Monday, October 23, 2006
Kirov Ballet: Cool perfection
Review: The Kirov Ballet's second act of 'Swan Lake' – the true test of the ballerinas – is performed flawlessly.
By LAURA BLEIBERG
The Orange County Register

review

Thanks to Octavia.

GRACEFUL: Diana Vishneva, with Igor Kolb as Prince Siegfried, gives a dramatically emotional performance as Odette

Mesmerized yet again by 'Swan Lake'

By Lewis Segal, Los Angeles Times, October 24, 2006


The Mariinsky Festival ended Sunday at the Orange County Performing Arts Center with a performance of the Kirov Ballet "Swan Lake" led by the triumphant, redemptive Diana Vishneva.

Emphasizing abstract classicism, Konstantin Sergeyev's 1950 edition of the Petipa/Ivanov ballet doesn't retell the familiar story but merely refers to it from time to time. However, Vishneva restored its dramatic intensity with dancing that pulled you deeply into Odette's plight.

If her White Swan emphasized emotional values without sacrificing purity of style and technical refinement, Vishneva's Black Swan piled on the diva mannerisms and special effects: Many extra high-speed supported turns in the adagio, double fouettés in the coda. She found powerful support in the Siegfried of Igor Kolb, a superb partner and a dynamic if uneven soloist. In the Act 2 duet, time stopped as Vishneva bent so far forward in a supported balance that her nose nearly grazed her knee. In the Act 3 duet, hearts raced as she suddenly flew across the stage at Kolb like a bird of prey. In such moments, these artists created a sense that the whole trajectory of "Swan Lake" could change, that we were watching some glorious, elemental improvisation. Maxim Chashchegorov's thrilling jumps as the evil Rothbart made him a worthy threat to Kolb; for once the character's wings seemed to be taking him somewhere.

Without outclassing their counterparts in the Friday cast, Tatiana Tkachenko, Nadezhda Gonchar and Vasily Scherbakov made the Act 1 pas de trois a showcase for the bold attacks and easy elegance that seem characteristic of the upcoming Kirov generation. Unfortunately, the feeble national dances of Act 3 proved that there's still plenty of major challenges for that generation to conquer.

Andrei Ivanov returned as the omnipresent, virtuosic Jester on Sunday, and Pavel Bubelnikov again conducted the company orchestra.

Kirov's Swan Lake truly magical

Natasha Gauthier, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Friday, October 27, 2006



For the dancers of the Kirov ballet, Swan Lake is like their mother's milk.

They live, breathe and dream the ballet's quintessential Russian romanticism from their first dance classes. They are taught by people whose training lineage can be traced in a direct line to the artists involved in the work's 1895 St. Petersburg premiere. With such a blue-blooded pedigree, it's no wonder that the Kirov's Swan Lake seems to transcend other versions.

Making its first Ottawa appearance since 1989, the company danced last night before a capacity crowd that had come expecting something magical and precious. They weren't disappointed.

The ultra-traditional production is a feast for the eyes, with extravagant costumes, intricate, Faberge-egg sets and luminous painted backdrops of dark forests and Rhineland castles.

But the Kirov is about the dancing, and the dancing is superlative in every way -- from the incredible lightness of the feet to the refined head carriage to the expressive hands and eyes.

On opening night, Alina Somova danced the dual role of Odette, the white swan queen, and Odile, her black-feathered nemesis.

She's a long-limbed, pretty dancer, with legs up to her eyeballs. She has a way of stretching out each developpe and arabesque as if she had all the time in the world. If her Odette was a little aggressive -- this was a swan who would break your arm in a second -- her Odile was dazzling, electric with feminine sensuality.

Igor Kolb as Siegfried is a splendid example of the Russian danseur noble, with stately presence, ground-eating jumps and a line through the body that could have been carved by a Renaissance sculptor. But like his partner, he lacked a certain warmth and passion.

As the Jester, the elfin Andrei Ivanov stole every scene he was in. He's a compact bouncing ball of a dancer, tossing out gravity-defying jumps and dizzying pirouettes without ever losing the charming smile on his face.

