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YID

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Posts posted by YID

  1. Sorry for briefness,

    WOW- WOW-WOW for yesterday - Bravo Mariinsky, Bravo Tereshkina, Shklyarov, Kondaurova, Tkachenko, Ivanov (Tzar), Smekalov, Selina (Key wet-nurse/nanny) - much nicer music, such passionate dancing - Bravo

    Anna Karenina at Schedrin score and Ratmansky choreography is not my cup of tea (though, I'll go to see both Lopatkina & Kondaurova) (i'll hoope to write more later)

    Added after Wdn. Matinee.... second set of WOWs

    Same bravos. I kind of liked Baimuratov better (the only thing better in Smekalov was that meditative yogic pose).

    and OMG, whom to choose, whom to prefer? Obraztsova is such an amazing dancer. But i can't choose whom i like better, is it OK? Tereshkina was more tom-boyish and spiky, and Obraztsova was more princess-like. Both have gorgeous lines and gorgeous technic, musicality, characterisation.

    I think the chemistry was a bit better with Obraztsova (but with Tereshkina Shklyrov was not tired and did extra tricks)

    Shame that the program didn't report that the Humpback horse was the same GREAT Tkachenko... bravo... and off to Lopatkina

  2. ... if anything was missing, it was a sublime performance on the part of the first violinist, especially in the PdD of Act II and again in Act IV. I don't know how our Odette managed to keep her concentration and not to wince with every note that was off-pitch. The role is so dependent on the music, especially in the PdD, and in that regard Part was poorly served.

    "Tchaikovskys transcendent score is well performed, except for the violin solo during the Act II pas de deux. I dont think Ive ever heard a professional musician perform so badly."

    I'm sorry to say it was even worse on Friday night.

    I am glad i was not the only one upset about the violinist (I went on Saturday night) - horrible violin.

    And different to most on the board, Semenova did not move me. Everything about her was great (her hight, lines, moves, partnering), but i kept on remembering Tereshkina, Kondaurova, Lopatkina... anyway, they are coming soon (not with Swan lake though).

  3. I thought Natalia or someone else from this forum would have reviewed it.

    Google translations are so inadequate. I can't imagine the real criticism was that he was too "shy."

    Well, not through google translate (but as a native speaker), his acting and dancing ... "was called shy and school-boy like, confessing his forbidden love to his school-master... partners shyness and unreliability in lift caused a problem (acting-wise) for Diana. She, disarmed by (facing) the lack of harassment and pressure from the partner*, had to make a point of accentuating her character's sickness, her semi-fainting condition of a tuberculosis stricken courtesan explained the lacking passion of her lover. And only those lucky ones who saw her dancing this part with passionate Marcelo Gomes, knew what ecstatic dance the benefit was deprived of"...

    Malahov was also "not complemented" for performance... too tired too exhosted...

    only Desmond was Hurrayed....

    The critic also didn't like all the other dancers and recommended just solo galas (difficult to agree with her... though i was not in the audience... but just the overall tone is very not positive ;-))

    added afterwards after question "lack of harrasement"

    * as the author put it - the character was not politically incorectly demanding on the courtesan, was not pushing any demands on her was not (sexually) harrasing her... that's my understanding of "обезоруженной отсутствием домогательств"

  4. Olga Smirnova and Sergei Strelkov

    From what I can tell, the last two are not officially in the company yet (not on the website), and might still be students...?

    From a different thread - they JUST graduated from Vaganova Academy this year, and New Bolshoi Ballet Director Mr. Filin "stole" her for Bolshoi (offering a soloist position) - kudos to Filin (sad that he stopped dancing)

  5. Don't mean to add fuel to the fire, but I would see Lopatkina. She's a living legend and you will spend many-many hours telling your grand-children about that time you saw her live.

    Ah, you're ABSOLUTELY right. Lopatkina is a MUST see. She doesn't have the same PR (and US agent) as Vishneva, but she's called "the soul of russian ballet" - ah, i wish she'd do the dying swan again....

    I'd say, of what's announced - the cast is (promised to be) great..

  6. Hello -- I am a relative novice to ballet, and have seen the Kirov only once before (the Fokine Triple Bill, some years ago on tour in Boston). I'll be in New York for a few days next month when the Kirov will be in town. If I had to choose one performance to see, between Vishneva in Anna K and Obraztsova in LHH, which would you recommend? I know that's probably not much to go on (in terms of making a recommendation), but I am a fairly blank slate when it comes to ballet, with no strongly defined tastes -- yet. I'd appreciate your thoughts.

