MakarovaFan

Sadly, Farrell Fan, I think you're right about Martins. :angry:

Is there a comprehensive internet glossary on ballet terminology, such as the definition of sissonnes fermes and piques en tournant? A site with illustrations would be ideal. Thank you!

Has anyone seen the PLISETSKAYA DANCES dvd? What are the highlights? Thanks.

Michael, Which recordings of Aurora's Act III variation have you listened to?

Old Fashioned, There's a copy of the Makarova/Baryshnikov GISELLE of eBay for $24.99 plus postage. Here is the link if you're interested: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...ssPageName=WDVW

Thanks everyone for setting me straight on this. I'd forgotten all about the Liepas, Messerers, Fokines, and didn't even know Kolpakova had a daughter. It's a shame Vasiliev and Maximova didn't have children. What a gene pool that was!

I was re-reading part of Maya Plisetskaya's memoirs in which she talks about her decision not to have children. Of the Russian dancers I'm familiar with, the only one I know who has had a child is Natalia Makarova and that was after her defection. Was it Bolshoi/Kirov policy to discourage or even prohibit dancers from having children? If a dancer was to have a child, could that end their career?

Old Fashioned, The live ABT performance from 1977 featuring Makarova and Baryshnikov is the best one I've seen. Sublime dancing by both stars. It's not available on dvd yet, but I think you can find it on VHS. Good luck!

Perky, Your critique is great, especially your description of Cinderella's pointe work. Ashton created some exquisite steps.

Ashton's 'Cinderella' is my favorite production of the ballet and I have the 1969 Sibley/Dowell performance on tape. I adore Prokofiev's score which is funny, bittersweet and romantic. I've always thought that Prokofiev was trying to write this score in the Tchaikovsky tradition (the fairy variations, pas de deux, corps dances). Does anyone else agree? The video is great. This was my introduction to Sibley and I was enchanted by her performance from start to finish. She displayed superb technique and radiant characterization. For me she's a model Cinderella. Dowell's Prince is wonderful -- such a beautiful, elegant dancer. Helpmann and Ashton are hilarious and had great chemistry. My favorite moments in the ballet are Cinderella's famous walk down the ballroom stairs en pointe, her solo that follows with Sibley's marvelous chaine pirouettes (is that the right term?) and her solo after she wakes up at home. If anyone is looking for a recording of 'Cinderella', I highly recommend Andre Previn conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. Previn has the score in his bones and it's a gorgeous recording.

Helene Alexopoulos is a beauty indeed, Oberon. The photos I've seen of Alla Shelest are stunning. It's a shame there's little or no film footage of her dancing.

Who, in your opinion, is or was the most handsome male dancer? This is a no-brainer for me: the drop-dead gorgeous Vladimir Vasiliev. Visit the website below and you'll see what I mean. http://www.radix.net/~dalila/vasiliev/vlad.html Maris Liepa was also very handsome.

rg, Thanks for the information. What's the quality of the photographs?

I'm in search of a book about Vladimir Vasiliev by an author named Mira published in 1975 as part of the Dance Horizons Spotlight Series, but it's out of print now. Could anyone suggest a used book source? I tried Amazon but had no luck. Thanks!

Eyes: Fonteyn Smile: Fonteyn/McBride

rg, Thanks for all the interesting information. I'd forgotten that Semyonova had danced Nikiya, but knew nothing about the '43, '77 and '88 stagings.

I know that La Bayadere has been a staple of the Kirov-Maryinsky repertoire for a very long time. But after some research, I discovered that the Bolshoi apparently didn't stage the ballet until the 1990's under Grigorovich. Does anyone know why it took the Bolshoi so long to stage it? It seems a shame that there was no production in the 60's and 70's when Vasiliev would have probably been a superb Solor and Bessmertnova, perhaps, a fine Nikiya. Any opinions, thoughts, comments?

On film: Cynthia Gregory -- which sparked my passion for ballet. Fonteyn -- black & white and color films of Rose Adagio. No Aurora, in my opinion, has ever been so magical as Fonteyn's. She owns the role. Kolpakova -- Radiant and pure Durante -- Nothing special In live performance: Susan Jaffe in Act III -- terrific technically but ho-hum otherwise.

Cygnet, Yes, I know about Soloviev's death. I've read Smakov's chapter on him and have seen some of his filmed performances. His was a huge talent that makes his suicide all the more tragic.

Marc, Your remark about Soloviev is exactly what I was thinking. Were there any strong male dancers at the Kirov when this was filmed?

Everyone was right about this video. What a performance! Komleva was an exquisite Nikiya. Her showdown with Terekova was one memorable catfight and her mournful solo in Act 2 was gorgeous -- beautifully acted and danced. Terekova was the best Gamzatti I've seen. Imperious, ruthless and a technical phenomenon. Wow, did she ever bring the house down in Act 2. Cygnet, you were right, it was like Terekova and Komleva were tag teaming one another. I don't think I've ever seen more sublime corps dancing than in Act 3. My only criticism of the performance is Solor. Komleva and Terekova deserved a higher quality Solor. Thanks to everyone who urged me to buy this Bayadere. I'll treasure it for a long time to come.

I thought this would be a fun topic to explore. Which ballerina has or had the most beautiful of the following features: 1) Legs 2) Feet 3) Arms 4) Hands Feel free to add other features if you like. My favorites are: Legs: Maximova/Bessmertnova Feet: Maximova/Ferri Arms: Makarova/Besmertnova/Plisetskaya Hands: Makarova/Fonteyn

doug, Have you heard Dutoit's superb recordings with the MSO of Stravinsky's Firebird and Petrouchka?

Thanks to everyone for their enthusiastic thumbs up of this video. Special thanks go to Cygnet for her vividly detailed critique. I've already ordered the tape on Amazon. It's just a shame that this classic performance isn't on DVD -- at least not yet.

Cygnet, My favorite La Valse is performed by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra conducted by Charles Dutoit. Dutoit is a renowned interpreter of Ravel and this recording is virtuosic, lush, dramatic and atmospheric. I've attached a link to CD on Tower Records website: http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=1710924