Pronunciation of Ballet Names

[canbelto]

Ok, how do you pronounce Altynai Asylmuratova?

Is it "Asylmu-RA-tova" or "Asylmurato-VA" or "Asylmura-TO-va"? I know she's from Kazhakstan so the pronunciation might be different.

Also, is it Sylvie GUIL-lem or Sylvie Gui-LEM?

[vrsfanatic]

The way I heard it said in St. Petersburg, Russia, by Russians and in the US by Russians is "Asylmu-RA-tova". Now whether or not that is how it is said in other parts of the world, I do not know.

As for Guillem (Guilem), I would only report how I say it!

[Mel Johnson]

Just make it one syllable, with a hard initial "g": GYEM.

[soubrette_fan]

Sofiane Sylve - is it "So-fee-ann" or "Suh-fy-anee"?

Also, for her last name, is it "Seeve" or more like "Silve"?

Wendy Whelan - "Way-lan", or "Well-lan"?

Ashley Bouder - "Boo-der" or "Bow -der"?

Maria Kowroski? Is it "Kuh-rawski" or "Kuh-roh-ski" or "Kuh-ROW-ski"?

Nikolaj Hubbe?

Suzanne Farrell- "Farr-ell" or "Fair-elle"?

Zenaida Yanowsky?

[Marga]

Wendy Whelan - "Way-lan", or "Well-lan"?

Suzanne Farrell-  "Farr-ell" or "Fair-elle"?

I'll give you the ones I know for sure:

Wendy Whelan = whale-in

Suzanne Farrell = rhymes with "barrel"

[carbro]

Sofiane Sylve - is it "So-fee-ann" or "Suh-fy-anee"? 

Also, for her last name, is it "Seeve" or more like "Silve"?

.    .    .

Ashley Bouder - "Boo-der" or "Bow -der"?

Maria Kowroski? Is it "Kuh-rawski" or "Kuh-roh-ski" or "Kuh-ROW-ski"?

Nikolaj Hubbe?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

so-fee-AHN SEEL-v' (not quite a second syllable)

Ashley BOW-der (rhymes with Louder)

Maria Ko-ROSS-ki

NI-ko-lye HOO-buh

[Ceeszi]

How do you pronounce Diaghilev?

Is it Dee-a'-gi-lev or Dee-a'zhi-lev?

[jorgen]

I would say Nikolaj Hübbe is:

Ni-ko-LYE HY-beh

[carbro]

Point well taken, Jorgen. As with many immigrants (although I realize that technically, NH is still a Danish citizen, not an immigrant), the pronunciation gets mangled by those of us on the west side of the Atlantic -- or east side of the Pacific. I posted the pronunciation New Yorkers have (mis)applied.

[Marga]

How do you pronounce Diaghilev?

Is it Dee-a'-gi-lev or Dee-a'zhi-lev?

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The first one: Dee-a'-gi'lev

[Guest nycdog]

Umm, perhaps we need a poll to decide on the correct pronunciations?

HY-beh, you say?

[Mel Johnson]

A diaresis, which is the two dots over the vowel u (ü) makes it a bit different. Take the vowel sound and add an "e" to it, AT THE SAME TIME. Where you're from affects whether it's more on the u side or the e side.

[Marga]

To try it out, say "e" with your lips pushed forward.

[nysusan]

In anticipation of the Bolshoi's North American tour this summer, can anyone guide me on the pronounciation of Tsiskaridze, Belogolovtsev and Antonicheva?

[Marianna]

In anticipation of the Bolshoi's North American tour this summer, can anyone guide me on the pronounciation of Tsiskaridze, Belogolovtsev and Antonicheva?

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Hi nysusan,

I have just consulted with my girlfriend who listened to me saying those names in Russian several times and after that she kindly transcribed for me what she's heard (rigid rules of Russian spelling and Russian-to-English transcription left aside):

Tsiskaridze - Tiz-ca-ri'ze (with the emphasis on the third syllable "RI")

Belogolovtsev - Bella-ga-loaf'-tef (with the emphasis on 'loaf' part )

Antonicheva - An-to'-ni-chi-va (with the emphasis on the second syllable)

Lucky you nysusan!

You will get to see all those dancers!

Hoping to read later about their performance!

[nysusan]

Thank you Marianna! Yes, I am lucky to have the opportunity to see all these great dancers, but my bank account is not feeling very lucky since I bought the tickets!

I may have to subsist on bread & water this summer to make up for all the money I've spent on NYCB,ABT & now the Bolshoi. Then again, I might lose some weight on a bread & water diet so it's all good!

[Guest nycdog]

How is 'la Cour' pronounced? I'm assuming it's like 'Coors' beer without the s, but might it be cow'rr?

[carbro]

Solymosi? I've heard people pronounce it so that it sounds like the surname of NYCB's Jennie.

[Giselle05]

Ok, how about Corella? I've always thought it was just that, Corella, and then I heard a few people say something like Corei-a. (like hey-a :-)) Anyone know?

And, I'm not sure if this was covered before, but what about Xiomara?

[carbro]

Angel and Carmen are Ko-RAY-yah. (In Spanish, a double "L" makes the sound of a "Y", as in "yes.")

For Ms. Reyes, see djb's pronunciation.

[bart]

Angel and Carmen are Ko-RAY-yah.  (In Spanish, a double "L" makes the sound of a "Y", as in "yes.")

This is true for Latin America. In much of Spain there's a hint of the "L" -- along with the "y" -- in the pronunciation of the LL.

However, in contemporary Spain, as in Britain, it's increasingly okay to utilize pronunciations based on region, class, age, and attitude.

[Mel Johnson]

I used to get a good chuckle out of radio or TV newsreaders, who would speak of Edward vi-YAY-a.

[richard53dog]

  Solymosi?  I've heard people pronounce it so that it sounds like the surname of NYCB's Jennie.

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Did it sound like Sho-li-mosh-i?

From my miniscule knowledge of Hungarian pronunciation, that's my thought.

I also have a BBC documentary where they make an announcement from the ROH about him and I seem to remember them using a pronunciation something like that.

I also remember hearing the name of the Hungarian soprano Sylvia Sass as

"Shash"

But I can't claim to be enything like an expert here

Richard

[carbro]

Thanks, Richard. My ear caught So-MO-shi. If the L was pronounced at all, it was slurred over.

[Helene]

In Hungarian, the "s" is pronounced "sh", and "ly" is pronounced "ee" (long "e"). There's no "l" sound in "ly."

Here's a pronunciation guide to Hungarian:

http://www.math.nyu.edu/%7Ewendlc/pronunci.../Hungarian.html

Oh, the mess I used to make out of trying to pronounce the name "György," when "gy" is a simple "j" sound (as in "judge").