    My 2 cents (or rather $20-30:-)) Why not to do both? if money is the issue, you can get either a standing ticket or partial view one (I took one ticket like that for LHH for a matinee ;-)) You live only once ;-))

  7. Let's see. Premium orchestra seats at the Met can go for more than $200-300 depending on location. Lower box seats at a Yankees game go for more than that. Top tickets to Wicked are over $300 at the box office. Other top broadway show orchestra seats run $150-175. So the most expensive ticket at City Ballet goes for $119 for a subscriber, or $149 for single sale. Considering all that, I feel City Ballet is a good investment for seeing a world-renown performing arts company.

    Let me ask you - how many times can you watch Wiched or the same broadway show. Over my 10 year in NYC, and probably over 15 broadway shows sees, only Phantom is the only one i've seen twice, and Chicago may be on a list of repeats.

    HOWEVER, as a NYC dweller, i refuse to pay the full price for broadway, with tons of promotions and corporate discounts offered i never paid the full price. And Baseball? - isn't it a billion dollar industry - one doesn't think of billion dollar industries when it comes to arts. And MET has standing section, where you can get (yes a standing "Seat" sounds funny) for $20-35.

    I am happy that you can afford your increased subscription... But i FEEL the pain of everyone posting here...

  8. I saw the Friday night performance. While Osipova's technique was flawless, I was surprised at the lack of fluidity in her upper body. She doesn't have the plasticity of, say, Veronika Part, who only has to breathe to radiate eloquence. In fact, I could imagine that Osipova had been trained in the U.S. rather than in Russia. Still, she was adorable to watch and her jumps are, beyond question, thrilling.

    couldn't resist noting - Osipova is from a Moscow school, Part is a product of Vaganova school (St. Petersburg) the main source for Kirov/Mariinsky ballet. There was always a difference in style between the schools (however, it was a bit blended at Bolshoi as plenty of Mariinsky/Vaganov dancers moved to Bolshoi)......

    and the second offtopic - Bolshoi is scheduled to bring its Coppelia to DC next May ;-))

  9. It was wonderful and it makes me very happy that Ratmansky is in residence...

    BUT where were the giant vegetables mentioned in earlier production reviews? I see this set was from Riga not Moscow... Was the ending of the ballet changed because of the horrible starvation?

    Quirky as I might be I was curious to see a ballet with giant cabbages... I don't really object, I loved what I saw... But now I'm wondering what happened with the original production.

    I went yesterday (Osipova, Vasiliev, Simkin, Reyes). I would like to comment on light, decoration and staging. After intermission, i could barely see the legs of the dancers in dark pants/bottom, behind the grey solid background, and with minimal lightning - their legs were lost in twilight zone. SAD,

    I know the action was taking place at night, but there's a different way to stage/light it. I don't recall any nuance left in Bolshoi's production. Also, Bolshoi staging had a bit more variation between the husband (who wore flashy top and white pants) and the male dancer (white top, knee-high pants and long socks). Sitting at the back of the orchestra i was at times confused, who's who. I do miss the Bolshoi's decorations (but it looks like it's current MET's direction -with Opera and ballets - minimalistic decor)

    Overall, a very pleasant ballet for ABT, everyone danced so enthusiastically

  10. The operative word here is "was." The winds of change have blown. Not only was Ms Somova taken off this past Feb/March Canadian tour and had no full-evening ballets at the Mariinsky Festival but she is scheduled to dance no full-evenings between now and the rest of the season at home.

    I probably shouldn’t respond to the old song...

    But truth is more important. At the time of Mariinsky Canadian tour, Ms. Somova and Alessio Carbone (Paris Opera Ballet) were preparing for World premier of Benjamin Milliepid's new ballet, which was shown at YAGP 2011 Gala: "STARS OF TODAY MEET THE STARS OF TOMORROW".

    It might come out as off topic - for which i appologize to the board and forum....

    Sorry, i was holding my comments to Angelique for a LONG TIME

    "But truth is more important."

    As a person to attended YAGP gala 2011, let me report - the piece was NOT performed...

