Текущее время: 28 мар 2024, 13:52



Начать новую тему Ответить на тему  [ Сообщений: 4 ] 
Meanwhile in Bangkok 
Автор Сообщение
Завсегдатай

Зарегистрирован: 30 ноя 2004, 19:19
Сообщения: 8408
Сообщение Meanwhile in Bangkok
Majestic Mariinsky performs for the King

The company that blazed a trail of glory for Russian ballet around the world now comes to Bangkok to celebrate His Majesty the King's 80th birthday

Цитата:

Soon after King Rama I made Bangkok the capital of Siam, Russia's Imperial ballet company gave its first performance in St Petersburg. The company was founded in 1783 by the order of Empress Catherine II - Catherine the Great - an enlightened monarch who was not only a patron of the theatre, opera and ballet, but also a highly-regarded writer as well.

When the Mariinsky Theatre, named for Empress Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Alexander II, opened in 1860, it became the home of the Imperial ballet, and it then became the Mariinsky Ballet Company. St Petersburg, the capital of the Russian Empire and its most European city, became a capital of Russian music and theatre with Mariinsky at its centre.

The roll call of great dancers, from Pavlova to Baryshnikov, choreographers from Fokine to Balanchine and composers from Tchaikovsky to Katchaturian who have been associated with the Mariinsky is awe-inspiring, and together with the original Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, it raised the Russian ballet to a new height of excellence which it continues to occupy today.

For all ballet-lovers in Bangkok - and for everyone who loves spectacle, dance and dazzling performances by some of the finest dancers in the world - the visit of the Mariinsky Ballet Company from December 6 to 8 will be an occasion to recount to the grandchildren, as this appearance by the historic company will be in celebration of His Majesty the Kings's 80th birthday, and was arranged at the request of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.

Her Majesty saw a performance at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg on her visit to Russia in July, and it became known to President Vladimir Putin that her wish would be to see a performance in Bangkok in honour of His Majesty the King's 80th birthday. President Putin then arranged performances on three nights at the Thailand Cultural Centre as a gift from the Russian Federation to Their Majesties.

The elegant and romantic movement of Chopiniana.

Marius Petipa's Talisman.

There will be two performances for the public on December 6 and 8, with a special performance for Their Majesties and the Royal Family and guests on December 7. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Ananda Mahidol Foundation.

Before seeing their performance, the magnitude of the Mariinsky in the world of ballet can be judged from the great names that have been associated with it, and with its school. The first of these was that of Marius Petipa, principal ballet master in 1869, whose influence on the development of classical ballet was universally significant.

Petipa created ballets that became the flower of the classical dance repertoire with contemporary Russian composers like Tchaikovsky and Glazuonov: The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle and Sleeping Beauty. He raised the standard of every artistic component in the making of a ballet, from the relationship between composer, choreographer and designer to the training of the chorus.

In the early 20th century, Anna Pavlova, who joined the school aged 10, was the first ballet superstar, working first with Petipa, then forming her own company to tour the world. Another celebrated dancer of the time was Vaclav Nijinski, who, incidentally, gave a performance at The Oriental in 1916. He was regarded as the greatest male dancer of them all until first Rudolf Nureyev in the 1960s, then Baryshnikov in the 1970s - both leading dancers with the Mariinsky - went over to the West.

At that time, the company's name had been changed to the Kirov, after Sergei Kirov, a hero of the Revolution. Its tours under the Kirov banner drew worldwide praise at that time. To most ballet-lovers it was simply the best - the most brilliant and gifted company in the world.

After the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991, it reverted to the name Mariinsky, while St Petersburg which had been known as Leningrad in the Soviet era, returned to the historic name given by Peter the Great. Over the last decade the Mariinsky repertoire has seen the addition of works by the greatest choreographers of the late 20th and early 21st century: Kenneth MacMillan, John Neumeier, William Forsythe, Hans van Manen and Pierre Lacotte.

