yulia likewise did not inspire me with her performance. Maria Allash is a 'veteran', but still finished and held the end of each move for that 1/10 of a second in her role as the Lilac Fairy, and was able to project that regal air necessary for the part - enough so that I was impressed with the professional job that she did. I saw Ekaterina Kondaurova as the Lilac Fairy at the Mariinsky last year, and I was even more impressed. Both Yulia and Olga appear to lack something to me - it could be confidence - they both appear to dance very conservatively. I am actually asking for help on this. I must be missing something on their talents, but I do not know what it is. I have seen many posts where people refer to Olga Smirnova as 'the prodigy'. She has the body type to be one - the long graceful arms especially. The implication appears to be that she will be Svetlana's replacement in the future. Perhaps she has already been anointed. I am not sure if I would pay to go to one of her performances.... On the other hand, in the broadcast, I have to agree that Semyon Chudin (as Prince Desire) and Artemy Belyakov (as the Blue Bird) were both excellent - good enough to raise eyebrows. Perhaps that is the measurement that I go by - if it is good enough to raise my eyebrows, I want to see the performer again.
