Cygnet

Aurora wrote,

...She also has made choices, whether or not they should hurt her or not are debatable, but linking herself to a coach who consistently and openly delights in antagonizes the management and seems to be using her as a pawn in this can really not endear her to management. That may not be fair but I don't see that it is surprising.

That is precisely what I meant in a recent post.

[Personally, I have little sympathy for a 21-year-old dancer who whines "You have no idea how long I’ve been asking to dance Swan Lake, and they refuse."

Bingo. Pride and self esteem are wonderful attributes, but hubris can backfire, and it sure did here. I'm not sure whether she was sophisticated enough to realize that her affiliation with NT was a bad idea from the outset.

Excellent posts "volcanohunter" & "abatt." IMO when an A.D. counsels a young dancer, (or suggests), that it would be in his/her best interest to consider another coach, or if the A.D. 'wishes' to assign another coach, (hint, hint ), common sense would dictate that said young dancer should to follow the A.D.'s advice. According to the NY Times article, it was Filin who first saw her talent, who saw to it that she and her mother were transitioned, relocated etc. Tsiskaridze is an established Bolshoi star, outspoken and controversial yes, but still a major star of the Theatre; Angelina isn't. He is her coach, but he's not the A.D. Tsiskaridze may challenge the Theatre's management, but he's not in charge of the ballet company or the Theatre. If Angelina isn't involved and survives this, I've got a strong feeling that the Bolshoi management will make her professional life H*ll - regardless. No, that's not fair but that's life.

Natalia wrote:

...Terioshkina and Kondaurova as Odette-Odiles...and - if we're really lucky - 'miraculous' appearances by Lopatkina and Pavlenko as O/O.

I'm ITA with you.

Worst case: 'The SSK' - Somova, Skorik and/or Kampa. I wouldn't be surprised if, by the time January 2014 rolls around, Fateev will have given Kampa the role...so prepare yourselves. Heck, I'll even bet that Skorik and Kampa may be gifted 'principal' status before the tour, not necessarily due to talent and abilities.

Re Skoryk, IMO there's an 80 - 100% chance this could happen - to her and Timur Askerov.

This is how Dmitrichenko looked in custody in today's edition of the Moscow Times: http://www.themoscow...ack/476624.html.

I fear for Vorontsova's career, too, even if due to 'guilt by association.'

This is a shame. I've seen Vorontsova dance in the "Swan Lake" pdt, and she is delightful, very talented and

has potential. If she's lucky she will keep her job. Unfortunately, that seems to be unrealistic (now) given the circumstances. Furthermore, I think that if she remains she may be demoted. It's also very doubtful that she

will attain O/O (at the Bolshoi), let alone other leading roles and promote. I'd be very surprised if that happens.

My guess is that this couple will be purged from the Bolshoi Theatre.

"GOLD-FINGAH!!!" Cheers to Dame Shirley Bassey!

I'm a huge Shirley fan and she did a good job last night. But if you want to see her really kick it, see her Glastonbury performance:

Wow. Just, wow!

Thanks so much for the link -- I had a little festival with some of the other stuff that came up with the video. She reminded me of Tina Turner, in that she's stayed true to the essential part of her style, but she's still found her way to a contemporary audience. And lordy, she still has a voice! Divas are forever, indeed.

Thanks Natalia for the link and thanks to Dame Shirley Bassey who was THE highlight of the entire show.

With great respect to Adele, it would have been the end of the world for me if Dame Shirley had also sung "Skyfall."

IMO, the Battle For The Worst "gowns" was a tie: Naomie Harris and Kristen Stewart. Harris' slit was a bridge too far,

(or should I say 'too high') for me. We could almost see her woo-woo. Stewart is the poster-child for why starlets who

are on crutches should stay home and off the red carpet.

Thanks Silvermash for posting POB's new season .

Today's NY Times article with Maestro Gergiev touting the new opera house.

http://www.nytimes.c...iev13.html?_r=1

Mariinsky II

I've a feeling this version won't stand up very well against the Fonteyn/Nureyev and Ferri/Eagling DVD's that I believe are still readily available.

I agree; the casts you name are superior - no let me temper that statement by suggesting that they are

better casts (MO). The Cuthbertson/Bonelli dvd will also be in direct competition with the 2009 Rojo/Acosta

dvd.

Obraztsova will be making her debut in Diamonds on March 6.

http://www.evgeniaobraztsova.com/

I've just had the chance to go through all the links which BA'rs have kindly posted here.

It seems that Mr. Tsiskaridze has concluded that the attack on Mr. Filin is really a sub-plot of the much more important conspiracy against ... himself.

