Waelsung

Thank you nysusan, as a subscriber I have exchange privileges, but what will I exchange my Friday ticket for? I already have a ticket to the Monday performance with Ananiashvili and Corella, and there's nobody else I'd like to see, especially at these prices (my seats are in the orchestra). Had I known in advance, I would have exchanged for a Sleeping Beauty or La Bayadere, but now it's obviously too late. On top of that, starting next year all ticket exchanges will command an additional $5 fee. If you consider that there was no single subscription ticket that I have actually used myself this season (all of them have been exchanged or given away to relatives and friends), subscriptions start losing their appeal rather fast

I wish we could, but I'm afraid we can't. This whole season has been such a terrible disappointment for me. Of all the casts that I originally wanted to see the only one that was left intact was La Bayadere with Part and Gomes. Everything else was a total waste of my time and money. I realize injuries happen, but it looks like Diana's condition was serious enough to stop selling tickets to her performances a long time ago. I don't feel the ABT managemement has been completely honest about this situation and this is why I am not going to renew my subscriptions next year.

she took the date off her calendar too. That was to be expected. I wonder how serious her injury really is.

All this does not bode well for the chances of Vishneva appearing Friday

I exchanged my ticket to the June 11th DQ - have absolutely no desire in watching a grandma Kitri. The only thing that I had a slight interest in seeing and didn't have tickets for already was The Sleeping Beauty with Lane. Terribly disappointed

The June 11th DQ has disappeared from the Performances section of the Vishneva's website. Even though ABT still lists her for this performance, I think the chances of her dancing this month are practically nil. I wonder who will be replacing her...

I love V.P. - she's my favorite ABT ballerina, but I can't see her staying here if they keep offering her roles like Lady Capulet and one of the two Big Swans. I hope they promote her though and she stays...

Sadly, Veronika Part is leaving ABT after this Spring season, so we're not very likely to see her again in NY any time soon

I feel the same way, but if she moves to Europe [snip], it would take a miracle for me to go see her

This is her last season at ABT, so unfortunately, we have to get used to many years without VP Swan Lakes

What a bummer. I completely missed the cast change topic and went in expecting to see Diana Vishneva, but got the geriatric Ananiashvili instead. I think her performance was terribly disappointing, clumsy and sloppy with botched fouettes being its nadir. Gomes barely caught her at the end of the Black pdd, but the way he did it she looked like a kielbasa in his hands. I'm really upset and have a very bad feeling about the rest of Vishneva performances. She's already not listed for Tharp (thanks goodness I didn't buy tickets for this) and God only knows whether or not she will be able to dance the scheduled Kitri and Giselle. And what happened to Part? If she also cancels her O/O and Nikyia this ABT season can be written off completely. Ananiashvili can't cut it for me. And anyway, shouldn't she be retired by now? Gomes looked like he fell in love with his mother .

Thanks, drb and YID!

Thanks for the reports everybody. Very happy for Osipova and Vasiliev - saw their Don Q in Kennedy Center last year and absolutely loved it. Did Semionova and Bollet perform? It was supposed to be Semionova's American debut.

Saturday evening, April 19, 2008 An absolutely out-of-this-world Serenade, incredibly boring (despite Sarafanov) Rubies and technically imperfect and problems-ridden Imperial that gave me goose bumps. Was this the last time we saw Lopatkina and Zelensky on stage together? Their parting was heart breaking - I felt like it was me who lost her. Kondaurova is the revelation of this tour, though. When Lopatkina retires she's going to be the best ballerina in the world. Everything IMHO, of course:)

Didn't Somova's regular coach, Olga Chenchikova (Mrs. Makhar Vaziev), stay back home with her husband? I saw Mr. Vaziev in the hallway of City Center - he finally made it to NYC after all:)

I have to second and third the above reviews. Raymonda and Paquita were an absolute delight as was the corps in the Shades. But Somova's Nikyia was truly atrocious, and it's a crying shame that they gave her the opening night (it should have gone to Tereshkina IMHO - then we would have the perfect cast for this kind of program). Lopatkina was not her usual melancholy self. I happen to love her melancholy, but it was nice to see her so radiant and happy. Vishneva dazzled with her technique, and all the variations in Paquita were very good (even Somova: here she was ideal and the audience loved her acrobatic circus style). Among the supporting treasure grove I would single out Kondaurova (incredible as the Third Shade) and Tereshkina, who is going to be a huge star very soon. Men, OTOH, were rather disappointing. Korsuntsev just looks good and that's about it. Fadeev didn't have much to do. And Sarafanov, brilliant as he is, seemed intimidated by the unusually small stage. Overall it was a perfect ballerina evening, with incredible abundance of talent, and even Somova with her tasteless antiques couldn't spoil it.

