YID

I asked Gergiev yesterday to look into casting for DC and to put Lopatkina on tour. I'll keep on praying. I'd love to see Tereshkina, but I would not stay for Somova or Kolegova, nor Zuzin or Askerov.

Let's do somehing. Gergiev (sounds like) conducting openning Eugene Onegin at Met Opera next week. Only Gergiev can make Fateev place Lopatkina (or others Fateev didn't place). Otherwise, Kennedy will see the heavy load of Ms. Skorik (who's not a Mariinsky level swan - i suffered thorugh my performances in CA), and WILL BY NO MEANS pay to see another Swan lake with her. Should we write a group letter and try to pass it to Gergiev? He aslo conducts at Carnegie Hall in October. There's still time for visas and travel arrangements.

To Jayne, All i can say, that Italy casting has nothing to do with Lopatkina's choices or earlier ballet, that's the Acting Director Mr. Fateev decision. I will have to (my long overdue) organize a petition to Gergiev to see Lopatkina in DC. Because US will not see her as it stands now (despite her being published on Kennedy site)

is it a Freudian slip? Mr. Iksanov at 1:36 referred to Smirnova as a principal. (...we'll present a new rising star. it's just 2 years since she joined and has earned a distinguished position in this large company, became a prinicipal, who has the biggest future.....)... as of NOW, the Bolshoi web-site listed her as a 2nd soloist.....

about Zakharova, imho, i support her for walking out of the cluster of intrigues and too much merky waters in the company. Shame on what's happenning to the ballet in Russia, however, it's a reflection of what's happenning in the country. Money makes the (russia) world go round.

Cheprasshova got a Diploma (like Alexei Popov, whom i like from what i've seen), at least something.

I don't agree on Gold for Askerov and Silver for Skorik.

Alas. I will have to vote with my $$$ by not buying tickets to their perfomances.

There are other threads for that. In the typical general place, discussing the particular company.

http://balletalert.invisionzone.com/index.php?/forum/63-kirov-mariinsky-ballet/

Next visit of Mariinsky to the US (of what's knows as of now) is January 2014 to Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Swan Lake.

Bolshoi - http://balletalert.invisionzone.com/index.php?/forum/62-bolshoi-ballet/ their next known visit to the US is in June 2014, same Kennedy Center. Enjoy - that's the right threads to learn that data

I saw all seven "Swan Lake"s in Costa Mesa, Ca., last October, and loved them all. Oxana Skorik (3), Ekaterina Kondaurova (2) and Anastasia Kolegova (2). I felt that Oxana Skorik's performances, two of which weren't flawless ( and one I thought essentially was), showed 'genius' and were a 'privilege' to have seen. I think that I was impressed !

One of the qualities that I remember so well was how Oxana Skorik was able to take her outstanding physical prowess and use it to add layers of expression to the feeling and significance of the work, rather than just being a show in itself. Also her facial commitment (as well as her physical) at times went right to the edge and she managed it with assurance and 'genius'.

I have not seen all 7, but i had seen four (4) performances and each possible cast in Costa Mesa, Friday-Sunday and saw Skorik twice.

Besides the great body and physics, that was the worst O/O in my life-span*. Not only she omitted most "birdy" like moves, simplified steps, was wobbly with partnering**, missed the music score, she had NO acting, she never looked at Siegfried, and only "connection" she had was with Rothbald in black swan act. There was NO chemistry in partnering, i just felt her fear. Yep, she has the terrific body/ the great "istrument", but i'll stay away from buying tickets to see her, and will try to exchange them if casting changes. I would Never fly to Russia to see her. She has not earned that in my personal book. But to each his own.

*I primarily watch Mariinsky, Bolshoi, and "russians" at ABT. **I saw Shklyarov partnering other balerina's and it's not his fault

In answer to your question, this is why I wrote above, This disastrous slip-up is bad enough, but when one allies it with Kampa's other shortfalls - her lack of fluidity, her stiff arms and upper body, her lack of expression and indeed air of ill-ease every time she steps on the stage, any ballet lover must surely say "Enough! Where are the true Mariinsky ballerinas?"

agree 100%. It was not about JUST a slip, it's a slip ALONG WITH OTHER non-Mariinsky ballerina exhibits ("her lack of fluidity, her stiff arms and upper body, her lack of expression and indeed air of ill-ease every time") while there are PLENTY talented balerinas "on the ignored bench".

we may need to start a petion to both Kennedy and Mariinsky management, kindly asking them to bring the cast we like ;-)) Lopatkina, Tereshkina, Kondaurova - PLEASE

read on a russian forum that there will be a Romeo& Juliette broadcast on March 1st at http://mariinsky.tv enjoy

Also, i was lucky that i gambled and took that trip that i saw Novikova & Sarafanov at Mikhailovsky in Giselle (some staging & corpse are not as great as Mariinsky, but the duet was priceless), then Kondaurova and Korzuntsev in Bayadere, Lopatkina & Korzuntsev in Swan Lake, and Vishneva and Shklyarov in Romeo and Juliet. I adored Lopatkina in SL - the purpose of my trip. I saw 2 different white swans and a black swan. The conductor was "hurting" occasionally by slowing tempo, but there was enough of thoughtful and graceful Ms. Lopatkina to fill even the slowest tempo, and what musical phrasing, when it felt that it was her body and her "wings" that stroke musical cords. - total cure to the Orange county mis-casting.R&J had a star-stellar cast with Gergiev conducting. I learnt that some scenes/roles were cut when on tours. I don't recall the Juliet friend (magnificently danced by Osmolkina), or a jester (Grigory Popov) with his crue. And Mr. Ponomarev as Kapulette and Alexandra Gronskaya as Mrs. Kapulette, Ilya Kuznetsov – the best ever most vicious Tybalt, and Sergeev as Mercutio. Vishneva and Shklyarov were great, Shklyarov danced with such passion and abandonment. What a great trip and great ballet line-up. Thanks to all who helped it happen.

