MadameP Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 I haven't seen a live full-length Raymonda in some years, but I should think that--like Aurora--Raymonda should be subtly different in each act. Fresh and youthful in her entrance certainly, though still a blue-blood and, by the end, radiating aristocratic grandeur. (At least "ballet" aristocratic -- which is as absurd in its way as "ballet" peasant. Though very beautiful.) And any good ballerinas will mold the role a bit towards her particular strengths--the role has its requirements, but if the ballet didn't allow for some interpretive range it could be danced by holographs. Despite the damsel in distress aspects, the choreography endows Raymonda with more agency and character than the story does. I like that about Petipa. Yes, although she's in a spot of bother (!) Raymonda is an aristocrat, not just any girl, and so the quality of aristocratic refinement should be present in each variation, although, as you say, each variation should be "subtly different"! Link to comment
Natalia Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 I choose the path of beauty and love because ballet brings only beauty to my heart. How lucky we are to be seeing an entire week of exquisite Raymondas at the Kennedy Center next month. Life is good. Link to comment
Drew Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 [...] How lucky we are to be seeing an entire week of exquisite Raymondas at the Kennedy Center next month. Absolutely! Link to comment
Helene Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 The only time that Medora is a damsel in distress is at the beginning, when she's about to be sold into marriage. She takes to Petite Corsaire like a fish to water, and even survives a shipwreck. Raymonda is an interesting character who is allowed a discomfiting vision scene, or at least a discomfiting dream vision scene, highly unusual in at least the surviving Petipa classics. Sergei Filin (in the Bolshoi version) is the only Jean de Brienne I've ever seen who I thought should make her forget Abderakhman. Unless, of course, Gediminas Taranda was dancing Abderakhman. Link to comment
choriamb Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 One of the things that I like about Raymonda is that ballerinas seem to feel freer to interpret it differently: it just doesn't come with the same emotional baggage as Swan Lake or Giselle. My favorite take on the role actually isn't any of the ones mentioned! I like seeing a more worldly, adult, playful Raymonda in the final act: it provides a great--but logical--contrast to the fresh (and then vision) maiden of the first acts of the ballet. I can't speak to their full interpretations of the role, but the Act III clips I've seen online of Plisetskaya and van Hamel locked this interpretation in my head: they seemed intent on showing how much fun it was to become an adult woman and wife, free from the uncertainties of girlhood. That said, I also enjoy the grand, severe approach taken by Kondaurova and Marie-Agnès Gillot. Like folks have said, it leaves one few places take the characterization...but what an impression it makes in the final act! Link to comment
Natalia Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 The grandest of the "grand aloofs" was perhaps Sylvie Guillem, loud slaps and all. This captures it all: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YjWrI5ityFw I expect Big Red to give Sylvie a run for her money, even though the Mariinsky version omits the slaps...but I can also imagine both Skorik and Kolegova "bringing it" in the aristocratic snoot department. Oooo, I can't wait. Link to comment
maps Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 The only time that Medora is a damsel in distress is at the beginning, when she's about to be sold into marriage. She takes to Petite Corsaire like a fish to water, and even survives a shipwreck. Raymonda is an interesting character who is allowed a discomfiting vision scene, or at least a discomfiting dream vision scene, highly unusual in at least the surviving Petipa classics. Sergei Filin (in the Bolshoi version) is the only Jean de Brienne I've ever seen who I thought should make her forget Abderakhman. Unless, of course, Gediminas Taranda was dancing Abderakhman. Medora, Gamzatti, Raymonda, Aurora are different characters by nature and nurture. And we will have as Abderakham's, Smekalov and Zverev. . Link to comment
MadameP Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Medora, Gamzatti, Raymonda, Aurora are different characters by nature and nurture. And we will have as Abderakham's, Smekalov and Zverev. This link is to the full Segerstrom cast so we should have some wonderful dancers in variations: http://www.scfta.org/scfta/media/General/PDFs/Program_MariinskyBallet_Raymonda.pdf I'm happy with all the casts. Both these Abderakhams are excellent, in particular Zverev, who really can steal the scene away from any of the current JdBs! He has such presence on stage! But he should be given JdB. He is a wonderful dancer! Link to comment
maps Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 The KC is displaying huge beautiful posters of Skorik. Link to comment
YID Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Had it been a different cast i would visit, but not this one Link to comment
cubanmiamiboy Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 To be honest, I don't really care about the casting, and I knew I was to have my share of Skorik, but Raymonda is not a role of fouettes, so she should be fine. I will be there just to see this rarity. Link to comment
Drew Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Yes--I'm not indifferent to casting, but the chance to see this ballet is the great thing with me too. Especially this ballet as danced by this company. (Weather and ballet gods cooperating, I will be there Friday and Sat, and see all three casts. And I hope to meet some fellow posters on this site, too, as Cubanmiamiboy earlier suggested.) Edited to Add: Maps I would love to see the poster, but haven't been able to track down an image of it. Link to comment