February 2001 saw the first International Ballet Festival Mariinsky, Russia's foremost classical dance festival featuring performances by soloists from the world's leading ballet companies.

The spirit of the Mariinsky/Kirov and its legacy will be there for Bangkok to enjoy in the company's programme at the Thailand Cultural Centre. It begins with a one-act ballet, Chopiniana by Mikhail Fokine, the most prolific choreographer of the early 20th century. He created Chopiniana, set to orchestrated pieces by Chopin, while he was still a dancer with the Mariinsky. There is no story line: this is pure, magical movement, sensual, elegant and romantic.

A graceful dance performance in "Chopiniana.

Leading dancer lrma Nioradze.

It is followed by a Divertissement whose highlight is based on music by His Majesty the King from the ballet suite, Manohra. The ballet Love Story has been specially created by Mariinsky's principal choreographer, Alexei Miroshnichenko. A graduate of the Mariinsky Theatre School where he now teaches choreography, Miroshnichenko has recently staged Stravinsky's Les Noces, Bellini's La Sonnambula and dances from Wagner's Parsifal and Lohengrin. His Love Story with His Majesty's music will be eagerly awaited.

Contained in the same framework of the Divertissement are Marius Petipa's Talisman, Roland Petit's La Rose Malade, a Tchaikovsky pas de deux, and Fokine's moving and lyrical Dying Swan, which he created for Anna Pavlova with music by Saint-Saens.

Dazzling colour, excitement and drama characterise the final piece, one of Fokine's most memorable ballets, Scheherazade, first performed in 1910, starring the amazing Nijinski as Golden Slave. The story is by no means subtle, and at its original production, audiences found the barbaric splendour of the Leon Bakst costumes the highly-charged movements of the dancers breathtaking.

One of the great gifts of the Mariinsky is the company's ability to bring historic productions to vivid, radiant new life. Based on the first story in The Thousand and One Nights, this one-act ballet set to the music of Rimsky Korsakov tells of the revenge inflicted by a cruel ruler on the women of his harem for mass infidelity with his slaves. The pas de deux of Zobeide and Golden Slave is one of its unforgettable high points.

The Mariinsky's leading dancers, who have collected numerous glittering prizes on their way to the top, are Uliana Lopatkina, Irma Nioradze and Danila Korsuntsev, but it should be noted that the quality of every dancer including the members of the corps de ballet wins extraordinary praise from international audiences everywhere they appear. They are supported by the full orchestral power of the Ekaterinburg Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Mikhail Agrest, Mariinsky's principal conductor since 2001.

There is no doubt that we shall be seeing something of the world's best with the Mariinsky Ballet Company's visit. It is an essential part of the tradition of classical ballet and more superlatives would be superfluous. What is important is to book now if you wish to spare yourself the disappointment of missing a chance to see the Mariinsky Ballet Company. RT

Performances will be at the Thailand Cultural Centre on December 6, 7 and 8, starting at 7:30pm. Tickets for the December 6 and 8 shows at 3,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 300 baht are available at Thaiticketmajor, tel 02-262-3456. American Express members should call 02-273-5200. For more information, contact International Cultural Promotions at 02-661-6835-7.


bankokpost.com



05 дек 2007, 21:59
Профиль
Завсегдатай

Зарегистрирован: 30 ноя 2004, 19:19
Сообщения: 8408
Сообщение His Majesty to watch Russian ballet
His Majesty to watch Russian ballet

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej will today make his first visit to the Thailand Cultural Centre since presiding over its opening in October 1987, to watch a performance by the world renowned Mariinsky Ballet from Russia.

Published on December 7, 2007

Цитата:

His Majesty will be accompanied by HM Queen Sirikit and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

The Mariinsky Ballet is performing in Bangkok in honour of the King's 80th birthday. The idea was raised by the Queen after being impressed by the ballet company during her visit to Russia in July, according to Dr Chirayu Isarangkun na Ayuthaya, Grand Chamberlain of the Royal Household and director of the Crown Property Bureau (CPB).

