Renata

The Moiseyev came to the US as part of the Cultural Exchange program and it was an important big step to see them during the height of the Cold War. The first time that I saw them, a number of Soviet dignitaries, such as Anastas Mikoyan, were in the audience. Being a kid, I went over to shake their hands and to welcome them [the things kids think of doing...as if they needed my welcome]. It was a long time ago so the security was quite limited, and I was able to go to them and say my few words. They responded quite warmly to me. I saw the Moiseyev Company several times and always enjoyed their performances. It was much more than traditional dances. I remember one piece called "Partisans" where they seemed to glide onto the stage. A few years ago, the Moiseyev toured the US and came to the city where I live. I took my husband and kids, and we all enjoyed the company. Mr. Moiseyev was actually there. Although he was frail, I had no idea that he would have been well into his 90s at the time.

Thank you for your thoughtful description of this book. After reading your post, I plan to go out and buy the book.

What wonderful news!!! Welcome to Alice Claire Rose and all best wishes to her parents. Renata

O'Neals brings back so many memories. After stopping at O'Neals, I often would walk up Broadway with friends to my upper West Side apartment, stopping to pick up freshly baked bagels. Also, sometimes I'd go to the old Russian Tea Room or the Carnegie Tavern after City Center or Carnegie Hall performances.

I can't speak in general about the British Royal family's interest in the arts, but Prince Charles has had an ongoing interest in classical music. At one point he was a fairly decent cellist. He also is the head of the Royal College of Music in London and he actually does visit the school. My older daughter studied flute there a few years ago and was probably the only student unaware that a Royal visit was forthcoming. Naturally, he selected her as one of the two students with whom he spoke...he knocked on the door of her practice room and asked a number of thoughtful questions about the music she was practicing and about her flute and the reasons she had it set up as she did [gold headjoint; silver body]. So he appears to still be interested in classical music.

I don't know Ms. Thyssen, but the following appeared in the NY Times on June 27, 2004: The most beloved regular in the super pool is Charlotte Thyssen, whose main job has been as an usher at the New York State Theater for 32 years (her present position: first ring, stage right). She has played a market lady in "Romeo" since the mid 80's. "I have this little extra thing — you know when the harlot collapses because her boyfriend is killed? I kneel down and comfort her until, all of a sudden, she decides she has to run after him. Otherwise, I'm all over the stage." Ms. Thyssen, who also conducts tours of Lincoln Center, moved from Germany to the United States in the 40's. "I've been in the theater since I was 9, and I feel more comfortable on the stage than anywhere else," she said. "So no matter how small the part is, I'm happy. I'm a super for the opera, too, where I play witches and beggars. And I'm a very good nun." Her birthday is celebrated backstage during the "Romeo" season. Her actual age is, as she put it, "top secret," but the day itself falls on June 2. "My birthday has become a national holiday," she said. "It gets bigger every year."

Thanks for sharing your wonderful news. What a great gift for a great mom! Renata

My goodness, what a story.!!!! It is hard to imagine such a fight at any theatre!!!!

The Washington Post link, that Helene posted about the funeral, quotes Natalya Solzhenitsyn's tribute to Mstislav Rostropovitch: "He spent all of his life being in love. He was in love with the music he played, with those who listened to him, with his loved ones, with the halls he played in....And in this state of love one is capable of moving mountains. And he did." A fitting tribute to this musical giant with a golden heart.

For my first job, I worked at Hurok Concerts, in New York. Since I spoke Russian, I got to work with many of the Russian artists and Mstislav Rostropovitch was one of them. Slava was everyone's favorite artist....he had a love of life and a love of people that was infectious. When he would arrive at the office, everyone would line up in their doorways to say hello and to get one of his enormous bear hugs. It is hard to express the love that all felt for him. He always took the time to say thank you and to make sure that your work was recognized by the boss.....on one occasion I was called in Mr. Hurok's office and walked in a little nervous. There sat Slava and Mr. H.....Slava asked me a question in Russian which I then answered. He then proceeded to praise my great talent in the Russian language to Mr. H and to let him know how wonderful I was. That was typical of him. He will be missed by all whose lives he touched, both through his music and through his love of humanity and of that which was right.