I have one ticket to the April 5th Kirov Ballet performance that to my great chagrin I won't be able to use. It's an excellent Orchestra seat right in the middle of row K. The face value is $110, but I will entertain all reasonable offers (would really hate to see this ticket go to waste). Payment can be made by PayPal and I can mail you the ticket with delivery confirmation. Or we can meet at City Center on April 1, 2 or 4. I would also consider exchanging this ticket for a good Orchestra seat to either Apr. 12 or Apr. 19 evening performances.

The casting has been posted to the Kennedy Center website: CASTING Tue., Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Nikiya: Diana Vishneva Solor: Andrian Fadeyev Gamzatti: Viktoria Tereshkina Wed., Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Nikiya: Uliana Lopatkina Solor: Ivan Kozlov Gamzatti: Tatyana Tkachenko Thu., Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Nikiya: Irma Nioradze Solor: Andrian Fadeyev Gamzatti: Irina Golub Fri., Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. Nikiya: Alina Somova Solor: Leonid Sarafanov Gamzatti: Ekaterina Osmolkina Sat., Jan. 26 at 1:30 p.m. Nikiya: Uliana Lopatkina Solor: Ivan Kozlov Gamzatti: Tatyana Tkachenko Sat., Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Nikiya: Viktoria Tereshkina Solor: Anton Korsakov Gamzatti: Irina Golub Sun., Jan. 27 at 1:30 p.m. Nikiya: Alina Somova Solor: Leonid Sarafanov Gamzatti: Ekaterina Osmolkina It looks like I'm going to miss Tereshkina's Nikiya, but otherwise I'm quite happy - couldn't ask for more really.

I don't think this will have any effect on Ardani's management, but even if there's a slightest chance Somova will be replaced in at least some of the shows, I'm all for it...

Why? Well, I saw her O/O last year in Boston and thought it was an abomination. I also saw quite a few video clips on youtube and on Russian TV and really don't feel like watching them all over again. Especially when I have to travel to a different city, pay for hotel and incur other expenses, not to mention the cost of my ticket. Somova is being pushed down our collective throat by the Kirov mangement because they think she's exactly what we want and what we will pay to see. There's only one way to prove them wrong.

Exactly. Doesn't look like they're selling very well.

Diana Vishneva has confirmed on her website that she's planning to dance Nikiya with the Kirov in Washington D.C. on Jan. 22.

I seem to be not as unhappy with the announced casts as most of you guys. I was going to see only the first three progrmas anyway, and I think that even with the Somova-galore we're supposed to get enough of Lopatkina and Vishneva to justify keeping my tickets. At least for the moment. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed until April 2008 and hope that they both can make it to NY.

