Sergei Filin Retires

[drb]

Sergei Filin has been seen frequently in America in recent years. A noble exemplar of the classical style at the Bolshoi, Mr. Filin has been a strong partner for a number of dramic ballerinas here: Nina Ananiashvili with her Georgian Company; Masha Alexandrova with The Bolshoi; Svtlana Lunkina at least in some Gala performances; Maria Allash in that one generous live Bolshoi worldcast of Raymonda; and of course with Svetlana Zakharova, perhaps more frequently in many European venues. Many BTers have written favorably of his star quality. And of Ms. Zakharova's dancing with him. His formal restraint may have helped turn some extreme and jerky movements from her past into a modernism that is more within the classical canon.

Now his performing career is to end this month, as reported in the English language Moscow Times:

Filin departs at the end of this month, following an illustrious 20-year career in which he has frequently been hailed as the Bolshoi's finest male exponent of classical roles, as well as the sort of partner every ballerina might wish for, and moves on to become ballet company artistic director of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Musical Theater.

Could anyone describe the institution that he will direct?

The quote appears at the end of a review of a double bill that was included on Friday's links: Osipova's Sylphide and Filin's The Lesson, the latter entered the Bolshoi rep from The Kings of Dance.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2008/04/04/103.html