silvy

What can I say about the Cubans?? If you can go to their performances, please GO!! I saw their "Canto Vital" maybe back in 1986, and it was truly astounding: all male dancers dancing to the powerful music of Mahler, pretty spectacular choreography. It is true that the standards are very high, but also that they are quite strict. I had occassion of taking class with a ballet mistress from the National Ballet of Cuba, and GOD, they were demanding!!! Their classes give TONS of leg power. As far as corps de ballet work is concerned, never had I seen the national ballet of Uruguay in better shape as when it was directed by these Cuban lady. I also had the privilege of participating in a summer intensive course taught by ballet masters of the Ballet of Cuba (headed by Laura Alonso - Alicia's daughther). This was in 1991. I ended up very strong indeed!! (I also saw Alicia herself teaching a master class that time) However, when the NBC toured Uruguay around year 2000 you were able to notice that their shoes were not as pretty-looking as they should. There are some "Caribbean" touches which I personally do not like very much, but that is a matter of taste, anyway Lucky you there in the States, who are able to see them. Silvy

You are welcome, Gianninna!!!!!!! silvy

Thanks everybody!!! Gianninna, I do know that clicking on amazon.com thru the ballettalk banner helps ballet.alert, but I have noticed that amazon's prices are rather on the high side. Plus they charge about USD 7.- for shipment to Uruguay. Anyway, I always look at amazon first to compare, because I want to help ballet.alert!!!!!!! silvy

I was wondering which version of the Nucracker pdd that are commercially available on video would be the most faithful to the original Ivanov choregraphy?? I was looking at this pdd as danced by the Royal Ballet, in Peter Wright's production (Collier and Dowell), and just wondered if this could be the "closest to the original" one????? anyone is able to help? Thanks in advance!!!! silvy

rg: I would very much like to know if the tape you quote "Classical heritage: Thirty variations from ballets by Russian choreographers" (at the NY PUBLIC LIBRARY) is somewhere available commercially. thanks silvy quote 1990. 60 min. : sd. color Co-produced by Soyuzteatr and Sintez. Chief producer: A. Murtazin. Producer/writer: F. Slidovker. Camera: A. Tafel. In Russian with English subtitles. Issued in conjunction with the Russian-language publication by Soyuzteatr entitled Klassicheskoe nasledie: variatzii iz baletov Russkikh khoreografov (see: *MGTM 90-9614) SUMMARY: Compilation of variations performed in the studio to piano accompaniment, in practice clothes, as a choreographic record. CONTENTS: Swan lake: Act II, Odette's variation. Chor: Ivanov. Danced by Tatyana Chernobrovkina. -- Swan lake: Act III, Odile's variation. Chor: Grigorovich. Danced by Galina Shlapina. -- Swan lake: Act III, Odile's variation. Chor: Petipa. Danced by Chernobrovkina. -- Swan lake: Act III, Siegfried's variation. Chor: K. Sergeyev. Danced by Vladimir Malakhov. -- Swan lake: Act III, Siegfried's variation. Chor: Grigorovich. Danced by Malakhov. -- Swan lake: Act I, Pas de trois, male variation. Chor: K. Sergeyev. Danced by Malakhov. -- The sleeping beauty: Act I, Aurora's variation. Chor: Petipa. Danced by Shlapina. -- The sleeping beauty: Prologue, Lilac Fairy's variation. Chor: F. Lopukhov. Danced by Tatyana Yatsenko. -- The sleeping beauty: Act III, Désiré's variation. Chor: Sergeyev. Danced by Malakhov. -- The sleeping beauty: Act III, Bluebird's variation. Chor: Petipa. Danced by Malakhov. -- The nutcracker: Act II, Princess Masha's variation. Chor: Vasily Vainonen. Danced by Ludmila Vasilyeva. -- The nutcracker: Act II, Prince's variation. Chor: Vainonen. Danced by Malakhov. -- The nutcracker: Act II, Marie's variation. Chor: Grigorovich. Danced by Tatyana Paliey. -- The nutcracker: Act II, Prince's variation. Chor: Grigorovich. Danced by Stanislav Isayev. -- Raymonda: Act I, Raymonda's variation with a scarf. Chor: Petipa. Danced by Shlapina. -- Raymonda: Act III, Raymonda's variation. Chor: Petipa. Danced by Susanna Avetisova. -- Chopiniana: Prelude. Chor: Fokin. Danced by Svetlana Tsoy. -- Chopiniana: [Woman's] mazurka. Chor: Fokin. Danced by Olga Ivanova. -- Chopiniana: Waltz. Chor: Fokin. Danced by Ivanova. -- Chopiniana: [Man's] mazurka. Chor: Fokin. Danced by Dmitry Zababurin. -- Don Quixote: Act IV, Kitri's variation. Chor: Petipa. Danced by Paliey. -- Don Quixote: Act IV, Basil's variation. Chor: A. Ermolaev, V. Vasilyev. Danced by Vadim Bondar. -- Don Quixote: Dream scene, Kitri's variation. Chor: A. Gorsky. Danced by Chernobrovkina. -- Don Quixote: Act IV, female variation. Chor: Gorsky. Danced by Liliy Musovarova. -- Coppélia: Act III, Swanilda's variation. Chor: Gorsky. Danced by Vasilyeva. -- La fille mal gardée: Act II, Lise's variation. Chor: Gorsky. Danced by Paliey. -- La fille mal gardée: [act unspecified], Colin's variation. Chor: Gorsky. Danced by Malakhov. -- Le corsaire: Act II, Slave's variation. Chor: V. Chabukiani. Danced by Ilgis Galimullin. -- La bayadère: Act II, Gamzatti's variation. Chor: Chabukiani. Danced by Vasilyeva. -- La bayadère: Act IV, Kingdom of the shades, Solor's variation. Chor: Chabukiani. Danced by Bondar. UNQUOTE

