Mariinsky Swan Lake - Naples, Italy - September 17-22, 2013

[tamicute]

http://www.teatrosancarlo.it/play/show/stagione20122013/il-lago-dei-cigni

The Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, Italy, has published on their official website, the list of leading dancers for the 5 performances of Swan Lake from September 17-22,2013.

This is a copy of what the theater posted on their site

Odette-Odille: Oksana Skorik (17 e 21 settembre) / Ul’jana Lopatkina (18 settembre) / Ol’ga Esina (20 e 22 settembre)
Principe Siegfried: Vladimir Škljarov (17 e 21 settembre) / Evgenij Ivančenko (18 settembre)/ Timur Askerov (20 e 22 settembre)

For me, and probably many, I feel this is an insult to Russian Ballet. Ulyana Lopatkina, within her home country of Russia, is considered the icon of Russian Ballet and the one active Russian dancer, regarded more highly than any other. For Lopatkina to be placed as second cast in the ballet most associated with her, Swan Lake, I feel is equivalent to a slap in her face.

I am over 70 years old and the first ballet performance that I ever saw, was the Kirov Ballet performing Swan Lake in 1961 in New York City. I do not remember who played Odette/Odile and I do not have the program of that performance, but in all my years of watching the Kirov perform Swan Lake, having seen over 100, my most horrifying experience was when I saw all Swan Lake performances at Costa Mesa and Berkeley, and 5 of the 13 performances, including opening night, were danced by the worst Odette/Odile who I have ever seen, Oksana Skorik, who will be opening night in Italy and not Ulyana Lopatkina.

I feel like I am witnessing a horror movie, where the queen of Swan Lake, Ulyana Lopatkina, is being tortured by an evil witch, Skorik. What is going on with the Mariinsky management? I cannot understand this.

[Tiara]

Very sad indeed for Uliana Lopatkina, who has been a great Mariinsky principal, and who certainly should be headlining this tour. Even sadder for the audiences. I have seen many performances by both her and Oxana Skorik, and there is no comparison. Italian audiences will think that Oxana Skorik is the true face of Mariinsky style for today - this will not do their reputation any good at all.

[Birdsall]

I feel like I am witnessing a horror movie, where the queen of Swan Lake, Ulyana Lopatkina, is being tortured by an evil witch, Skorik. What is going on with the Mariinsky management? I cannot understand this.

A lot of people feel this way. No one quite understands what is going on. It is like a big joke is being played on us, and we don't get the punch line.

[Cygnet]

Uliana Lopatkina - second cast to Skoryk who will be getting a follow-up performance compared

to Uliana's one? How ridiculous. Welcome to the 2013-2014 season of the Mariinsky Ballet.

The status quo is still in effect.

[California]

This does not bode well for the Kennedy Center season in late January. Let's hope the KC management has some say about casting.

[tamicute]

This does not bode well for the Kennedy Center season in late January. Let's hope the KC management has some say about casting.

After throwing away money on 5 of my California performances , last October, I do not expect to go to the Kennedy Center in January.

[maps]

Kennedy Center's open rehearsal Mariinsky tickets are $15 [$16.80 with fees etc]. Tues afternoon on Jan 28.

[Helene]

There have been numerous discussions about Skorik and the casting/promotion policies of Mariinsky management. Here is. Link to the thread on Skorik in the "Dancers" forum.

http://balletalert.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/36167-skorik/

There are many relevant comments in the 2012-13 Mariinsky Season General News hread:

http://balletalert.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/36116-20122013-mariinsky-ballet-season-general-news-etc/

[California]

Kennedy Center's open rehearsal Mariinsky tickets are $15 [$16.80 with fees etc]. Tues afternoon on Jan 28.

Thanks for the heads-up. It's open seating, but as of a few minutes ago, it says they only have 13% availability, so they must be getting close to their quota of seats. Here's the site - scroll down near the bottom: http://www.kennedy-center.org/events/?event=BOBSG

Note that Alexandra Tomalonis also has an event, on January 25 before the opening. The link is on the same page.

[Jayne]

Ulyana Lopatkina is not so young, so her body takes longer to recover. According to the Mariinsky schedule, she is dancing Raymonda on Sept 13 (Friday) in St Pete. I assume she then jets to Italy for a few days of rehearsal for the Sept 18 performance (Wednesday). She has had some major injuries over the years, so I hope she spaces out her performances and takes care of herself. Raymonda + Odette / Odile in a 6 day time span is hard on the body!

We've heard very good things about Olga Esina (Guest Principal at Mariinsky and Principal at Vienna State Opera). I think you should try to see her if you can (but also see Ms Lopatkina!)

Ms Esina as Odette

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7ZBmw81HMk

Ms Esina as Odile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_awFJ-FCak

[tamicute]

Ulyana Lopatkina is not so young, so her body takes longer to recover. According to the Mariinsky schedule, she is dancing Raymonda on Sept 13 (Friday) in St Pete. I assume she then jets to Italy for a few days of rehearsal for the Sept 18 performance (Wednesday). She has had some major injuries over the years, so I hope she spaces out her performances and takes care of herself. Raymonda + Odette / Odile in a 6 day time span is hard on the body!

http://japanarts.co.jp/mariinsky_ballet2012/english.htm

This was the November/December 2012 Japan program.

Lopatkina opened on the 15th with Bayadere. Opening night Swan Lake on the 17th was Skorik which could be explained by not allowing Laopatkina to perform, 2 nights after Bayadere..

However, Lopatkina's remaining performances were

20th Swan Lake

23rd Anna Karenina with much dancing and a huge amount of emotions.

27th Swan Lake

Dec 2 Paquita

Dancing 2 Swan Lake and one Anna Karenina in a 7 day period, is much tougher than dancing Raymonda and then Swan Lake, 4 days later, if she danced opening night in Naples.

Maybe some will think that Lopatkina is a fragile old woman in need of many days rest, but i am sure Lopatkina, her coach, Chistyakova, and many others feel that Swan Lake, 4 days after Raymonda, is not asking too much from Lopatkina.

Also, opening night in Naples begins at 8:30 PM and Lopatkina does not appear until almost 45 minutes have passed, so she has plenty of time to recover from Raymonda.

[YID]

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)

[California]

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)

I can't find casting information on the Kennedy Center site. Where did you see this?

http://www.kennedy-center.org/events/?event=BOBSG

[maps]

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