MakarovaFan

1) If they exist in the Bolshoi archives, film of Vasiliev and Bessmertnova dancing "Leili & Mejnun" and "Ivan the Terrible".

2) In the very early days of the A&E channel, a full length broadcast of what I think was Grigorovich's "Swan Lake" starring Plisetskaya with Maris Liepa as Von Rothbart was shown. I remember it vividly. It was a live performance from the late '70's if I'm not mistaken. Unforgettable!

3) A "Live from Lincoln Center" broadcast of "Vienna Waltzes" starring a glorious Suzanne Farrell in Der Rosenkavalier. I think it was filmed shortly before she retired.

4) Grigorovich's "Age of Gold" with Bessmertnova, Mukhemedov and the marvelous Gedminas Taranda.

I'm considering buying a VHS tape titled Classic Kirov performances. The main impetus for this is to have what I think is the only film, albeit brief, of the great Alla Shelest dancing. Does anyone recommend this video?

Thank you!

http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Kirov-Perfor...t/dp/6302744466

You can see Alla Shelest dancing in Classic Kirov performances by Kultur. She is in the scene from movie-ballet "Gayane", dancing small adagio with Semion Kaplan. Incredible dancing by all artists in this fragment.

Is the title of the dvd "Kirov Classics" Video? I would like to purchase it.

http://www.amazon.com/Kirov-Classics/dp/B00006G8HI

I recently watched the 2005 documentary "Margot" and was shocked to hear the sad details of her life offstage. The interviews with so many key people in her life were excellent. I enjoyed the Robert Gottlieb interview, especially the part were he discusses how driven ballerinas must be to excel in their career. It was disturbing to hear him mention in general terms how some ballerinas put ground glass in the toe shoes of their rivals. Of course who knows which ballerinas do that currently, but can anyone name ballerinas who have stooped this low in the past?

If nobody wants to name names, I understand.

I was on Netflix recently and happened upon a dvd called Russian Ballet Highlights. The best excerpt in my opinion is The Golden Age Act 3 pdd with Bessmertnova and Taranda and is alone worth giving this disc a look see. What I want to know is when will a complete recording of The Golden Age be released? Taranda is such a stylish dancer. :blush:

Cinderella

Oops, I didn't know about the 2004 production. Was it any good?

Are there any theories regarding why ABT hasn't staged a full-length Raymonda since Nureyev's production in the '70's?

I'm planning to attend some ABT performances during their NY season this Spring. I'd like to see Vishneva and Dvorovenko dance for the first time. I'd appreciate some recommendations on which roles show each ballerina at her best.

Vishneva is dancing: Bayadere, Sleeping Beauty, R&J, Swan Lake, The Dream, Manon

Dvorovenko is dancing: Bayadere, Sleeping Beauty, R&J, Swan Lake

Thank you!

Vasiliev's staging of Cinderella will be performed by the State Ballet Theatre of Russia in New Jersey and several other US cities this month. What are the chances that Vasiliev will be travelling with the company and appear at the stage door after each performance? I would like the chance to meet him if I can.

Thank you.

I'll be attending Cinderella at NJPAC in late January. What are the odds that Vasiliev will be travelling with the company and will appear at the stage door for photos and autographs?

Hello All,

Can anyone recommend a good biography of Tchaikovsky?

Thank you

I saw Nutcracker on 12/10/at 5 PM. It's difficult for me since the last time I saw this production was over 20 years ago with Farrell/Martins in the lead roles and their performances are emblazoned in my memory. Farrell was just sublime even at that late stage of her career.

Megan Fairchild is a pretty dancer with lovely, super-strong pirouettes. But she lacks the unique combination of radiance and gravitas that SPF requires. This was particularly noticable in the PDD. And the lifts with her partner De Luz weren't that high. I don't think these 2 are well-suited to eachother.

What I recall most vividly is just watching the production unfold and seeing Balanchine's vision of the ballet with all it's magic, humor and glory.

Thank you, E Johnson. I look forward to see her dance on Sunday.

I'm going to see Megan Fairchild dance Sugar Plum Fairy at NYCB this Sunday. Can anyone give me their opinions of her?

Thanks.

Does anyone know when Plisetskaya stopped dancing the full-length Raymonda? It's a terible shame that a film of her dancing this, one of her signature roles, in its entirety doesn't exist; the excerpts I've seen are stunning.

It's a terrific book. I just wish Smakov had written the Vasiliev book he mentions. VV so deserves a book on his life and career.

Thank you, Marc. I ordered the Svetlanov recording.

There used to be a more idiomatic and complete recording of Gayaneh on Russian Disc, by the USSR Radio and TV Large Symphony Orchestra under Djansug Kakhidze from the lates 1970's - probably no longer available.

If you want a good sounding and thrillingly played selection of highlights from the ballet (coupled with Spartacus) I would advise Evgeni Svetlanov and the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra on Le Chant du Monde label.

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a good recording of Khachaturian's Gayane? Ideally, I'd like to get a cd that contains all 3 suites.

Thanks!

The Gayane footage is wonderful. Does anyone know which ballet company dances it and who the leading ballerina is?

I just rented the DVD from Netflix! :-)

I would LOVE to have this on dvd, especially with the Vasiliev excerpt.

Does anyone recall a full-length performance of The Bolshoi's Swan Lake starring Plisetsksaya as Odette/Odile and Maris Liepa as Von Rothbart from the 1970's being broadcast on the A&E channel? Does anyone know if this is available on VHS or DVD? Thanks!

Any of the following roles with Vladimir Vasiliev as my partner:

Aurora

Phrygia (Spartacus)

Nikiya

Odette/Odile

Juliet (Macmillan version)

Theme & Variations

Meditation

Natalya Bessmertnova