Other outstanding soloists and character dancers included the impressively athletic Anton Korsakov and the pairing of Ksenia Dubrovina and Andrey Yakovlev, who performed the Hungarian dance with terrific panache, down to their jingling spurs.

The Kirov Orchestra, conducted by Pavel Bubelnikov, produced that famously lush Russian sound, although the violin solos were rather ragged.

(The Kirov performs Swan Lake at the NAC until Sunday. All performances are sold out.)

source

Russian dancer hurt in practice for Swan Lake in Ottawa

Last Updated: Thursday, October 26, 2006 | 3:54 PM ET
CBC Arts

nternational ballet star Igor Zelensky was injured during a rehearsal at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on Wednesday and will not dance his only scheduled performance in Canada.

Zelensky is touring North America with Russia's famed Kirov Ballet company.

He was scheduled to dance the lead role of Prince Siegfried in Thursday night's performance of Swan Lake but injured his back during rehearsal at the NAC.

The Kirov is presenting six performances of Swan Lake, one of the world's best loved ballets, in Ottawa.

"Because what dancers do is so physically strenuous, there's often an injury of some kind, either minor or major, and unfortunately it's major enough for Mr. Zelensky that he can't dance, but it won't have any impact at all on the performance except that he won't be appearing as originally scheduled," Gerald Morris, spokesman for the NAC, told CBC Radio.

Zelensky is expected to dance at upcoming performances in Chicago and Boston.

Tickets are sold out for the Kirov's six performances, the classical ballet company's first in Ottawa since 1989.

No other Canadian engagements are planned in this tour.

Zelensky studied at the Tbilisi Ballet School and won the gold medal at the Paris International Competition in 1990. He danced with the New York City Ballet for seven years and was guest artist for five years with London's Royal Ballet.

In 2001 he spent six months lying in bed after two operations on a herniated disc, but that back injury healed and he was dancing again by the end of 2002.

source

Russia's Kirov Ballet performing Swan Lake at the National Arts Centre

Kirov Ballet wows Ottawa audience
By ANN MARIE McQUEEN, October 28, 2006, Ottawa Sun

OTTAWA - What a way to feel like a mere clod-hopping mortal.

The famed Kirov Ballet flitted into the National Arts Centre, all ethereal ballerinas and powerful, tautly muscled dancers, wowing a sold-out crowd at Southam Hall just the way everyone knew they would.

The 223-year-old company has not paid a visit to the capital since 1989, and for those lucky enough to score tickets to six shows running here through tomorrow, their production of Swan Lake is everything it is billed to be.

The production is staged with 100 impeccably costumed dancers on a set that transports the audience to a time of classical romance. The Kirov’s 66-piece orchestra, conducted with a featherweight touch by Pavel Bublenikov, filled the hall with the lush sounds of Tchaikovsky’s rich and famous score.

There is a tragic resolution to the story of Prince Siegfried and his soulmate, a swan who is initially only able to assume human shape at night.

The romance of Odette and Siegfried is repeatedly thwarted by the evil forces of dark sorcerer Rothbart. But luckily, Ottawa is being treated to a happy ending, and Odette the woman and Siegfried the prince live happily ever after.

The undeniable focal point of the evening was prima ballerina Alina Somova, a lithe, impossibly slim dancer who thrilled most when she was clad in black to play Odile, the evil twin of Odette.

Igor Kolb was capable and emotive as Siegfried. But when it comes to male dancers, Adrei Ivanov stole most of the scenes he was in as the impish, athletic court jester, at one point tossing out a jaw-dropping number of plies.

Ivanov will also perform both today and tomorrow nights’ shows. Due to the demands of the lead roles, the rest of the weekend’s principal performances will be assumed by new dancers.

Swan Lake wraps up its run tomorrow.

...prima ballerina Alina Somova
Алина Сомова уже стала примой? Или иностранцы не видят разницы между балериной и примой?

