mnacenani Posted September 22, 2017 Share Posted September 22, 2017 3 minutes ago, CharlieH said: Given the extraordinary interest in this new ballet, I hope that the powers-that-be add this to the Cinemascast line up (either the premiere or a later performance in the season). Dear CharlieH : "a lot of waters will flow under this bridge" till December and ticketholders may again be treated to another two performances of Don Kixot let's wait and see. I am hoping to be in Moscow on 22 November for the Ratmansky R&J and will keep my ears open. Link to comment
mnacenani Posted September 22, 2017 Share Posted September 22, 2017 Admin has deleted the link I had posted for the original TACC news report. Seems this is also off limits ! Link to comment
naomikage Posted September 22, 2017 Share Posted September 22, 2017 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/22/nureyev-ballet-to-open-in-moscow-despite-directors-house-arrest Report in English. Link to comment
sandik Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 On 9/22/2017 at 8:39 AM, CharlieH said: Given the extraordinary interest in this new ballet, I hope that the powers-that-be add this to the Cinemascast line up (either the premiere or a later performance in the season). I really doubt that the company will do something that public until they've had a chance to see the work in front of an audience, see some reviews, and manage the political discussion surrounding this process. They are not likely to take that kind of risk. Link to comment
mnacenani Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 (edited) 20 minutes ago, sandik said: They are not likely to take that kind of risk. Some insiders are saying that despite the announcement the actual staging could still be kicked down the road !! Seems there is a power struggle between the proponents and opponents. PS - just looked up online schedule : nothing has been posted for the Historic Stage for 9-10 December in Russian or English. There are other events posted for the New Stage. Edited September 25, 2017 by mnacenani Link to comment
CharlieH Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 39 minutes ago, sandik said: I really doubt that the company will do something that public until they've had a chance to see the work in front of an audience, see some reviews, and manage the political discussion surrounding this process. They are not likely to take that kind of risk. We are so spoiled by the Vienna State Ballet's webcasts of unusual works almost immediately after their premieres, such as the rather-risqué Pavillon d'Armide by Neumeier last season, based on episodes of Nijinsky's life. Even the Mariinsky has recently presented webcasts of somewhat-edgy new works like Yaroslavna, Four Seasons, Divertissement du Roi, etc. 'Nureyev' falls into the highly-edgy category. Link to comment
sandik Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 2 minutes ago, CharlieH said: We are so spoiled by the Vienna State Ballet's webcasts of unusual works almost immediately after their premieres, such as the rather-risqué Pavillon d'Armide by Neumeier last season, based on episodes of Nijinsky's life. Even the Mariinsky has recently presented webcasts of somewhat-edgy new works like Yaroslavna, Four Seasons, Divertissement du Roi, etc. 'Nureyev' falls into the highly-edgy category. And the internet has really heightened our expectations of access to work -- it wasn't that long ago that unless you had a friend on the inside, you couldn't see works that weren't in the current repertory of a company. And then you'd have to travel to see them. Dance literacy in my generation was usually very dearly bought. Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 Pavillon d'Armide was already a known quantity, having been performed in Hamburg for a number of years, so the Vienna State Ballet knew exactly what it was getting. I also think expectations for a free-of-charge stream, as in the case of the Mariinsky, and a paid transmission into cinemas are quite different. If something we watch for free turns out to be a clunker, we may be much more forgiving than if we'd paid for it. I suppose the Royal Ballet took a risk by scheduling Frankenstein before it had been premiered, to generally poor reviews, but I think the source material guaranteed ticket sales. I'm not sure that would be the case with Nureyev, when audiences don't know what sort of approach to expect. Link to comment
CharlieH Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 Tickets would probably sell like hot cakes for Nureyev with what has been publicized thus far, although I suspect that "the big photo" is already in the public domain. The Vienna webcasts represent another model: not in cinemas but a paid webcast. Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 I wouldn't overestimate the publicity surrounding Possokhov's Nureyev. I have no idea how many of those who typically attend Bolshoi cinemacasts are aware of the controversy, and I wouldn't venture to guess how many people who read about it would be interested in seeing the actual piece. There was an interview with the director of the Vienna State Opera streams a few years ago in which he explained that between the Met, the Royal Opera House, and perhaps a bit of La Scala and the Paris Opera, the powers in Vienna decided that the cinema market was saturated, and to try to elbow in would be impossible. And since in certain countries, I think he mentioned France and China, people were watching more streamed content than traditional television, they decided to go the paid stream route. Link to comment