Birdsall Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Actually, Skorik would probably at this point be fine in fouettes and most technical moves. She has improved in that respect. She probably won't mess up technically. But hopefully her acting and musicality (which in the past has been almost zero) has improved since I saw her this past summer. Raymonda, in my opinion, should be girlish and dainty in Act 1 picking up the flowers on her entrance very elegantly and joyfully. She is also a bit taken aback by Abderakhman in that first scene. Then, she is almost in a dream and trance-like in the second scene and fearful of the appearance in the dream of Abderakhman. In Act 2 (the gorgeous blue tutu is in this scene) she attempts to overcome her fear and be polite to Abderakhman and then fear for the safety of Jean de Brienne and horror at Abderakhman's death. The final act she has come through trauma and takes the stage as a woman of the world. This is all my own interpretation. Basically, a lot of people think this is not that much of an acting role (thin plot), but I think a ballerina can make quite a lot out of the role if she wants. For me personally it is not just a technical role. But I agree. It is great to see this version and simply watching the corps in the lovely Act 1 waltz with flowers will be delightful. The character dances of Act 2 are interesting especially the Spanish dance if the Spanish female has the amazing back bends (that make her look like she's going to break her back) that I have seen in the past. Not all dancers in this role do it the way Galina Rakhmanova did. She was jaw dropping!!!!! Maria Adzhamova is also amazing with the backbends in this. Petushkova has been dancing it a lot and even though I love her in evil roles I find her a bit lacking in the back bends for the Spanish dance in Raymonda. Your jaw does not drop to the floor and fear for her back when she dances it. Link to comment
maps Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Yes--I'm not indifferent to casting, but the chance to see this ballet is the great thing with me too. Especially this ballet as danced by this company. (Weather and ballet gods cooperating, I will be there Friday and Sat, and see all three casts. And I hope to meet some fellow posters on this site, too, as Cubanmiamiboy earlier suggested.) Edited to Add: Maps I would love to see the poster, but haven't been able to track down an image of it. I can't figure out how to upload pictures! Skorik blue tutu poster is huge maybe 4-5 feet high. https://mapskc.shutterfly.com/ Link to comment
Drew Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 I can't figure out how to upload pictures! Skorik blue tutu poster is huge maybe 4-5 feet high. https://mapskc.shutterfly.com/ Thank you-- Link to comment
cubanmiamiboy Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 The poster is pretty, but sort of a generic pose. They should had gone with the iconic Raymonda hand touching head position. Link to comment
Drew Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 The poster is pretty, but sort of a generic pose. They should had gone with the iconic Raymonda hand touching head position. I agree--I wonder if they thought this image would 'read' to the general public better. Edited to add: I just realized there were two Skorik Raymonda posters--I was commenting on the one with her leg extended high up to the side. I think the one from the vision scene (in arabesque in a white tutu) is really quite beautiful and less generic even if not the hand-to-head Hungarian pose. Link to comment
Liotarded Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 Hello all. Opening night tickets are secured, attending other performances TBD. I can't wait and reading everyone's comments just adds to the build-up. It'll be me plus new-to-ballet wife and we look forward to drinks with anyone who'd care to meet up. Link to comment
cubanmiamiboy Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 Hello all. Opening night tickets are secured, attending other performances TBD. I can't wait and reading everyone's comments just adds to the build-up. It'll be me plus new-to-ballet wife and we look forward to drinks with anyone who'd care to meet up. Count me in! Link to comment
Drew Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 Count me in! I will be there on the weekend--and hope to meet some of you then. Link to comment
Dreamer Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Flying in from California for the performances on February 25, 26 and 27. Would be thrilled to meet some of the folks whose posts I've been reading for years, Link to comment
Natalia Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 I'll be there on the 23rd (opener-Skorik), then back for Saturday, the 27th's "Double Header" (Kolegova/Kondaurova). I usually stay-put up in 2nd Tier during intermissions but can certainly meet kind BA souls before or after shows! In the past, we met near the big Kennedy-Head sculpture in the main lobby, across from the entrance to the Opera House venue. Link to comment
nysusan Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 I'm skipping the opener but will be there 2/24- 2/27. Would be happy to meet at the Kennedy sculpture during intermissions.Since it looks like many of us will be there for the Saturday double header, perhaps we can get together for a meal between show at the KC Cafeteria? Link to comment
abatt Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share Posted February 12, 2016 I'll be there Tuesday through Thursday and would look forward to meeting people at intermissions at the Kennedy bust in the lobby (mentioned by Natalia above). Also, on Tuesday various ballet fans are planning on hooking up in the cafeteria upstairs before the show for dinner. All ballet alert folks are welcome! Link to comment
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