The Mariinsky Ballet will perform Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 4-10 at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan: "Diana Vishneva Gala Performance" on Nov. 29 (6:30 p.m.); "Ulyana Lopatkina Gala Performance" on Nov. 30 (6:30 p.m.); "Mariinsky All-Star Gala Performance" on Dec. 4 (6:30 p.m.); "Le Corsaire" on Dec. 5-7 (6:30 p.m.); "Swan Lake" on Dec. 8 (6:30 p.m.), Dec. 9 (noon and 6:30 p.m.) and Dec. 10 (noon and 6:30 p.m.). The cast varies each day. 10,000 yen-22,000 yen (Ticket availability varies). Call Japan Arts Pia at 03-5237-7711 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The troupe will perform "Le Corsaire" Nov. 26 (2 p.m.) at Biwako Hall in Otsu. 11,000 yen-15,000 yen. Call Shigagin Keizai Bunka Center at 077-526-0005.

The company will perform "Swan Lake" on Dec. 2 (5 p.m.) and the "Diana Vishneva Gala Performance" on Dec. 3 (3 p.m.) at the Festival Hall in Osaka. 7,000 yen-22,000 yen. Call the venue at 06-6231-2221.

Sold out: Nov. 23 (Nagoya).

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200611170133.html

Le corsaire in Otsu, 26 Nov 2006

Kirov Ballet in New Israeli Opera Tel-Aviv

William Forsythe Program

Steptext
Music J.S. Bach (Partita No. 2)

Two Ballets in the Manner of the Late 20th Century Approximate Sonata
Music Thom Willems

The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude
Music Franz Schubert (Symphony No. 9. Finale)

In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated
Music: Thom Willems in collaboration with Leslie Stuck

March 2006: 12, 13


Swan Lake

Music Piotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
Choreographer Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov Choreography Revival Konstantin Sergeyev
Set Designer Igor Ivanov
Costume Designer Galina Solovyova
The Kirov Orchestra

March 2007: 16, 17

http://www.israel-opera.co.il/site_old/dance2007.htm#6

5, 6, 7 Σεπτεμβρίου 2007 - Θέατρο Λυκαβηττού
10, 11 Σεπτεμβρίου 2007 - Θέατρο Δάσους Θεσσαλονίκη

Η αυθεντική παράδοση του κλασικού χορού!

Η Culture Factory παρουσιάζει το Kirov – Mariinsky Ballet της Αγίας Πετρούπολης για τρεις μοναδικές παραστάσεις στο θέατρο Λυκαβηττού στην Αθήνα και για δυο παραστάσεις στο Θέατρο Δάσους στη Θεσσαλονίκη.

Το μπαλέτο Mariinsky γεννήθηκε στο Θέατρο της Αγίας Πετρούπολης.

Είναι ο παλαιότερος Οίκος Χορού της Ρωσίας και αριθμεί περί τα 250 χρόνια ζωής και άλλα τόσα μιας ασίγαστης, αδιάλειπτης, εκθαμβωτικής πορείας. Σε μια πόλη-πρωτεύουσα που άλλαζε άλλο τόσο συχνά ονομασία: Αγία Πετρούπολη, Πέτρογκραντ, Λένινγκραντ, Αγία Πετρούπολη.... Αλλάζοντας κι αυτό τίτλους και ονομασίες με το πέρασμα των αιώνων (ιδρύθηκε το 1783), μετάλλαζε συγχρόνως ύφος και ήθος, παραμένοντας πάντα στις επάλξεις μιας υψηλής αισθητικής και τεχνικής αρτιότητας, μιας γνήσιας, αξεπέραστης Σχολής.

Ο θεατής θα έχει την ευκαιρία να εκτιμήσει, στο πρώτο μέρος του δίπτυχου, την σπάνια παρουσιαζόμενη «Σοπενιάνα» που αποτελεί την πρωτότυπη έκδοση του μετέπειτα πασίγνωστου ballet blanc «Οι Συλφίδες». Στις μαγικές μελωδίες του Σοπέν, που ενορχήστρωσε άλλο τόσο μαγικά ο Γκλαζούνοφ, τα ατμοσφαιρικά Πρελούδια και Νυχτερινά εναλλάσσονται με τα λικνιστικά Βαλς και τις ζωηρές Μαζούρκες. Μια ανεπανάληπτη νέο-ρομαντική χορογραφία του Μιχαήλ Φόκιν (1908) όπως την επανεπεξεργάστηκε η μεγάλη Δασκάλα Αγκριπίνα Βαγκάνοβα ειδικά για τα Μπαλέτα Κίροφ (1931).