Rudolf Nureyev

Hi Bart, Daunting as those statistics are, they are still better than those at the most of the US company auditions where over 100 dancers may be applying for 1 or 2 positions. This is an ambitious undertaking and I certainly wish them well.

Hi Rosie, You could purchase videos of the classical rounds of the Jackson IBC. It is ordered through the Jackson web page. So I saw those videos of each of her rounds. She is an unusually expressive dancer with lots of technique too. Renata

Hi Natalia, Actually Jurgita has won a series of medals in competitions. Because of her birthday, she was one of the youngest seniors in Moscow, where she won a silver (hardly older than Christine and Chinara); Helsinki, where she won a silver; and Jackson, where she won a silver. She is originally from Lithuania. I've never seen her dance in person but I have seen a video of her at Jackson and she is fantastic. Ciao Renata

Hi SandorO Wow, the MOMA Director certainly seems to do well. But none of this info is top secret....all non profits are required to file form 990 with the IRS and that is a public record. It lists the salaries of trustees and of the highest paid employees if the employees earn over a certain amount. The price they pay for their charitable status is that their form 990 is a public document. The form 990 from the ABT 2003 return has Kevin McKenzie listed as receiving about $296,000. For someone who has to live in New York City, and who can't work for other companies during off time, it probably isn't that much.

Hi ScarlettDiva Ami1436 is right...if you are short, the stalls can be a problem. So, I discovered the stalls circle....you will be sightly elevated and the grade is better too [although I have always been lucky and gotten either row A or row B during my few trips to the ROH stalls circle]. Just look on the seating chart and try to be certain that you are fairly central so that you can get a full stage view. It is sort of a coincidence that you are going for Mayerling. I traveled to London from the States in 2004 to see Irek Mukhammedov in that ballet. I bought my tickets many months earlier so I had seats in a central part of the stalls circle and it was well worth it. It was one of those trips where everything went right...British Airways ran out of cheap seats and bumped my daughter and I up to a better class! We actually saw a few other ballets but it was both of Mukhammedov's performances in Mayerling that week that initially brought us to London. Enjoy your trip to London and the performance. Ciao. Renata

Ed Bradley was a great journalist. In the 1970s, he was my sister's next door neighbor in Washington, DC, so I guess I followed his career more closely than I would have otherwise. I remember his reporting on the fall of Viet Nam. What courage it must have taken for him to stay there until the end. Later he would have national fame, going onto 60 Minutes. I feel as though I grew up and got older with on Ed Bradley. I will miss his reporting and his presence.

Thank you for sharing those wonderful photos.

Thank you Helene. I really enjoyed reading about Wilhemina Frankfort. Renata

I saw Molly dance with the Birmingham Royal at Lincoln Center. She was amazing. I have also seen her dance on other occasions, and she is a multi-faceted dancer. It is wonderful that she will be with San Francisco Ballet.

Thanks for your suggestions. I had seen an excerpt of her Swan Lake on Youtube.com and was hoping the full performance was available.

Would anyone know whether there is a DVD or video available of Maria Alexandrova in Swan Lake? I am able to view tapes/videos formatted for Europe as well as for the US. If so, would anyone have any idea of where I might purchase it? Thank you.

Thanks Mashinka for the information about odd and even numbers of flowers from the point of view of superstition. I easily could have offended one of my daughter's Russian ballet teachers by giving an even number!!!

Thanks to everyone for their helpful suggestions. I sure do wish that I could find a video of Elite Syncopations but it does not sound likely. Again, thanks. Renata

I am hoping to find videos of some of MacMillan's works such as Elite syncopations or Solitaire. I know that many of his ballets such as Romeo and Juliet, Mayerling, Prince of the Pagodas, are available. Would anyone know of a place where I could find videos/dvds of some of his other works? Thank you. Renata