mnacenani Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 On first night the first piece was Pdd from Talisman. First time I saw this live and really enjoyed it. Darya Hahlova is a sweet cute thing and paired by Lapatin was a joy to watch imho. Second piece was "Spring Waters" (Rahmaninov-A Messerer) danced by Tihomirova-Ovcharenko now man&wife. This I did not know and was absorbing it but something happened and it was cut short : the dancers disappeared into the wing and did not reappear, the music played on to an empty stage for a short while and stopped - not knowing the music I could not tell whether this was it or whether Maestro Sarokin gave a wink to the players. I thought I saw Ovcha wince as he caught Tixo just before this ..... next night will show whether he was injured. Third piece Pdd from Flames of Paris danced by Diana Kosyreva and Igor Tsvirko. I did not know Kosyreva well and imho she was charismatic and with perfect technique. Tsvirko is a known asset and seemed was out to prove that anything Vasiliev can do he also can. Fourth piece maybe the high point of the first half : Pdd from Sylphide with Osipova-Belyakov ! First time this poor soul was able to set eyes on Natasha in flesh, after traveling to London three times in the past only for her to get injured and pull out. As expected she was an excellent Sylphide, but she really is a fragile little thing which maybe one does not notice on TV or Youtube ..... I decided to forgive her the misery she caused me. Fifth piece the Grand Pas from Raymonda with full cast ! Katya Krysanova, second only to Zaharova on my roster, with Gudanov as JdB. Katya is special, was great I thought .... my friend said "Yeah - Katya loves being a queen, not so much being a peasant !" The variation was danced by Margarita Shreiner, who got noticed when Vaziev suddenly cast her as Kitri one night during Balshoy's London tour. Could not tell whether she is zvezda material, but more was to come ... Second half started with a surprise cancellation announcement : no Spectre de la Rose with Vinogradova-Gudanov ! OK we know Maria gave birth a few months ago but there is not much strenuous dancing for the "Rose" in SdlR is there ?? She gets her maternity breaks !! So we jump to Valse (Moshkovskiy-Vainonen) danced by Ryzhkina and Savin. Nice music, but really cannot recall much about what the dance looked like, must find it on Youtube sometime to refresh. Up comes "a high point" of the second part : the Pdd (Pas de Ruban) from "Shetnaya Predostorojnost" ....... you would know it as "FMG". (most Russians would not know what you mean if you said "FMG" !) Anyway, Natasha Osipova was very cute in what is said to be her sig- nature role and much is made of it by some people I know, but I would like to see Natasha as Giselle or Kitri and really not allocate my hard earned cash to Shetnaya. Colas was Lapatin, plus 8 ruban bearers. Now something which I had not seen live before : Diana & Akteon Pdd from Esmeralda, with Krysanova-Tsvirko. My, what an imposing Diana Katyusha is ..... cannot help recall my friend's words above ! Excellent poise, technique and presence imho. Thoroughly enjoyed it, memorable. The runnerup to closing number was Mort de Cygne, also a ubiquitous gala piece. Anna Nikulina put on a great show but for some reason this piece does not touch my heart, no matter who dances it. Maybe I should have psychoanalysis ?? (My Moscow mentor Vita just texted if I had seen Lapatkina live and was not touched I should really go see a psych !) So we come to the last number : Grand Pas Classique, danced by Olga Smirnova and Simyon Chudin, regular partners lately. This gala piece is really not one of my favourite numbers (would opt for Don Kixot Grand Pas every time !) maybe due to my poor taste and/or ignorance. How- ever must confess Smirnova-Chudin really shone and maybe stole the show. Once again excellent artistry, presence, spot-on timing and tech. Chudin imho the Siegfried/Desirée for all time, par excellence !! Surprisingly little clamour at the end, very few curtain calls though Osi- pova had not jetted off and appeared. So unlike the Balshoy crowd I got to know ..... wonder whether the audience profile is different for the New Stage where this show was staged. My take on the second night to follow ! Link to comment
Drew Posted October 27, 2016 Share Posted October 27, 2016 Thanks for these impressions of the evening. Video of Smirnova-Chudin in Grand Pas Classique at this gala also suggests a very elegant performance. Wish I had been there. Link to comment
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