silvy

Regarding the pdd itself, I have seen it performed by Argentinian dancers, and also by the Cubans, not only Russian... Do you know if it is still performed in Russia, or if it has gone out the repertory? I ask this because this is a work of the Soviet period.

Yes, most probably that is the reason I have trouble finding it. Too bad, as I would like to work on that pdd....

Indeed, I have conducted a search both at amazon.com and alibris.com, and amazon has it cheaper. Too bad they charge $7.99 for shipment to my country....

Thank you, Solor. I always wondered how he looked !!!!! He looks very serious and "Austrian" to me

Does anyone know to which piece / suite, etc, by Rachmaninoff the music for "Spring Waters" pas de deux belongs? As I would very much like to get it, and do not know how to conduct a search......... Thanks a lot Silvy

Live: Ulyana Lopatkina on tape: Yulia Makhalina, Galina Mezentzeva

Thank you, rg and Hans. I wonder why this dance is consistently omitted from productions... in my view, it is a beautiful piece of music (though, maybe, not "international", but something which the Russian audiences would understand very well)

Thanks, rg. I have that dance on video danced by the Kirov ballerina Olga Chenchikova,but the video only says that the music is by Tchaikowsky, and it does not say who the choreographer is. I wonder if someone knows.......

Oh, what a pity! I would be delighted to have that recording....

In my recording of Act III of Swan Lake there is a Russian dance which figures as an "appendix" to the score. In the booklet of my recording (Previn) says that this dance was composed for the ballerina Karpakova. I happen to love the music, and would like to know if someone knows why this dance is omitted in most productions of the ballet I have seen (Kirov, Royal Ballet, etc). Also if the dance was danced in Russia after Karpakova, and which character in the ballet was supposed to dance it. Thanks a lot Silvy

Oh, thank you, Leigh - and sorry, as it was my fault for not having conducted a proper search :blush:

I have seen Pharaoh's Daughter on film, as danced by the Bolshoi and starring Zakharova. I read that the version was reconstructed by Lacotte (after Petipa). I would like to know if the 3 rivers shown (Guadalquivir, Congo and Neva) are Lacotte's own version, or if they are really Petipa's. Maybe this is explained in the DVD of the above, but I only have the performance itself, and not the additional "bonuses" Thanks a lot Silvy

Does anyone know "Pharaoh's daughter" music has been released on CD? Would very much like to have the music. Thanks a lot Silvy

Another very strange thing about this pdd: I noticed that Kirov version (as danced by Pankova; Asylmulatova is Aurora), Pankova does not do any hand fluterring; only listens, BUT she wears a feather on her head!! Why should she wear a feather if she is not a bird at all, but a princess with no "avian characteristics" (as Mr. Mel so funnily expresses)???

Thank you Hans for the info. I have read Mel's very informative article on "The Sleeping Beauty", but could not get that information. So, I wonder who was responsible for starting to confuse Florine with a bird? As RB dances it today.... The first time I was taught the role (by an ex dancer at the Marquis de Cuevas company, who was my teacher in Uruguay, and who was prima ballerina at our national ballet), I was taught to do lots of fluttering - I even remember that I was encourage to practice the "tremor like" movements with my hands, and that I was supposed to do it througout the variation (at a later stage, once I had mastered it). Then I saw the videos by the Russians and was totally confused.......

The above has always puzzled me. While the Russians show Florine as a perfect princess, without fluttering arms, but only listening to her Bluebird, the Royal Ballet versions on video at least (Sibley, Benjamin) portray her as a kind of little bird, with lots of "fluttering arms" and wrists. I just wonder why has this difference arisen in the first place, and who was responsible for the change. Also, of course, I would like to know which version is the closest to the originally staged by Petipa at the premiere. I would value any feedback on the above, as I am dancing the role right now. Silvy

Yes Solor- I tried to purchase it and encountered the grim news.. As far as I know, there is no other recording of Paquita "grand pas" with the variations... Let us hope that it is available again soon!!

I am comparing versions of the pas de deux: The Royal Ballet versions do the fish dives, while all the Russian versions do an dedans pirouette followed by a tombe,and then attude derriere en efface. Does anyone know which of the versions is closest to the original Petipa choreographed?

I am sorry- star is Gillian Murphy (not Julie Kent)

I would like to know if someone has seen the above DVD, and opinions (starring Julie Kent) Also I would like to know the names of some soloists, if someone knows (for instance, who the soloists in Pas de trois are, the Big Swans, the Little Swans) Thanks for help Silvy

Yes!! It was Olga Pavlova - very impressive tango indeed

Yes, and I saw Taranda twice in my country. The first time he came with a group, where Nadezhda Pavlova herself danced 2nd act Giselle, and Maya Plitseskaya herself danced Dying Swan in her sixties. Then Taranda danced this tango with this other Pavlova (a young dancer). I also remember a "Carmen" by Alberto Alonso, where a whole group of female dancers in unison danced the solo variation. I could not believe I was seeing all these great artists live. I think the group was called "the Russian Imperial Ballet", or something of the like. The second time (when I saw Lezhnina), I remember seeing the Pugni pas de quatre. Among the dancers was the one who dances the first soloist in Raymonda in Bolshoi video (dream sequence - I do not remember her name). I liked her very, very much.

Solor , thanks so much for the valuable information. Fedotov is by far my most preferred conductor for ballet. I have never heard his "Raymonda", though, as I have never seen a Raymonda danced by the Maryinsky - hope some day this is available on DVD or video. I will see what I can do with the recording (being in Uruguay, everythiong is a little more difficult for us dancers, from pointe shoes, tights to music itself) Thank you again Silvy

Speaking specifically about tempi, I find that the Anisimov version is very bad in one of the most crucial parts of the ballet, which is Raymonda's 3rd act variation: the start is not so bad, though too quick in my view, but it is the final diagonal that I dislike the most, because it so slows down that the effect is totally lost. I have tried dancing to it, and just could not. Also, as it was said earlier in this thread, Raymonda's variation in the "Tableau de Reve" scene is not the one as danced by the Bolshoi (and the one I was taught, by the way). It seems that everything is wonderful excepting Raymonda's solos!! I wonder if anyone agrees with me?

Yes, Hans I saw Lezhina live - she did not dance much, though. I remember she did not dance the variation, only the pas de deux (I do not remember if they danced the coda). That was before our Solis Theater was refurbished, and I guess it was because the floor was not in the best conditions (there was a huge rake on the stage, which is now gone). This was part of a gala program, where Gedeminas Taranda also danced (he danced a tango with a ballerina named Pavlova - of course, a young Pavlova!!!!!!). The Vetrov I mention is the one who dances opposite Bylova in the Bolshoi video (if I am not confusing names - this Bluebird has a very large travelling assemble, and very large travelling sisonnes, which are impressive).