The girl was even surprised why the ballet is called Don Quixotte ;-)) where DQ has a non-dancing role, and then I asked her of the dancers, she said that she remembered and liked the married couple ;-)) and when i drilled her on the title role of Kitri, she said it did not register, the Basil she liked and remembered.

She clearly has something Mariinsky Management wants.

Well, thank you, the admin, for deleting my response on "what the management wants" - whoever wants to find out - please send me a personal note

the 2nd part of my post is here 'a guest from a hostel i was staying attended a ballet for the 1st time ever in her life, and the only dancers she remembered from that performance were Street Dancer and Espada (Pavlenko & Sergeyev), she liked Basil (Ivanchenko) - the fact that a newby to ballet did not even notice Kitri was enough of description for me.'

wrong text -sorry

I guess that folks can really see things differently sometimes, YID. I'm not sure what night you were there, but I think that you would agree that the audience response at the final curtain, especially at the last two of her performances with instant standing ovations, was quite impressive.

I was there the Friday-Sunday - 4 performances, and I indeed participated in a standing ovation. But my standing ovation was to the Mariinsky CORPS - They stole the show. The last Sunday performance i watched from the far 3rd tier, to see the Corps, and not be distracted by the "soloists". So, i'd agree that there was Standing ovation (in my case it was to the troupe, and not the soloists). Out of casts i've seen - Kondaurova was the best swan. But to each his/her own

I have seen Skorik Swan Lake in Orange county myself, and it was HORRIBLE (well, not as horrible as Ms. Kampa's Kitri)....

to cure it all, (I pray god that she's well and happy), i might have my magic potion of Lopatkina in Swan Lake in February

to each his/her own. Even though i did not like mid-career Somova (she was more "vaganova-style" right after vaganova school), i'd take her.

" But it was her first, and to my eyes hardly the atrocity it is being made out to be" - as someone in a russian forum said, "let her be and be trained in any other place but Mariinsky", when there are many more much more talented (though neglected) balerina's. But what can i say, when there's an artistic genocide in Mariinsky ballet, and acid attacks in Moscow.

Keenan Kampa's DQ is The worst Kitri ever, and such a disgrace and mistreatment of Mariinsky's stage and legacy. I've see all possible clips of her DQ and a DQ of Novikova (just days before) - the (nightmarish) night and bright day. She's not ready (and who knows if ever would be) for Mariinsky's stage. The good news is that Svetlana Ivanova is given a chance as Gizelle soon.

There's a large outcry on 2 russian ballet forums i read. where Kampa's debute as Mirtha was compared to the "queen of jelly fish" vs. Queen of willies. Unfortunately MT is run but corrupt and scrupulous gang that has been killing Mariinsky's ballet. sad sad sad

added later, Yulia Stepanova however was praised for her debute as Lilac Fairy in SB this month. that's a good news.

and on the 6th, Andrei Yermakov will be dancing (alas with Kolegova). And looks like Mr.boss Fateev took away Raymonda from Novikova & Shlyarov on the 6th

i liked this Carmen by Yermakov and Tereshkina - Bravo - besides his dancing he's great acting (i believed him) in those close ups, loved Tereshkina - enjoy, the fellow forum members

imho, it's a very unjustifiable promotion (and pretty sneaky one), Besides his hight (and presumed family connections), he was a very "wooden from the waist up', very non-expressive, and not very impressive technically in Orange county's swan lake. I would much rather see a bunch of still 2nd soloist, beginning with (now becoming my favorite) Andrei Yermakov, Zverev, Smekalov,or even coryphees: Ioannisyan (remember his Espada), or Romanchikov (Rothbald in Orange county).

Lopatkina's birthday was on Oct 23rd. youo might be right about the number - and I wish her LONG LONG dancing years, happiness, success and all she wishes for ;-)) Having had a chance to interact with her in person, i owe her personality (not to mentione her performance, skill, dedication, purity, depth and breadth of what goes into her being on stage)

No (Osmolkika didn't dance on Sunday), it was debute hard-core for Maria Shirinkina, She danced openning, then from middle of act 1 on Friday (without a warm-up), then on Saturday and sunday (after a gala in NYC on Thursday). I saw her both on Sat & Sunday, and Kolb was a much more engaging and regal prince, and she danced more relaxed and confident and less tentative. I would say that Cinderella role suits her body and personality very well. promise to write more soon

left my program at home - in two words - loved all classical (most classical pieces), and had to survive through, what my non-ballet-expert friends reffered to "lots of floor wrestling, with longest skirts on women - where you don't need decades of ballet training or ballet bodies". Overall, i am glad i went, more comments (hopefully) will follow.