I know that Tsiskaridze is a great dancer, but he certainly seems to be the employee-colleague from hell. He is protected by tenure for life -- seems obsessed by his own grievances -- believes that he can intervene in everything about which he disapproves -- is convinced that he is the only one who can straighten out what he describes as a dysfunctional and immoral institution -- and cannot avoid making extreme statements about just about everything.

He continues to dig his own grave, it seems to me. How odd that a performer who excels in an art that is essentially mute should have so little ability to keep his mouth shut.

I agree with you Bart. It would be best for him if he remains silent. He shouldn't have added anything further than his initial statement(s), and certainly nothing further after being questioned by the authorities. He seems to be "... wallowing in self-love," as Sir Derek Jacoby aptly described Sir Ian McKellan's portrayal of "Richard II." Like I stated earlier in this thread, Tsiskaridze just can't help himself...

Lopatkina will try Titania? I can't see it personally ...

Me neither!

She has beyond beautiful technique but has a too reserved approach for my taste... more often than not anyway.

I agree. Titania isn't "her;" but one never knows. I think Uliana would excel in the Act 2 pdd, as she does in Diamonds, but only with Korsuntsev. They both suit her temperament.

The Mariinsky's annual festival will be February 28 - March 10, 2013.

http://www.mariinsky...allet_fest_230/

Cast update: Smirnova & Vladislav Latrantov didn't appear in "Bayadere" on Feb. 4.

Skoryk and Yermakov danced Nikiya and Solor.

http://www.mariinsky...013/2/4/1_1800/

...IMO, from what I saw, Filin looks amazingly good, considering what he's gone hrough. His face was fully exposed and he is definitely recognizable, often showing a big smile. His entire head was covered by a white-mesh cap, similar to an old-style bathing cap.

I'm ITA with you. I was very worried that he would be permanently disfigured, but thankfully that isn't the case.

RT has also posted an update. Get well soon Sergei ! http://rt.com/art-an...i-director-369/

YID wrote,

Out of the casts i've seen - Kondaurova was the best swan.

ITA with you: Kondaurova was the platinum, 5 star O/O of the Fall U.S. Tour and the corps was flawless.

The corps de ballet remains the saving grace of the company.

Re: Kampa

...I have to wonder why the AD thinks she is ready for these roles?

Obviously she wasn't cast in principal roles when she was at Boston Ballet. Mikko Nissinen clearly thought she needed more time in the corps and wasn't ready for major roles. This just strikes me as a stunt casting to garner more press.

Who knows what's going on in Fateev's mind?

How old is Daria Pavlenko?

She's 34.

Could she make a move elsewhere?

Maybe to the Mikhailovsky? Or abroad to La Scala or a similar company?

IMO, I think that if she had left in the early 2000s for another company, that would have been a good time for her to do so, or a year or two after she promoted to Principal Dancer.

... I do think Tsiskaradze has received some professional rebukes in the past 2 months. First, his private letter was publicized when it was never meant to be - causing him tremendous embarassment. Second, he wasn't cast again until Orthodox New Year's Eve, and Filin then gave an interview essentially stating that this was purposeful, to teach him a lesson.

December 31 is Tsiskaridze's birthday, and the role was the Nutcracker Prince - not that either matters re this investigation. However, the date and the role (minor compared to other heroic roles in his rep), might have mattered very much to him. Does this mean that he is the prime suspect as some publications are injudiciously implying? No.

So, while Mr Tsiskaradze may have felt humiliated, he did not necessarily act on his actions. Someone else might have on his behalf. It could have been someone who is connected to his unhappy group, or it could have been an obsessed fan. The latter option certainly has happened in the past, think of John Hinkley Jr's decision to shoot Ronald Reagan in order to impress Jodie Foster...

If he was such good prospect then why was he not promoted in the USA ?

Bingo!

The gist of Nostradamus' prophecy re Yuri Fateev's attempt(s) to explain his leadership of the Mariinsky Ballet and

it's current condition:

A.

B.

C.

D.

E. All of the Above

*(Cheat sheet: The answer to this multiple choice question is 'E.')

You're welcome Dirac .

: The Bolshoi Opera's new production of "Ruslan and Lyudmila," was extremely controversial (and summarily panned) when it premiered. Apparently, the nominating committee felt that that production had the required 'shock' value (on the opera side) to get several nods. So, this 'expectation' is trending in that and the drama category as well as ballet.

Back to topic:

IMO I think that the ballet/contemporary dance categories should be separated for "purity's" sake. How can judgement be made for dancer A over dancer D, when the works and the styles are completely different? The only Bolshoi dancer who is nominated is Merkuriev (as a member of Diana's "Dialogues" cast), and should he win, that win goes in the Mariinsky's column. I (also) thought that if the Bolshoi Ballet had been nominated, it would have been "Jewels," not the re-shod and re-designed Grigorovich (1973) version of "The Sleeping Beauty." Remember, the costumes and designs were created by the same team that designed Nureyev's productions for POB and La Scala.

