Khoretskaya

Really bad news from St Petersburg yesterday, where Alexandrova was to have danced the Legend of Love with Lantratov tomorrow in the Mariinsky Festival: she got injured in a rehearsal and has returned to Moscow in a cast. No further details, but that really does not sound good! She announced this on her Instagram as follows (auto translated from Russian): "Dear viewers! Dear Petersburgers! I was looking forward to meeting you, with the Mariinsky Theater stage this Saturday. I was waiting for the opportunity to perform in my dear play “The Legend of Love”. For several days I had been rehearsing with wonderful Mariinsky teachers and artists ... Unfortunately, I got injured today at the rehearsal. I am returning to Moscow in a cast, but with the hope that we will meet again. Take care of yourself!" (original here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BvRuk5-A0yR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link). Lantratov now won't dance either, he announced on Instagram, due to lack of rehearsal time with a replacement: https://www.instagram.com/p/BvT_GgLFfEh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link (Kondaurova and Yermakov stand in). Wishing Maria all the very very best for a swift recover; let's fervently hope it isn't serious!!

Some great little video extracts of Maria in Alexei Miroshnichenko's Cinderella in Perm at the weekend, dancing with Pavel Savin: https://www.instagram.com/offamorkoffa/p/Btt70rVgTdR/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=3trpzmvnfv9w&fbclid=IwAR0KzUU0PsSJXcqiR0YTOSWqc_KvwxKI-_0hrUrt0aXHQhKd0JHJOa-EDWo https://www.instagram.com/offamorkoffa/p/Btv35YGAgb-/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=aowh86z0j8j7&fbclid=IwAR0zb3NdvkXrF712fT8QzaT9SObz49wwLFZ2O2BxhEcWb2rtKj62o_YtNsw https://www.instagram.com/offamorkoffa/p/Btv_YXkA49P/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=4i59itac9yfd&fbclid=IwAR0-rFvbWKtSR6HzUtYd60F6tldHII-tpkP39UheGM0PiCl0m_bhnWcgLOM I would love to see this production in full! She says on Instagram she's always wanted to do it, and it certainly seems to play to her acting strengths as well as being a vehicle for her dancing.

Ah glad you managed to make it to Sleeping Beauty! I went to both of her first two and the second did seem more relaxed to me. She and Joseph Caley gelled beautifully, despite him being a little on the short side for her, and this was all the more admirable give that they apparently had very little time to prepare (Aaron Robison, who partnered her in the first one, was subsequently injured). I thought she really flowed with heavenly musicality in the vision scene, every inch the star, regal and transfigured. It was the first time I'd splashed out and sat near the front for one of her performances, which I can only afford once in a while, and the way she uses her eyes to draw in everyone both on the stage with her and in the audience is mesmerising; she was an Aurora who wanted the whole court to watch her and only her, and knew how to make sure they did. A real treat. I do hope Tamara brings her back for something else! There are a lot of pictures of the Perm Bayadere on Instagram, and there were a lot of videos on Instagram 'stories', which sadly aren't permanent so are lost. Their fight scene looked fabulous, sparks flying! Nikolai Krusser has some beautiful pictures both of backstage and the shows here, if you scroll back through: https://www.instagram.com/nikolaikrusser/, and there are some bits of video here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BrYymPKAzbM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

A little bit of Pharoah's Daughter from a gala in Gorizia in Italy on Saturday

Interview here, dubbed into Italian, with Alexandrova and Lantratov, and some rehearsal clips, ahead of a gala in Rome last week. I have no idea what they say so if anyone who speaks Italian cares to translate that would be great There are also some lovely photos here: http://www.massimodanza.it/maria-alexandrova-e-vladislav-lantratov/

There's a great interview in February's Dance Europe with Alexandrova, Osipova and Lantratov talking about interpreting the characters of Bayadere, in the context of their performances in Perm. All three are very eloquent and interesting. Copyright law prohibits me photographing it for you I guess, but I did particularly enjoy some of Alexandrova's insights. She's always fascinating and never dull! Some quotes: Q: Is one of these roles closer to you? MA: 'Neither one is close to me. They both combine some parts of me, but I can say 100% for certain that I would never have gone to a monastery, or been a temple dancer or a nun, I'm not a submissive person. As for Gamzatti, I would never destroy a man the way she does. So neither of them resembles me. But it's interesting to delve into these roles, to act out submission or the fires of jealousy, that's why I love the stage, to set tasks for yourself and become another character'. She speaks very warmly of Perm, which she describes as a theatre with it's own identity and 'sense of self'. 'Perm has wonderful coaches, you enter the troupe and when you're here long enough you absorb their excitement and enthusiasm'. In contrast, she's not exactly complimentary towards the current Bolshoi: 'The Bolshoi is sick right now and suffering through difficult internal relationships. There are only a handful of artists, really just single individuals, who feel at peace. The Perm stage is pleasant. As they say, the best things come in small packages'. She also has a lot to say about how Nikiya isn't a victim. Lantratov really doesn't hold back about the Bolshoi elsewhere in the piece, talking about how it's 'impossible' to see Bolshoi Academy graduates on the stage in Moscow these days 'as most of them leave Moscow'. He contends that the endless competition sometimes benefits the quality but not always, and is a distraction, and talks about how often casting changes, and not always due to injury. They both speak very favourably of the atmosphere and work ethic in Perm.