The royal suggestion was followed up on by CPB, the National Culture Commission and the Foreign Ministry, who co-organised the troupe's visit here.

The ballet company staged its first public performance in Bangkok yesterday. Today's performance is for the Royal audience, while the last show tomorrow is again for the general public.

All proceeds from the ticket sales will go to the Ananda Mahidol Foundation.

About 90 members of the company are performing in Bangkok, among them are 15 of the world's top dancers. The three-part programme begins with "Chopiniana", a 35-minute choreographic composition in one act featuring the music of Frederic Chopin and Michel Fokine's choreography, that premiered at

the Mariinsky Theatre in 1908.

After the first intermission is an assortment of six short programmes called "Divertissement", including the world premiere of Alexey Miroshnichenko's choreography for "Love Story", set to His Majesty's composition, "Kinnaree Suite".

The final performance is "Scheherazade", adapted from "Arabian Nights" by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov and choreographed by Mikhail Fokine.

The Nation



07 дек 2007, 15:36
Профиль
Завсегдатай

Зарегистрирован: 30 ноя 2004, 19:19
Сообщения: 8408
Сообщение 
King gets Russian ballet troupe treat

Friday December 07, 2007

Цитата:

His Majesty the King will take a rare break from ceremonial duties today when he watches a performance by a world famous ballet troupe from Russia.

The King, Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the Royal Family will attend a show today at the Thailand Cultural Centre by the Mariinsky Theatre.

The ballet includes Love Story which is a composition written by His Majesty.

It will be His Majesty's first non-ceremonial function since leaving Siriraj Hospital on Nov 7.

The renowned Mariinsky Theatre ballet troupe is performing in Thailand as an 80th birthday present to the King, from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Her Majesty the Queen was impressed with the ballet after watching a performance during her state visit to Russia in July to celebrate 110 years of ties between Russia and Thailand, and wanted the troupe to come to the Kingdom.

Its first show was yesterday and tomorrow will be the troupe's last performance.

Bankokpost.com



07 дек 2007, 15:44
Профиль
Завсегдатай

Зарегистрирован: 30 ноя 2004, 19:19
Сообщения: 8408
Сообщение 
St Peterburg's Mariinsky Ballet mixes passion with grace to delight Bangkok audiences

Published on December 13, 2007

Цитата:

For Bangkok ballet aficionados, last week's Bangkok debut by the legendary Mariinsky Ballet from Russia was a dream come true.

The St Petersburg company, the most famous and one of the oldest in the world, was in Thailand to stage a three-part programme in celebration of His Majesty the King's 80th birthday. In addition to the Royal performance on Friday, the Mariinsky troupe drew sell out crowds to the Thailand Cultural Centre on both Thursday and Saturday.

The dream evening started with the romantic reverie "Chopiniana", or "Les Sylphides", a 35-minute plot-free one-act ballet based on five music pieces by Frederic Chopin. The curtain rose to reveal a picturesque tableau of sylphs, forming the vision of poet Yevgeny Ivanchenko in the middle of the composition.

Although the stage was a touch too bright for a beautiful moonlit park where sylphs had gathered, the litheness of the long-limbed ballerinas, all in long white tutus, helped to give a dreamlike quality to the piece. The steps were executed neatly and softly, and Anastasia Kolegova, especially, offered a striking performance with her series of jetes, leaping lightly into the air in a full-out split, flying across the stage, and landing without a sound.

Even though Mikhail Fokine's choreography was simple and largely free of a "wow" factor, the movements were truly graceful and the performance served well as an audience-warming curtain raiser.

The second part of the show, "Divertissement", comprised six short programmes, five of which were presented to Her Majesty the Queen on her state visit to St Petersburg in July.