Natalia wrote,

It is nice to see more nominees from cities outside Moscow & StP. Not long ago, 80% of the ballet (& opera) nominations were for productions in the two major cities, with one or two nods to Perm or Novosibirsk. Not so now.

I too am very happy that the Theatre Union is starting to recognize theatres and talented performers who don't work in the major cities. I'm especially glad to see Kiril Simonov's nominated for his Petrovadosk production of "Cinderella," and Boris Eifman for "Rodin." If Katya Kondaurova wins, this will be her second Golden Mask; her first was for the title role in Ratmansky's "Anna Karenina."

The Russian Federation Theatre Union has announced the nominees for the 2013 Golden Mask Awards. The Mariinsky's Diana Vishneva and Ekaterina Kondaurova are both nominated for Best Ballet Actress. Diana gets

the nod for her "Dialogues," and Kondaurova for her interpretation of Balanchine's Titania, in "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The Mariinsky Theatre's productions of Balanchine's ballet and the Stanislavsky Theatre's version of

Britten's opera are also nominated. Boris Eifman's "Rodin" features prominently in the nominations as well.

For the complete list of nominees in all categories:

http://eng.goldenmask.ru/gm.php?id=106

BALLET/BEST PRODUCTION

• AMORE BUFFO, Opera and Ballet Theatre, Yekaterinburg
  
• DU CÔTÉ DE CHEZ DIAGHILEV: KAMMERMUSIK №2, MONUMENTUM PRO GESUALDO, THE JESTER, Opera and Ballet Theatre, Perm
  
• DIANA VISHNYOVA: DIALOGUES Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg
  
• CINDERELLA, Musical Theatre of Karelia, Petrozavodsk
  
• MULTIPLICITY. FORMS OF SILENCE AND EMPTINESS, Mikhailovsky Theatre, St. Petersburg
  
• RODIN, Boris Eifman Ballet, St. Petersburg
  
• SVADEBKA (LES NOCES), Opera and Ballet Theatre, Perm
  
• LA SYLPHIDE, Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Musical Theatre, Moscow
  
• A MIDSUMMER NIGHT`S DREAM, Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg
  

BALLET/BEST CONDUCTOR

• Anton GRISHANIN, LA SYLPHIDE, Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Musical Theatre, Moscow
  
• Pavel KLINICHEV, AMORE BUFFO, Opera and Ballet Theatre, Yekaterinburg
  
• Teodor CURRENTZIS, WEDDING, Opera and Ballet Theatre, Perm
  
• Teodor CURRENTZIS, THE JESTER, Opera and Ballet Theatre, Perm
  BALLET/CONTEMPORARY DANCE – BEST BALLETMASTER/BEST CHOREOGRAPHER
  
• Tatiana BAGANOVA, SEPIA, “Provincial Dances” Theatre, Yekaterinburg
  
• Guy WEIZMAN and Roni HAVER, L'HISTOIRE DU SOLDAT, “Platforma” Project, International Center for Contemporary Dance and Performance TsEKh, Moscow, and “Club Guy and Roni” Dance Company, Netherlands
  
• Alexei MIROSHNICHENKO, THE JESTER, Opera and Ballet Theatre, Perm
  
• Vyacheslav SAMODUROV, AMORE BUFFO, Opera and Ballet Theatre, Yekaterinburg
  
• Kirill SIMONOV, CINDERELLA, Musical Theatre of Karelia, Petrozavodsk
  
• Anzhelika KHOLINA, ANNA KARENINA, Vakhtangov Theatre, Moscow
  
• Boris EIFMAN, RODIN, Boris Eifman Ballet, St. Petersburg
  BALLET/CONTEMPORARY DANCE/BEST ACTRESS
  
• Lyubov ANDREEVA, Camilla – RODIN, Boris Eifman Ballet, St. Petersburg
  
• Diana VISHNEVA, DIANA VISHNEVA: DIALOGUES, Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg
  
• Elena VOROBYOVA, Adina - AMORE BUFFO, Opera and Ballet Theatre, Yekaterinburg
  
• Laisan GIZATULLINA, Jester`s wife- THE JESTER, Opera and Ballet Theatre, Perm
  
• Yekaterina KONDAUROVA, Titania – A MIDSUMMER NIGHT`S DREAM, Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg
  
• Olga LERMAN, Anna Karenina – ANNA KARENINA, Vakhtangov Theatre, Moscow
  
• Erika MIKIRTICHEVA, Sylphide - LA SYLPHIDE, Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Musical Theatre, Moscow
  
• Alevtina MUKHORTIKOVA, Cinderella - CINDERELLA, Musical Theatre of Karelia, Petrozavodsk
  