  11. Haha - yes, WEDNESDAY! Please post or pm if a meet-up point is arranged.

    Great idea about meeting (NYSusan & her ballet friends usually do that). I've tickets for every performance (call me crazy, but They are my MOST favorite) will be happy to meet any day. Happy St. Patric

  12. There are ticket prices further down on the press release:

    Tickets: $225, 125, 95, 80, 50, 40, 30, 20 ....

    just came back from the ticket office, the cheapest was $50 (family circle) or partial views for $40. Orchestra is $125. But on the bright side - i've got good seats

  13. There is now more info on the 2011 gala:

    "Featuring the stars of:

    Jose Manuel Carreno (American Ballet Theatre)

    Thomas Forster (American Ballet Theatre)

    Ivan Vasiliev (Bolshoi Ballet)

    Rubinald Pronk (Dutch National Ballet)

    Gallim Dance

    Yekaterina Kondaurova (Mariinsky Ballet)

    Tiler Peck (New York City Ballet)

    Tyler Angle (New York City Ballet)

    Daniel Ulbricht (New York City Ballet)

    Yuan Yuan Tan (San Francisco Ballet)

    Anthony Spaulding (San Francisco Ballet)

    Roderick George (Theater Basel)

    And WORLD PREMIERES by ABTs Marcelo Gomes and NYCBs Benjamin Millepied" (I wonder whether this refers to Gomes as choreographer?)

    http://yagp.org/gala/yagp_gala_2011_index.html

    Vasiliev's name got dropped - guess there'll be only Ekaterina Kondaurova defending the Russian ballet presentation

  14. ah, what a great week it was.

    To start off - I'd Kill the Kennedy Center orchestra. They Scewed up way too much. They were WAY TOO SLOW in act 2 on Lopatkina night (I sensed it, and then Chistyakova confirmed it). They had a lot of problem with Tempo of the Orchestra that week whole time. and to Natalia's comment about the conductor being a Mariinsky conductor, my reply will be, well a jockey can only sting/beat a horse as much as he wishes, but if the horse is not inclined to speed up - what would you do?

    Actually on Sunday, they were slow for Vishneva in Act 2 at times (but not as badly as on Sat.night). So, to defend Lopatkina act 2 - a non-emotional Korsunsev and "sleeping" orchestra did not contribute to the best outcome.

    Describing the performances - I'd agree with NYSUSAN and Elizaveta.

    I'd prefer not to rank the 3 i've seen (Vishneva, Lopatkina, Tereshkina) They are all a bit different (oh, i've seen Somova dress-rehearsal and switched tickets ;-)). But out of 2 Vishneva/Fadeev preformances, the Tuesday was more moving. and i kept weeping in Act 2 of Tereshkina/Shklyarov. I adored Fadeev's performances (so happy that he's back dancing). I very much enjoyed Shklyarov & Shirinkina Pa De Deux.

    And it was Iosifidi (I was shocked how tall she was), as per people greeting her back-stage.

    Lovely lovely lovely - the whole run.

  15. Saturday night and Sunday's (matinee) performances -- Lopatkina and Vishneva, respectively -- are now completely sold out, according to the KennCen web:

    http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/index.cfm?fuseaction=showEvent&event=BLBSF

    Well, Friday night & Sat 1:30 doen't have the "sold out" tags yet. but if you click on the tickets & availablitily - all categories are SOLD OUT.....

    Responding on the variation - the performer himself told that it's the original music of Adam and used to be danced, then got dropped. He prefers to dance it since Albreht doesn't have a lot of dancing in Act 1, and because it's a good variation.

    Well, some dancers go an extra mile (dance an extra variation ;-)) for sake of art. Looking forward to seeing it again.

  16. Saw Hallberg in the audience last night (was told he rehearses SL for Mariinsky's festival).

    Vishneva and (my favorite) Fadeev & Kondaurova were OUTSTANDING last night. Such great acting, so true. Great performance. Saw open rehearsal and (as hoped) swithced Fr. Night to Sat. Matinee to see Tereshkina & Shklyarov (who will add an additional vatiation in Act 1 (once composed by Sergeev and once danced years ago - he danced it so flawlessly & impressively during the Dress Rehearsal.

    PS: no mention was made of Valeria Martinyuk dancing instead of Shirinkina in Peasant pas de deux. Oksana Skorik (1 of 2 lead wilises) was elevating her legs higher than the rest though was asked to not do so at dress rehearsal

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