"Talisman" started off the section with vivacity and grandeur, and the pas de deux really showcased the dancers' virtuosity. Mikhail Lobukhin's big jumps reached impressive heights. The solo, featuring small springy steps en pointe and expressively performed by Ekaterina Osmolinka, was exquisitely delicate and delightful to watch.

Following "Talisman", and setting the audience in a more tranquil mood, was one of the most memorable pieces of the night - "La Rose Malade", inspired by William Blake's poem "The Sick Rose" and set to Gustav Mahler's 5th symphony.

The audience was stunned from the moment Ulyana Lopatkina appeared in a flowing pink dress and, against the stark black backdrop, was lifted by Ivan Kozlov to begin a dance that combined serenity with underlying passion. Roland Petit's modern choreography was absolutely breathtaking. Slow movements and lifts were executed with great control and the chemistry between the two dancers was so strong that it looked very natural when the kiss came in the middle of the piece.

Unfortunately, however, with a full orchestra in the pit, the audience was left to wonder why canned music was used for "La Rose Malade" - the only piece to suffer from this accompaniment - thus spoiling its charm.

Next up was Victor Gsovsky's technically challenging "Auber Grand Pas Classique" with Viktoria Tereshkina and Vladimir Shklyarov again showcasing the Mariinsky dancers' beautiful physique and technical prowess. The pas de deux was indeed "grand" as titled, but it could have been even better had the music not been a little too slow and soft at the point when the duet reached its peak.

Performed exclusively for Bangkok audiences was the world premiere of "Love Story", a newly choreographed piece by Alexey Miroshnichenko, whose acrobatic steps complemented the fluid, jazzy tunes of HM the King's "Kinnaree Suite".

"The Dying Swan", Lopatkina's second stage appearance, was another highlight, with the audience watching transfixed as her arms morphed into wings and moved with the tremendous feeling of pain in her final struggle. Here, as in "La Rose Malade", Lopatkina showed why she has achieved worldwide fame.

George Balanchine's "Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux", with its brisk quality and awe-inspiring choreography, was a noble way to end the "Divertissement". Despite unnecessarily gymnastic high leg movements at times, Alina Somova conquered the technically demanding performance effortlessly and Leonid Sarafanov's perfect execution of pirouettes and double turns in the air brought the audience to its feet in rapturous applause and cheers as the curtain fell for the second intermission.

"Divertissement", with so many memorable pieces of various moods and styles, was without doubt the best of the three parts. And that's perhaps why so many audience members felt let down by the closing piece, "Sch้h้razade".

This dramatic one-act ballet based on the Arabian Nights was a hit in the early 20th century thanks to its exotic scenes, costumes and provocative sexiness. Today, these elements are no longer stirring and it feels dated, especially in comparison to more contemporary pieces like "Romeo and Juliet" or "Manon" by Kenneth MacMillan.

Also, there's little to the ballet in terms of either narrative or choreography and after such an intoxicating "Divertissement", boredom was quick to set in.

That said, Mariinsky's classical finesse was perfect for such a grand occasion and we can only hope that the company will be returning to Bangkok.

In the meantime, with this performance and those of the Stuttgart Ballet and Zurich Ballet, 2007 has indeed been a year to remember for Bangkok's ballet enthusiasts.


Jasmine Baker

Изображение


18 дек 2007, 17:59
Профиль
Показать сообщения за:  Поле сортировки  
Начать новую тему Ответить на тему  [ Сообщений: 4 ] 


Кто сейчас на конференции

Сейчас этот форум просматривают: нет зарегистрированных пользователей и гости: 11


Вы не можете начинать темы
Вы не можете отвечать на сообщения
Вы не можете редактировать свои сообщения
Вы не можете удалять свои сообщения
Вы не можете добавлять вложения

Найти:
Перейти:  
cron

Часовой пояс: UTC + 4 часа [ Летнее время ]


Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group.
Designed by Vjacheslav Trushkin for Free Forums/DivisionCore.
Русская поддержка phpBB