• Anna POISTOGOVA, Bride - SVADEBKA (LES NOCES), Opera and Ballet Theatre, Perm
  BALLET/CONTEMPORARY DANCE/BEST ACTOR
  
• Oleg GABYSHEV, Rodin - RODIN, Boris Eifman Ballet, St. Petersburg
  
• Nacho DUATO, MULTIPLICITY. FORMS OF SILENCE AND EMPTINESS, Mikhailovsky Theatre, St. Petersburg
  
• Andrei MERKURIEV, DIANA VISHNEVA: DIALOGUES, Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg
  
• Igor PASHKO, Cinderella`s stepmother - CINDERELLA, Musical Theatre of Karelia, Petrozavodsk
  
• Ivan POROSHIN, Bridegroom - SVADEBKA (LES NOCES), Opera and Ballet Theatre, Perm
  
• Andrei SOROKIN, Nemorino - AMORE BUFFO, Opera and Ballet Theatre, Yekaterinburg
  
• Alexander TARANOV, Jester - THE JESTER, Opera and Ballet Theatre, Perm
  

I'm having a Charlie Brown moment.

Evening Moscow reports that Monday 1/21 a prayer service was offered for Sergei at the Church of the Resurrection.

His mother, Natalia Filina gave an update.

http://vmdaily.ru/ne...1358767259.html

One of the links references a quote from Nikolai Tsiskaridze who stated the attackers were related to Mr. Filin's love life or his control over the Bolshoi budget. At the very minimum, these comments are certainly are unhelpful and distressing for Mrs. Filina. They may be slanderous (we know nothing of his love life or if he has much control over the money pots). They may even be a distraction, to throw attention away from Mr. Tsiskaridze's on-going office politics war with the current management at the Bolshoi.

While he may be an amazing dancer, and caring partner to his ballerinas, he certainly does not show the type of diplomacy in a crisis situation that would be needed to run the Bolshoi. I think Mr. Tsiskaridze should thank his lucky stars that he was not selected for management, and hasn't put himself in the position to be harassed, extorted and maimed by Russian criminals. I think he may be fired for his comments, and most certainly will fall under suspicion as a backer of the attack, after the severe response to his December letter to the Kremlin advocating for the Management position.

RT (www.rt.com), Headline News continues updates. In today's report, it's astonishing that Mr. Tsiskaridze once again went on camera and offered no sympathy, but made calm, cool and collected statements on the job description of an Artistic Director.

OMG this is horrible! I will pray for him and his speedy recovery, and that

the perpetrator(s) are brought to justice for it!

Olga Smirnova was invited to dance La Bayadere, on Feb. 4, in Mariinsky!!!

Riddle me this: Why would/should Olga bother, given the current conditions in that theatre? Of course, this is another feather in Olga's cap to have the opportunity and privilege to dance on the Mariinsky stage (and HUGE congratulations to her )!

However, IMO all of the benefits of the doubt have long since been exhausted. Given the current atmosphere in the Mariinsky, it seems to me to be a cynical move on The Management's part. Is it that they now want Smirnova's remarkable success at the Bolshoi to 'splash' on them, and give them CYA padding, when she was one of the two potential prima ballerinas (Kristina Shapran being the other at the Stanislavsky) that "got away?" Draw your own conclusions.

I think that Olga need not look back, only forward at this stage of her young career. She should reach Principal at the Bolshoi then guest at the Mariinsky - and that journey will not take long. Why? Because right now, Olga has travelled light-years ahead of where she could have been, specifically the Mariinsky corps had she joined the company after gradudation from Vaganova Academy. This is not to suggest that she would have stayed in that rank. Who knows what Fateev might have done with her had she opted to join the Mariinsky? And yet, given the substantial evidence of suppression of the gifted and talented, all signs certainly pointed to that scenario for her.

This is yet another regular performance and Fateev asks for Smirnova to come up from Moscow? Can he not develop and showcase his own personnel? Might I suggest the obvious yet again? With great respect to young Smirnova, Fateev didn’t have to dip into Sergei Filin's company to find a Nikiya for a routine performance. He already has plenty of Nikiya's at his disposal – great ones - namely, Katya Konadaurova, Dasha Pavlenko, Uliana Lopatkina, Diana Vishneva, and potentially great ones – like Olesya Novikova and Katya Osmolkina who have yet to make their Mariinsky debuts as Nikiya. There are many ladies who have been waiting and they're all right there in the Mariinsky Theatre. There's no need to outsource leading roles for regular performances at home. After Smirnova's predictably stellar debut, the company will swing again as on a pendulum from feast to famine. Expect Keenan Kampa to grace us very soon as the next Nikiya and O/O debutante.