Alexandrova is dancing in this gala in Rome tonight and tomorrow with Lantratov. She says on Instagram that they're doing the Fonteyn/Nureyev PdD from Nureyev, and Pharoah's Daughter. https://www.auditorium.com/evento/les_etoiles-19178.html

I assume you mean Ukrainian - he's from Kherson. From his name, and given his political opinions, I would think it likely that he's one of the many 'ethnically Russian' Ukrainians.

Masha is back in Perm in February for a production of Cinderella by Alexey Miroshnichenko which premiered a couple of years ago. Looks to be set in the Soviet era, with the characters given different names...I know nothing about it! Maybe someone else does?! No Lantratov with her this time; she's partnered by Pavel Savin https://permopera.ru/playbills/playbill/84153/

So, on December 14th the lucky people of Perm get to see a new production of Bayadere with Alexandrova as Gamzatti facing off against Osipova as Nikiya! That is going to be some confrontation scene!! Lantratov is Solor. Then on 16th Alexandrova plays Nikiya, with Lantratov again as Solor, and Perm principal Albina Rangulova as Gamzatti. Hoping some rehearsal videos might find their way onto Instagram.... Full information here: https://permopera.ru/playbills/playbill/82994/

As a frequent Royal Ballet watcher, Gary Avis. He is the most wonderful Drosselmeyer to the extent that many people choose which nights to attend based on when he's on stage, rather than who the 'dancing' leads are. He makes even the most 'boring' character parts interesting; for example, I saw him as the Rajah in Bayadere the other night and one actually noticed him, as a real character with subtle emotions! He's a great Rothbart too, and Liam Scarlett's new Swan Lake really gives him something to get his teeth into. Widow Simone, Ugly Sisters, GM and the Gaolor in Manon, the Duchess in Wheeldon's Alice, Gremin....always the gold standard for me, in British terms anyway. He's also been an incredibly powerful Tybalt and an excellent Madge (in Kobborg's production for the RB, sadly never revived after he and Cojocaru left). He draws the eye in everything, and makes you notice things you haven't before. Also in the Royal, Bennet Gartside, Tom Whitehead and Kristen McNally are excellent. And elsewhere, Sorella Englund....legend

This thread has been quiet for a long time so I thought maybe I'd post some things Maria has been up to this week! She's periodically been appearing in a mime drama (or a 'drama without words' as it's described), called 'Caligula', playing Caligula's wife Caesonia, at the Moscow Provincial (Gubernskiy) Theatre. It seems like it's a mixture of theatre/mime and dance. More information and photos here: http://m-g-t.ru/performance/kaligula, and at the bottom some videos...Masha does fierce and strong women pretty well, as we know! They took it to St. Petersburg on Monday, pictures and a couple of videos on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleksandrova_maria_bt/tagged/. At the weekend she was in Lisbon at the Mirpuri Foundation Gala, where she did the Don Q PdD with (I think) Lobukhin. Again, pictures on Instagram. Not sure what she's up to next.....

Are you implying that Khoreva's social media presence has been 'manufactured' by someone other than her, or have I misread you? Many people her age are inseparable from their Instagram accounts....maybe she just enjoys it, and if she enjoys the attention then one can hardly blame her (though I totally share the concern that it might all be too much exposure too early).

...and she's hugely excited to be in New York; take a look at her Instagram story! https://www.instagram.com/marachok/?hl=en

I must admit I haven't heard anything else about her being a soloist, but labels are probably largely irrelevant for the moment as she's had one of the highest profile starts to a career I've heard of in a long time! Her first role was Terpsichore in Apollo (with Parish, and the other star new company members Ionova and Nuykina), which she's done a few times and is currently in NYC dancing at the Balanchine gala at the City Center, and she's already done Paquita!! At this rate she'll be Medora for you, nevermind an Odalisque! I've only seen her on video but I do have to say she looks like the hype is justified. She's got something very special imho.