Drew Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 (edited) The numbers of people attending these events around where I live are very modest--in that context even a very small uptick due to the publicity surrounding Nureyev would, in terms of percentages, make for a substantially larger audience. I also have been wondering if just the name "Nureyev," quite apart from any scandal around the postponement of the premier, might bring in a few curious people. Well, we are unlikely to find out... Edited September 25, 2017 by Drew Link to comment
mtthwbrehm Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 (edited) If only it could have premiered this summer!!! I had to stand and then sit for two back to back Don Quixotes, their 'Nureyev' alternative. Either way, hopefully some better recordings emerge online from the premiere. I suppose the Bolshoi decided to stall its Coppelia revival to make room for this. Edited September 26, 2017 by mtthwbrehm To make a statement clearer Link to comment
Drew Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 In some quarters not just Nureyev's sexuality--and not just the sexual explicitness of the ballet "Nureyev"--but even Nureyev's ethnicity is on the table for discussion. In this context--and to say nothing of Serebrennikov's legal troubles--I can't help but hope the ballet is a smash whether it's to my taste or not: https://realnoevremya.com/society/culture/1989-vsevolod-chaplin-about-nureyev-ballet Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 (edited) Kirill Serebrennikov, who has been under house arrest since August, will remain there until at least January 19. https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/russian-court-keeps-theater-director-under-house-arrest/2017/12/04/2d1a3706-d8f5-11e7-a241-0848315642d0_story.html?utm_term=.62f7e3616548https://www.rferl.org/a/rusia-serebrennikov-house-arrest-upheld/28895832.html One of the reasons tickets for this week's premiere of Nureyev sold out so quickly is that only 500, less than a quarter of the Bolshoi's capacity, were released to the public, and only two performances have been scheduled, rather than the four that were to have taken place in July.https://www.bolshoi.ru/en/about/press/articles/none/Nureyev-sale/ Edited December 4, 2017 by volcanohunter Link to comment
CharlieH Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 24 minutes ago, volcanohunter said: Kirill Serebrennikov, who has been under house arrest since August, will remain there until at least January 19. https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/russian-court-keeps-theater-director-under-house-arrest/2017/12/04/2d1a3706-d8f5-11e7-a241-0848315642d0_story.html?utm_term=.62f7e3616548https://www.rferl.org/a/rusia-serebrennikov-house-arrest-upheld/28895832.html One of the reasons tickets for this week's premiere of Nureyev sold out so quickly is that only 500, less than a quarter of the Bolshoi's capacity, were released to the public, and only two performances have been scheduled, rather than the four that were to have taken place in July.https://www.bolshoi.ru/en/about/press/articles/none/Nureyev-sale/ Thank you. Two performances are better than none. Less than a week to go - this coming Saturday. It's now or never! Link to comment
naomikage Posted December 5, 2017 Share Posted December 5, 2017 Casting has been posted for Nureyev (not date specific) https://www.bolshoi.ru/en/performances/1025/roles/#all Nureyev Vladislav Lantratov Artem Ovcharenko Igor Tsvirko Auctioneer/Avedon/The Grey Man Vladimir Koshevoy Igor Vernik A Letter to Rudi. The Pupil Georgy Gusev Vyacheslav Lopatin Denis Savin A Letter to Rudi. The Diva Ekaterina Shipulina Svetlana Zakharova The Ballerina Daria Bochkova Anastasia Stashkevich Erik Vladislav Kozlov Denis Savin Margot Maria Alexandrova Nina Kaptsova Kristina Kretova Mezzo-soprano/ The Porter/ The King Alexandra Durseneva Svetlana Shilova Tenor/ The Intendant Marat Gali Igor Tsurcan Countertenor, the singer of the king Vladimir Magomadov Vadim Volkov Ballet Teacher Victor Barykin Yan Godovsky Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted December 5, 2017 Share Posted December 5, 2017 I am a little curious about the Makarova role, since according to her site Zakharova has spent the last few days in China, and Shipulina's Instagram seems to indicate that she's in Japan. Is the part really so small that they don't need to be present at rehearsals this close to the premiere? Link to comment
CharlieH Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Casting of the two specific shows is now up. Lantratov/Zakharova lead the premiere on Saturday, while Ovcharenko/Schipulina head the 2nd cast on Sunday. https://www.bolshoi.ru/en/performances/1025/roles/#20171209190000 Link to comment
Drew Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 As I understand just two performances this go round though others have been announced in May. Would love to hear more about the production. Just saw this tweet from Roslyn Sulcas: Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted December 10, 2017 Share Posted December 10, 2017 Plenty of curtain call photos have been posted which show that Possokhov, Demutsky and some other members of the production team wore t-shirts with Serebrennikov's portrait and the caption "Svobodu rezhisseru," but the dancers were wearing their costumes. In any case, you could say Zakharova provided the necessary political cover. But yes, it's possible that in an election season especially the government won't want to appear to be caving in to the "creative class" and may double down on Serebrennikov. Link to comment
