Liza

I'm no fan of Macaulay's, but I wonder if it's partly down to his background as a British journalist. I have British friends who are amazed at some of the reporting on live court cases that happens in the US: they have very strict rules which can land a journalist or editor in jail and cause the trial to collapse if they cross the line. (The reasoning is that the judge or jury should be protected at all costs from anything that could prejudice them against the defendant.) Also their libel laws are a lot stricter.

1 hour ago, Dreamer said:

I don’t mean to offend anyone on this board but I think we don’t know enough about other people’s cultures, traditions and customs so we tend to project our own experiences and impulses when judging them. 

Having lived there I can assure you that racism well and truly exists in Russia, more so than in any other country I have comparable experience of. As I said above, it is tolerated and even normalised.

I must say I'm surprised at these arguments that blackface is just fine in Moscow. It's like saying that anti-Semitism is OK if you're not German.

26 minutes ago, Laurent said:

If this diatribe is directed at me, then I would like to point out that I am not Russian. When Political Correctness goes too far, it resembles a form of bolshevism.

I didn't think you were. (For the record, nor am I American.)

"Political correctness", as has been pointed out by many on the right as well as the left, simply means courtesy and respect for those who are different than you. What is there to object to in that?

16 minutes ago, Laurent said:

If Americans are haunted by some ghosts in their closet, I suppose, it is a problem they must be addressing without imposing it on the rest of the world.

Let's not pretend it's only Americans who have a case to answer. Many European countries were also guilty and/or complicit. That slavery has existed in many cultures in no way excuses it in any of them.

If Russia isn't implicated in this particular crime, there are plenty of others in its history which either its government or its people remain in denial about. Meanwhile racism is openly tolerated there, as I've seen and heard with my own eyes.

I love (and I think have a reasonable understanding of) Russians and Russian culture, but this is one area in which they could do with catching up with other countries.

I know, right? I love it in so many ways.

Absolutely beautiful image of Precious Adams being used by ENB to promote their forthcoming Swan Lake: https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/swan-lake/

Image © Photography by ASH. Apologies, I now believe this is actually by Jason Bell (see https://twitter.com/ENBallet/status/1012682239229026304?s=19)

5 minutes ago, mnacenani said:

Век живи, век учись 

46 minutes ago, mnacenani said:

The prima (ass.) of RB is Russian

Oh? I hadn't realised that Margot Fonteyn was Russian. You learn something every day!

3 hours ago, Quinten said:

Bolshoi was quite strict about weight, even before Vaziev.

Sure, but weight and build/body type are different things.

And isn't that just getting back to another facet of the disquiet about Vaziev's leadership? That the present day Vaganova/Mariinsky (and incidentally, when you're talking physique, NYCB) ideal should prevail?

59 minutes ago, MadameP said:

That photo of Alexandrova clearly cleverly uses light and shade to thin down Alexandrova's muscular legs- and it is her muscularity that makes her look stocky.  She certainly is not an elegant dancer, but one with a bold, passionate presence on stage, and I do like her in some roles, but for me she will never be a Petipa ballerina.  

You may of course think that; Petipa himself might have begged to differ: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierina_Legnani#/media/File%3ACinderella_-title_role_-Pierina_Legnani_-1893.jpg

Ah, OK

11 hours ago, Drew said:

Thank you both. I would be happy to pay full price to see Naghdi dance a major role. I will ask the box office and hope for the best.

I just looked at the dates on the website - are you sure that you have the dates straight?  I read that she's cast on May 28th, with Marianela Nunez in the Student performance on May 21st.

On 19/01/2018 at 3:10 PM, mnacenani said:

Dear Mashinka have you forgotten about the Michieletto "William Tell" production in summer of 2015 ? We received an email alert from the ROH regarding the rather explicit rape enactment at the opening scene a couple of days before we were due to fly over to see it. However I must confess I saw nothing that would shock me ...... but then I belong to a different culture !  (Signed : Seyd Pasha !)

It was substantially toned down after the first night as a result of the initial reaction.

I'd explain the situation to the box office - they should at least be able to tell you whether they'll be released to the general public later. I've found them very helpful.

My first post! Sorry to come late to this topic.

I saw Vorobiev's first Spartacus in Moscow last June with Kaptsova as his Phrygia. I would like to know if he managed the lifts better in New York than he did then: the big one-armed lift in Act III was only achieved with a second arm joining in very early on; and even then he barely lasted the distance.

Having also seen Klevtsov and Belogolovtsev (probably the strongest physically of the three) in the same role I prefer Klevtsov - very moving and so handsome! And as for Aeginas, it is a great shame you don't seem to have been given Gracheva's: a very wicked woman, though Alexandrova's is fun too.

On a more general note, I am glad you have enjoyed Shipulina: I just loved watching her, especially in the Agon pdd, which really showed off her physique - she made it her own as far as Moscow was concerned.