The tentative casts for the April 2008 City Center performances have been posted to the Ardani Artists website. They are as follows: WEEK 1 April 1, 2008 at 7:30PM Act One Raymonda (Act 3) Music: Alexander Glazunov Choreography: Marius Petipa Lopatkina, Kozlov Act Two Paquita (Grand Pas) Music: Ludwig Minkus Choreography: Marius Petipa Vishneva, Fadeev Act Three La Bayadere (The Kingdom of Shadows) Music: Ludwig Minkus Choreography: Marius Petipa Somova, Sarafanov April 2, 2008 at 7:30PM Act One Raymonda (Act 3) Music: Alexander Glazunov Choreography: Marius Petipa Novikova, Fadeev Act Two Paquita (Grand Pas) Music: Ludwig Minkus Choreography: Marius Petipa Tereshkina, Ivanchenko Act Three La Bayadere (The Kingdom of Shadows) Music: Ludwig Minkus Choreography: Marius Petipa Lopatkina, Kozlov April 3, 2008 at 7:30PM Act One Raymonda (Act 3) Music: Alexander Glazunov Choreography: Marius Petipa Tereshkina, Korsuntsev Act Two Paquita (Grand Pas) Music: Ludwig Minkus Choreography: Marius Petipa Somova, Korsakov Act Three La Bayadere (The Kingdom of Shadows) Music: Ludwig Minkus Choreography: Marius Petipa Vishneva, Ivanchenko April 4, 2008 at 8PM Act One Chopiniana Music: Frederic Chopin Choreography: Michel Fokine Osmolkina, Korsakov Act Two Le Spectre de la Rose Music: Carl Maria von Weber Choreography: Michel Fokine Golub, Kolb Pause The Dying Swan Music: Camille Saint-Saens Choreography: Michel Fokine Lopatkina Act Three Scheherazade Music: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Choreography: Michel Fokine Vishneva, Kolb April 5, 2008 at 2PM Act One Chopiniana Music: Frederic Chopin Choreography: Michel Fokine Kolegova, Korsuntsev Act Two Le Spectre de la Rose Music: Carl Maria von Weber Choreography: Michel Fokine Gonchar, Korsakov Pause The Dying Swan Music: Camille Saint-Saens Choreography: Michel Fokine Lopatkina Act Three Scheherazade Music: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Choreography: Michel Fokine Kondaurova, Ivanchenko April 5, 2008 at 8PM Act One Chopiniana Music: Frederic Chopin Choreography: Michel Fokine Osmolkina, Kolb Act Two Le Spectre de la Rose Music: Carl Maria von Weber Choreography: Michel Fokine Golub, Sarafanov Pause The Dying Swan Music: Camille Saint-Saens Choreography: Michel Fokine Vishneva Act Three Scheherazade Music: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Choreography: Michel Fokine Lopatkina, Kozlov April 6, 2008 at 3PM Act One Chopiniana Music: Frederic Chopin Choreography: Michel Fokine Kolegova, Ivanchenko Act Two Le Spectre de la Rose Music: Carl Maria von Weber Choreography: Michel Fokine Golub, Sarafanov Pause The Dying Swan Music: Camille Saint-Saens Choreography: Michel Fokine Lopatkina Act Three Scheherazade Music: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Choreography: Michel Fokine Vishneva, Kolb WEEK 2 April 8, 2008 at 7:30PM Act One Le Corsaire (Le Jardin anime and Pas de Deux) Music: Adolphe Adam Choreography: Marius Petipa Vishneva, Korsakov, Korsuntsev Act Two Diana and Acteon (Pas de Deux) Music: Cesare Pugni Choreography: Agrippina Vaganova Tereshkina, Lobukhin Pause Don Quixote (Grand Pas de Deux) Music: Ludwig Minkus Choreography: Alexander Gorsky Somova, Sarafanov Act Three La Bayadere (The Kingdom of Shadows) Music: Ludwig Minkus Choreography: Marius Petipa Lopatkina, Kozlov April 9, 2008 at 7:30PM Act One Le Corsaire (Le Jardin anime and Pas de Deux) Music: Adolphe Adam Choreography: Marius Petipa Lopatkina, Kolb, Kozlov Act Two Diana and Acteon (Pas de Deux) Music: Cesare Pugni Choreography: Agrippina Vaganova Osmolkina, Lobukhin Pause Don Quixote (Grand Pas de Deux) Music: Ludwig Minkus Choreography: Alexander Gorsky Tereshkina, Korsakov Act Three La Bayadere (The Kingdom of Shadows) Music: Ludwig Minkus Choreography: Marius Petipa Novikova, Fadeev April 10, 2008 at 7:30PM Act One Le Corsaire (Le Jardin anime and Pas de Deux) Music: Adolphe Adam Choreography: Marius Petipa Tereshkina, Sarafanov, Ivanchenko Act Two Diana and Acteon (Pas de Deux) Music: Cesare Pugni Choreography: Agrippina Vaganova Novikova, Lobukhin Pause Don Quixote (Grand Pas de Deux) Music: Ludwig Minkus Choreography: Alexander Gorsky Vishneva, Fadeev Act Three La Bayadere (The Kingdom of Shadows) Music: Ludwig Minkus Choreography: Marius Petipa Somova, Korsuntsev April 11, 2008 at 8PM Act One Chopiniana Music: Frederic Chopin Choreography: Michel Fokine Bolshakova, Ivanchenko Act Two Le Spectre de la Rose Music: Carl Maria von Weber Choreography: Michel Fokine Golub, Kolb Pause The Dying Swan Music: Camille Saint-Saens Choreography: Michel Fokine Lopatkina Act Three Etudes Music: Karl Czerny Choreography: Harald Lander Somova, Sarafanov, Fadeev April 12, 2008 at 2PM Act One Chopiniana Music: Frederic Chopin Choreography: Michel Fokine Vasnetsova, Korsuntsev Act Two Le Spectre de la Rose Music: Carl Maria von Weber Choreography: Michel Fokine Gonchar, Sarafanov