Fleurdelis Posted December 10, 2017 Share Posted December 10, 2017 (edited) Still excited after yesterday's evening. Nureyev is not a ballet. It is a masterpiece that has fused multiple art forms into a spectacular event, a phenomenon! At a loss of words of how to describe it, but I felt as if I was actually inside Nureyev's body and mind and experienced his life first hand. A very unusual experience. The audience being packed with representatives of Russia's ruling elite, who eagerly joined in the long applause, while the very same system is now putting the director of this work on trial, can be viewed as a spectacle in itself - surreal, but also, unfortunately, so real. Edited December 10, 2017 by Fleurdelis Link to comment
pherank Posted December 10, 2017 Share Posted December 10, 2017 (edited) 10 hours ago, Fleurdelis said: Still excited after yesterday's evening. Nureyev is not a ballet. It is a masterpiece that has fused multiple art forms into a spectacular event, a phenomenon! At a loss of words of how to describe it, but I felt as if I was actually inside Nureyev's body and mind and experienced his life first hand. A very unusual experience. The audience being packed with representatives of Russia's ruling elite, who eagerly joined in the long applause, while the very same system is now putting the director of this work on trial, can be viewed as a spectacle in itself - surreal, but also, unfortunately, so real. I can't speak to Serebrennikov's contribution, but your description reminds me of a number of Possokhov's recent ballets, which have a definite multi-media aspect (as the German's would say, Tanztheater). His Swimmer featured video effects (by Kate Duhamel) and lighting effects that were arguably as important to the ballet as the actual choreography - which at times was quite emotionally stirring, and other times totally pedestrian. It was a case of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. That seems to be Possokhov's current approach to ballet: to create a collage of visual, emotional and psychological associations that manage to support one another, and create a powerful 'experience'. Much like your description above, if you were to read a writer's descriptions of Swimmer you would no doubt think it sounds quite interesting, but it would be impossible to picture the ballet without witnessing it in person. Edited December 10, 2017 by pherank Link to comment
Fleurdelis Posted December 10, 2017 Share Posted December 10, 2017 (edited) Thanks for the interesting observation and the links to Swimmer, saw excerpts of it, namely Lolita, thought that Tom Waits fit the theme perfectly. The multi-media aspect, actors singing and playing instruments onstage, a narrator reading in the background, and shifts between dramatic action and more abstract visual performance pieces is also something that Serebrennikov used quite a bit, almost becoming his trademark. I guess he and Possokhov have found each other as thought partners. "Noureev" takes in ALL of these elements, combines and magnifies them, and the effect is overwhelming. Edited December 10, 2017 by Fleurdelis Link to comment
pherank Posted December 10, 2017 Share Posted December 10, 2017 14 minutes ago, Fleurdelis said: Thanks for the interesting observation and the links to Swimmer, saw excerpts of it, namely Lolita, thought that Tom Waits fit the theme perfectly. The multi-media aspect, actors singing and playing instruments onstage, a narrator reading in the background, and shifts between dramatic action and more abstract visual performance pieces is also something that Serebrennikov used quite a bit, almost becoming his trademark. I guess he and Possokhov have found each other as thought partners. "Noureev" takes in ALL of these elements, combines and magnifies them, and the effect is overwhelming. Yes, Serebrennikov and Possokhov sound like kindred spirits - at least in their approach to presenting theater art. The Swimmer video trailer that I linked to provides some nice commentary from Possokhov, but unfortunately gives one very little sense of the spectacle of the ballet. At the time the video was released I don't think the creators wanted to give anything away. I hope Noureev is being filmed for posterity, as Swimmer was not. Link to comment
Laurent Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 6 hours ago, pherank said: Yes, Serebrennikov and Possokhov sound like kindred spirits - at least in their approach to presenting theater art. The Swimmer video trailer that I linked to provides some nice commentary from Possokhov, but unfortunately gives one very little sense of the spectacle of the ballet. At the time the video was released I don't think the creators wanted to give anything away. I hope Noureev is being filmed for posterity, as Swimmer was not. The Swimmer was filmed. In many companies every production is filmed, often with multiple casts. Such recordings are not released though, on the other hand the (well connected) professionals have access to them. Otherwise, your observation is spot on. The first time you see it, the Swimmer makes an impression if one is not familiar with this kind of multi-media stage productions. It is not a ballet in the proper sense, it isn't dance theater in the way we know it either. The novelty wears out, however, rather quickly on repeated viewings, especially if the dancers themselves lose their initial enthusiasm, therefore I don't expect great longevity for such works. Link to comment
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