My favourite part is Diamonds - I saw it live in 1998 at the New York State Theatre with Wendy Wheelan and shall never forget the experience. Of course Diamonds is a homage to Imperial Russia - I remember I recognizing parts of ballets in it: the promenade in passe reminded me of Don Q pdd, the hand raised with the palm touching the back of the head reminded me of Raymonda, some tombes with cambre derreriere of Swan Lake, and some developpes a la seconde of the Nutcracker. I wonder if you agree with me? silvy

rg, thanks for having taken the time to disentangle the net! Now I would like to identify the variation as danced by Yulia Makhalina in the Kirov video version. Who is the author of the music? This same variation is danced by Cyntia Gregory in the ABT video version (staging by Makarova, in the eighties) thanks!!!! silvy

Thanks Alexandra for having posted a link to Melnikov's interview. Though I have not seen the Kirov recently, I must say I agree 100% to his views about how ballet should be approached. In the film "The Leningrad Legend" Makarova expresses some of Melnikov's same concerns: that she sensed the company were too young and that they did not have older dancers (still dancing, not as coaches) to mirror from which to learn. I thought that was SO IMPORTANT. However, I must disagree with him about automatic teller machines: they are SOOO PRACTICAL!!!! Silvy

I just cannot imagine Larissa Lezhnina in Tchaikowsky's pdd - maybe it is too "modern" for her??????? I cud not imagine Irina Kolpakova in it either Is that what you mean, Marc?? silvy

I happen to have seen Lezhnina dance Bluebird here in Montevideo around 1997, or 1998. I thought she classically perfect (maybe rather "cold" for what here in South America are used to). Of course, I had seen her on video previously. then my last experience with the Kirov "live" was in Buenos Aires around 1996. There I saw Mahkalina as Dying Swan and Paquita, Diana Vishneva in Tchaikowsky pdd, Ruzimatov doing a solo by Bejart, Lopatkina with Zelensky in Swan Lake (they were incredible - lots of curtain calls then). Veronika Ivanova was a soloist in Paquita then. Do you mean that the company has been so changed since 1996? If so, what changes, exactly? silvy

I read in an interview to Larissa Lezhnina that she said to Marc Haegman (the interviewer) that she had to leave the Kirov because the director (Vinogradov) hated her. I just would like to know WHY this was so, as Lezhnina, for me, was one of the most charming, promising, classically perfect ballerinas of the 1990s at the Kirov. Was it typecasting? If so, what could possibly be wrong with her? Anyone knows? astonished silvy