Pause The Dying Swan Music: Camille Saint-Saens Choreography: Michel Fokine Vishneva Act Three Etudes Music: Karl Czerny Choreography: Harald Lander Novikova, Schklyarov, Korsakov April 12, 2008 at 8PM Act One Chopiniana Music: Frederic Chopin Choreography: Michel Fokine Osmolkina, Kolb Act Two Le Spectre de la Rose Music: Carl Maria von Weber Choreography: Michel Fokine Golub, Korsakov Pause The Dying Swan Music: Camille Saint-Saens Choreography: Michel Fokine Lopatkina Act Three Etudes Music: Karl Czerny Choreography: Harald Lander Tereshkina, Sarafanov, Fadeev April 13, 2008 at 3PM Act One Chopiniana Music: Frederic Chopin Choreography: Michel Fokine Kolegova, Ivanchenko Act Two Le Spectre de la Rose Music: Carl Maria von Weber Choreography: Michel Fokine Gonchar, Kolb Pause The Dying Swan Music: Camille Saint-Saens Choreography: Michel Fokine Vishneva Act Three Etudes Music: Karl Czerny Choreography: Harald Lander Somova, Sarafanov, Schklyarov WEEK 3 April 15, 2008 at 7:30PM Act One Steptext Music: J.S. Bach Choreography: William Forsythe Vishneva, Kolb, Lobukhin, Sergeev Act Two Approximate Sonata Music: Thom Willems Choreography: William Forsythe Scheschina, Ivanov, Riu, Popov Selina, Pimonov, Kondaurova, Zyuzin Pause The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude Music: Franz Schubert Choreography: William Forsythe Tereshkina, Gonchar, Osmolkina, Sarafanov, Fadeev Act Three In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated Music: Thom Willems Choreography: William Forsythe Golub, Kondaurova, Novikova, Scheschina, Selina, Dubrovina, Lobukhin, Sergeev, Pimonov April 16, 2008 at 7:30PM Act One Steptext Music: J.S. Bach Choreography: William Forsythe Kondaurova, Pimonov, Lobukhin, Sergeev Act Two Approximate Sonata Music: Thom Willems Choreography: William Forsythe Scheschina, Ivanov, Riu, Popov Sergei, Selina, Pimonov, Kondaurova, Zyuzin Pause The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude Music: Franz Schubert Choreography: William Forsythe Tereshkina, Gonchar, Osmolkina, Sarafanov, Schklyarov Act Three In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated Music: Thom Willems Choreography: William Forsythe Golub, Kondaurova, Novikova, Scheschina, Selina, Dubrovina, Lobukhin, Sergeev, Pimonov April 17, 2008 at 7:30PM Act One Steptext Music: J.S. Bach Choreography: William Forsythe Kondaurova, Pimonov, Lobukhin, Sergeev Act Two Approximate Sonata Music: Thom Willems Choreography: William Forsythe Scheschina, Ivanov, Riu, Popov Sergei, Petushkova, Nedviga, Dubrovina, Timofeev Pause The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude Music: Franz Schubert Choreography: William Forsythe Tereshkina, Gonchar, Osmolkina, Schklyarov, Fadeev Act Three In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated Music: Thom Willems Choreography: William Forsythe Golub, Kondaurova, Novikova, Scheschina, Selina, Dubrovina, Lobukhin, Sergeev, Pimonov April 18, 2008 at 8PM Act One Serenade Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky Choreography: George Balanchine Somova, Korsuntsev Act Two Rubies from Jewels Music: Igor Stravinsky Choreography: George Balanchine Vishneva, Fadeev, Kondaurova Act Three Ballet Imperial Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky Choreography: George Balanchine Lopatkina, Kozlov April 19, 2008 at 2PM Act One Serenade Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky Choreography: George Balanchine Osmolkina, Ivanchenko Act Two Rubies from Jewels Music: Igor Stravinsky Choreography: George Balanchine Tereshkina, Korsakov, Gonchar Act Three Ballet Imperial Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky Choreography: George Balanchine Somova, Kolb April 19, 2008 at 8PM Act One Serenade Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky Choreography: George Balanchine Kondaurova, Korsuntsev Act Two Rubies from Jewels Music: Igor Stravinsky Choreography: George Balanchine Golub, Sarafanov, Gonchar Act Three Ballet Imperial Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky Choreography: George Balanchine Tereshkina, Schklyarov April 20, 2008 at 3PM Act One Serenade Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky Choreography: George Balanchine Tereshkina, Ivanchenko Act Two Rubies from Jewels Music: Igor Stravinsky Choreography: George Balanchine Novikova, Schklyarov, Kondaurova Act Three Ballet Imperial Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky Choreography: George Balanchine Vishneva, Fadeev ************************* If this sticks without major changes I'll be very happy.

This is a very disappointing analysis. Even more so exactly because it does make sense. If the Nikiyas are limited to Somova and Tereshkina, I will have to cancel my hotel reservation and sell my tickets. I do want to see Tereshkina, but she alone does not justify a trip to D.C. for me. And I'm not interested in seeing Somova at all.