Στο δεύτερο μέρος της παράστασης θα έχουμε ένα μοναδικό στη δομή του, αποκαλυπτικό, Divertissement σε μορφή Γκαλά Αστεριών. Εδώ, οι εκθαμβωτικοί Σολίστ του Mariinsky, θα παρουσιάσουν εξαιρετικά αποσπάσματα, ενός σπάνιου ως επί το πολύ ρεπερτορίου για την ανακάλυψη και απόλαυση μιας σειράς έργων που ακόμη και πολλοί connoisseurs δεν γνωρίζουν παρά μόνο κατ’ όνομα.

Αποτελούν τον «απόκρυφο» θησαυρό των Ρώσων και των εξαίρετων συγκροτημάτων τους που τα διαφυλάσσουν σαν κόρη οφθαλμού.

«Άνοιγμα» μοναδικό και αποκαλυπτικό αποτελούν δύο προτάσεις του μέγιστου νεοκλασικού χορογράφου του 20ού αιώνα, Τζωρτζ Μπαλανσίν. Μιλάμε για το υπέροχο «Τσαϊκόφσκι Pas de deux» (1960) σε μουσική από τα...παραλειπόμενα της «Λίμνης των κύκνων» του Τσαϊκόφσκι και το ντουέτο-αντάτζιο από τα «Ρουμπίνια-Κοσμήματα» σε μουσική Στραβίνσκι (1967). Ακόμη πιο κοντά μας, το εκστατικό ντουέτο από το μπαλέτο «In the middle somewhat elevated» (1987) του πολυτιμημένου φέτος από το Φεστιβάλ Αθηνών μεγαλύτερου, ίσως, χορογράφου του τελευταίου τέταρτου του 20ού αιώνα, Αμερικανού Ουίλλιαμ Φορσάιθ.

Από αυτή την εκθαμβωτική παρέλαση αστεριών, χορογράφων και συνθετών δεν θα μπορούσε να λείψει ο μάγιστρος Γάλλος χορογράφος που «έστησε» και δημιούργησε το θαύμα που είναι πάντα το Μπαλέτο Mariinsky, ο Μαριούς Πετιπά. Και, ώ της εκπλήξεως! Μαζί με την παρουσίαση του δημοφιλέστατου Pas de deux από τον κοσμοαγάπητο «Κουρσάρο» θα έχουμε και δυό από τις έσχατες χορογραφίες που βλέπουν τα φώτα της ράμπας περισσότερο από έναν αιώνα μετά. Και τα δυό σε μουσική του Ρικάρντο Ντρίγκο.

Ποιός θα το πίστευε ποτέ ότι θα μπορούσε να απολαύσει και εκτιμήσει σε μια και μόνο βραδιά το «Pas de Deux» από το «Φυλαχτό» (1889) και την «Αρλεκινάτα» από τα «Εκατομμύρια του Αρλεκίνου» (1900);

Όλα αυτά υπόσχεται το εξαίρετο τεσσαρακονταμελές κλιμάκιο του Μπαλέτου του Θεάτρου Μαριίνσκι της Αγ.Πετρούπολης. Εσείς πού θα βρίσκεστε τα βράδια της 5ης, 6ης και 7ης Σεπτεμβρίου; Είναι για ρώτημα; Στο Θέατρο του Λυκαβηττού, βέβαια, για τα μοναδικά, ανυπέρβλητα, ακριβοθώρητα Μπαλέτα Mariinsky.

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Θέατρο Λυκαβηττού - 5,6,7 Σεπτεμβρίου 2007 - Ώρα: 21.15
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Θέατρο Δάσους - 10, 11 Σεπτεμβρίου 2007 – Ώρα: 21.15
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