To Grace, or whoever knows: What did Erik Bruhn die of? And John Cranko? thanks silvy

thanks everybody!!!!! I guess I shall have to leave my tiara out for Henriette or Clemence!!! Is there any reference in the libretto to Raymonda's father? There is no male elderly figure there, right? Only young men!!!!! silvy

Raymonda's two female friends (or whatever!) I was wondering about R's "friends". They appear in two Bolshoi video versions of Raymonda (one starring Semenyaka , the other Bessmertnova). I would like to have more info about them (who they really are in the ballet's libretto - if "maids of honour", if royal princesses, or whatever), as I believe their dances are one of the finest of the ballet (I intend to dance one of them at my next guest appearance, so I would welcome as much information as possible) thanks in advance! silvy

I wonder what videos of ABT are currently available commercially, particularly those of performances from 1980 and before. If anyone is able to provide such information, or knows where I could find such a list, I would appreciate his / her response!!!!!!! thanks heaps!!!! silvy

What about Glenn Close "en travesti" playing von Rothbarth? Like a sort of male Cruela de Vil, without the dalmatians, of course!!!!! or would they be the swans? silvy

thank you, Hans!!!!!!! silvy

Well, when I was coached on the Cerrito role, I was told to imagine I was "Miss Congeniality" silvy

thank you coda for clarification!!!!!! I have looked at the site you mention. Anyone knows if there is a similar site for the Bolshoi? silvy

Hi. I recently viewed the tape "The Leningrad Legend". This is a tape hosted by Natalia Makarova, depicting a return visit to St Petersburg years after her defection. There is a section where she mentions that a certain female dancer had "beautiful feet, beautiful face... etc", and Makarova had always wondered why that dancer had never been given the title of "ballerina". What does it mean in Kirov hierarchy? A soloist, or a principal dancer or what? anyone knows? Also I read at the preface of "Basic Principles of Classical Ballet" (Vaganova's book) that Vaganova got the title of "ballerina" at a certain time in her career. thanks for clarification!!!!! silvy

you are welcome rg!!!!!! Speaking of GAlinskaya, maybe she is the one I like less (of the 4 Kirov dancers) Regarding the Lester version, this was staged here in Uruguay around 1997 by a ballet mistress of the National Ballet of Cuba. It is quite different, and I remember that when I leartn Cerrito, the Lester version has her doing a turn a la seconde, (like a turning temps-leve a la seconde), which I have always thought as too modern for Pas de Quatre. The Dolin version does nothing of the like, is much more "sweet". :rolleyes: Silvy

I quote rg: "the first listing i can find for a kirov rendering of his work is from a 1982 film, as follows: Pas de quatre. Chor: Anton Dolin; mus: Cesare Pugni. Perf. by Galina Mezentseva (Taglioni), Gabriella Komleva (Grahn), Irina Kolpakova (Grisi), and Elena Evteeva (Cerrito)" However, I have an earlier version on film, filmed during the sixties, I believe. It is a black and white filming included in a tape called "The glory of the Kirov". The dancers are: Ludmila Kovaleva (Grahn - I loved her portrayal), Gabriella Komleva (the most difficult Grisi variation), Yelena Yevteyeva (Cerrito), Lubov Galinskaha (Taglioni) Anyone else has seen this tape and has some comments? Maybe this shud go to the "video" forum??? silvy

Hi. I live in South America, but I have travelled and seen ballet in USA (Isaw both ABT and NYCB), and also in Europe (though not in London). However, I have a strong "British culture" background, so I feel I am quite equipped to appreciate the cultural differences. Isn't it the same difference that exists between Usa and Europa? silvy

Here are the names of the dancers who died in the accident I described in my last post (nine dancers): José Neglia, Norma Fontenla, Margarita Fernández, Carlos Schiaffino, Rubén Estanga, Martha Raspanti, Carlos Santamarina, Sara Bochkovsky and Antonio Zambrana. It was October 10, 1971 silvy

I saw the above tape in amazon.com, but there is not much information about it. Is anyone able to give me more details (i.e., dancers, ballets danced there) thank you!!!!! silvy