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The return of ballet "A Legend of Love " to the Bolshoi Theatre was a triumph International mass media report about the broadcast of the ballet "A Legend of Love " in cinemas around the world The Bolshoi Theatre's prima Svetlana Zakharova was hospitalized after the premiere "Opera Ball", marking the 75th anniversary of Elena Obraztsova, takes place on the Bolshoi Theatre Historic Stage on October 28th October 27th - Sergei Filin, a People's Artist of Russia and the Bolshoi Ballet artistic director celebrated his birthday October 27th - the press-conference about the Elena Obraztsova jubilee concert took place at the Bolshoi's Main Foyer at 1 p.m. November 5th - 9th - premiere performances of the ballet "A Legend of Love " Historic Stage - Elena Obraztsova Gala New Stage - rehearsal day A premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre. The ballet "A Legend of Love ", choreographed by Yuri Grigorovich, returned to the Bolshoi October 27th - Sergei Filin, a People's Artist of Russia and the Bolshoi Ballet artistic director celebrated his birthday " A Legend ", created by Grigorovich A premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre. The ballet "A Legend of Love", choreographed by Yuri Grigorovich, returned to the Bolshoi. This ballet has become a 20th century classic. 1971. "A Legend of Love". Choreographer: Yuri Grigorovich. The State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of the USSR. Photo: RIA NOVOSTI Y uri Grigorovich first staged this ballet at his native Kirov (Mariinsky) theatre in 1961. The libretto was based on the same-name play by Nazym Hikmet. The music was composed by Arif Melikov. The set was designed by Simon Virsaladze. The production was so ground-breaking for that time that it became an artistic sensation and a certain manifesto of the new ballet aesthetics, based on the unity of plot and the dramatic constituent and symphonic dance. "A Legend of Love" is a ballet not only about the feeling of love, but also about the meaning of love, about sacrifice and compassion and about the problems of moral choice. It really is an emotional reflection about the meaning of life. Grigorovich proved that the choreographic art was capable of embodying various philosophical and ethical problems, and he did it in a very convincing way. He proved it with his ballet "A Legend of Love", where commitment and nobility turn into sacrifice: in the beginning of the story Mekhmene Banu sacrificed her beauty in order to save her sister's life, in the end the painter Ferkhad sacrifices his love to Shireen to save the people. The symphonic style of Melikov's music allowed Grigorovich to create a philosophical ballet, based on endless dancing development, which is consistent and simultaneous, as well as on the combination of processions, pas de deux, solo parts and mass scenes. All those means allowed the choreographer to convey the ideological and the figurative meaning of the ballet. "A Legend of Love" starts with a short musical epigraph from five sharp chords performed by the whole orchestra; those chords mark the beginning of the tragic story. The characters appear from behind the folding screen with an eastern ornament; it looks like they come from the pages of an ancient book of wise men from Maghreb. The women are dressed in black; their grieving poses, sad faces, hands raised to the sky, falling dresses and sad dance let us understand that something very bad has happened in the kingdom. Each character of "A Legend of Love" has his/her own musical and plastique characteristics, supported by corps de ballet, which in this production by Grigorovich is equal to the soloists. The scene of Ferkhad's first meeting with Mekhmene Banu and Shireen is choreographed in a spectacular way; the character's inner world is revealed in the slow cantilena music. They have their wordless monologues, as the court freezes in the background: Shireen's reverent hands and melodious arabesques are aimed at Ferkhad, who is experiencing a feeling that is new for him, and cannot believe he is experiencing it yet. Mekhmene Banu is in love with Ferkhad, and her heart is bleeding; we can feel pain and hopelessness in her dance. The first pas de deux of Shireen and Ferkhad is the keynote of their relationship that is only about to begin ("The torture of love without the joy of love - this is about Shireen and Ferkhad"). Nina Kaptsova performed the part of Shireen in one of the performances; her interpretation of this part can be described with the poet's words: "She is like a doe, she is like a bird, she is quick, light and nice". Alexander Volchkov, one of the Bolshoi's most passionate premiers, performed the part of Ferkhad; his plastique was full of lightness and lyricism. When it comes to lyrical scenes, I consider the scene of Mekhmene Banu's dreams (performed by Maria Allash) to be the high-water mark of the symphonic style of the choreography. This scene was based on passing the movements from the soloist to corps de ballet and back from the corps de ballet to the soloist; the corps de ballet was the echo of the heroine's sufferings and the dancing choir that accompanied her. The dance of the Queen and Ferkhad, who appeared in her dreams, is full of passion and power. She sees the young lad as a King, who is worth her loving. But this dream disappears as suddenly as it has appeared; the Queen lies down and is left alone with her sufferings. The final scene of the ballet is the moment of truth for the characters. Ferkhad, who does not want to confront the Queen's power and the princesses' love, leaves through the whole that he has made in the rock; he leaves forever. This is how "A Legend of Love" ends; this is an outstanding ballet, created by Yuri Grigorovich, a choreographer and a philosopher. This production shocks, excites and purifies, like a real tragedy. Love in grand style Y uri Grigorovich brought "A Legend of Love" back to the Bolshoi Theatre Photo: Damir Yusupov The new old premiere of the ballet "A Legend of Love", choreographed by Yuri Grigorovich to the music by Arif Melikov in 1965, took place at the Bolshoi Theatre. Ekaterina Istomina reports about the great Soviet oriental ballet vampuka. The most touching, sentimental and tear-jerking syncope in yet another premiere of this ballet ("A Legend of Love" last appeared on the Bolshoi Theatre's playbills in April 2002) is the appearance of the legendary ballet master and People's Artist of the USSR Yuri Grigorovich (87) and People's Artist of the USSR, the composer Arif Melikov (81), who is famous for this particular ballet, during the curtain calls. The great stage veterans were given tremendous ovations (that evening the Bolshoi's stalls reminded one of a society column from a glossy magazine very much). However, ovations did not come at once: the first act of this three-act ballet, which was not made shorter to suit the mobile theatre fashion, appealed to the consciousness of those responsible for the Bolshoi Theatre's corps de ballet. It looks like the corps de ballet has to be taught at least some skills of team coordination, group eurhythmy and the geometrical patterns of the eastern dance. This version of "A Legend of Love" still is a ballet of tremendous scale; at the same at it is uneven, which is risky. It is kind of a skillful and well-trained professional dancer with old and hardened blood clots inside. On one hand there is a significant story, the kind of mundane old theatre legend of "A Legend of Love"; according to this story, this is a ballet about power and the individual, state interest and personal passion, and at the end of the forgotten Thaw the intrigue of this grandiose story appealed to both advocates of a strong state and those, who were less loyal to the official ideology. "A Legend of Love" appeared at the Bolshoi two years earlier than "Spartacus", which was created in 1968, and is considered Grigorovich's best ballet; this is not for nothing. The ballet is a great example of his style; it demonstrates his powerful choreographic course, giant leap, sportive and dramatic, fierce pirouettes, and the violent mass scenes are very bright, expressive and distinct. On the other hand, "A Legend of Love" has lost its original system of coordinates, which was elevated and paradoxical, and turned out to be Soviet and historical, spectacular and theatrical. The set, designed by Simon Newsletter October, 28 2014 V irsaladze, represents a harem and an old book; it is hardly possible to imagine that such "eastern" costumes could have been designed today (bearing in mind that corps de ballet is corpulent, these costumes look rather absurd); the praying and protesting crowd is demonstrating long arms and legs; the lyrical scenes, though, still look very lively (although they have lost their initial eroticism). This grandiose Soviet ballet is impressive in terms of its great past; it is really grand and really a tale on a great scale. Today it has the same degree of Cyclopean grandeur as the Sayano - Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station, which is also very big, beautiful and draws a lot of attention. Today "A Legend of Love" does not have a distinct main idea, and it is not possible to do without personal comparisons. Some will remember Maya Plisetskaya or Svetlana Adyrkhaeva (Mekhmene Banu), others will shed a tear, thinking about the Soviet lyrical ballerinas Natalia Bessmertnova or Lyudmila Semenyaka (Shireen) or about the passionate and muscular Ferkhad, performed by Alexander Vetrov. In any case, the modern version of this ballet is a high-voltage race of dramatic parts. The opening night cast starred the People's Artist of Russia Svetlana Zakharova as Mekhmene Banu; this ballerina has impeccable technique and a classical standard of stamina. Without any doubt, at first she aimed at some dramatic, almost Shakespeare-like heights. There was neither violent anger, nor jealousy, nor envy, nor the terrifying in its loving powerlessness part. There was only exquisite ballet technique, only endless exemplarity and exceptional classical canonicity. All those strong sides of her performance killed the exotic and wild character of the suffering disfigured eastern queen. Svetlana Zakharova demonstrated the kind of performance that she usually demonstrates with any kind of role: she demonstrated her long legs and sinuous neck, high arches and hands, which she was taught to put in some "eastern" positions. Shireen (Anna Nikulina) was very accurate and followed the dance pattern closely; she was charming as a child in the playful and seducing love part. She was a small flirty artful snake, thoughtless, as a child; but when she had to become a grown-up and when she had to suf fer, hold, beg and crawl, she did not demonstrate a faithful character either. As for Ferkhad, performed by a very powerful Denis Rodkin, this tall and handsome young man is just a soft toy in the clingy hands of two women, who are in love with him. He demonstrates a good leap, is wild and wooly when it comes to the rhythm and shakes all his limbs. The corps de ballet is definitely unused; there are no bright central characters, but there is a distinct dance pattern. Still, "A Legend of Love" remains a grand, or, rather, a tremendous repertoire ballet. There is the most difficult choreography, oriental music, Soviet pomposity and the unsolved love drama; in other words, there are all the characteristics of the rich state civilized vampuka. The Bolshoi Theatre's prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova was hospitalized in Moscow. The provisional diagnosis is renal colic Svetlana Zakharova. Photo: Liliya Sharlovskaya A theatre source informed "Moskovsky Komsomolets" that the Bolshoi Theatre's prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova was hospitalized in Moscow. According to the source, Zakharova felt bad on Thursday night during the show. However, she managed to finish her performance and then asked doctors' for help. The provisional diagnosis is renal colic. On October 26th the ballet "A Legend of Love" starred another Bolshoi prima, Maria Allash. Next year will be the year of Russia in Monaco The year of 2015 will be the year of Russia in Monaco. This was announced after the cultural program of our country had been presented in the Principality. The ruling monarch Albert II suggested organizing several events. Following his initiative, the largest festival of Russian art will be organized in Monaco. During the whole year Russian actors will perform at dif ferent venues in the Principality. It is also planned to organize numerous exhibitions, sport competitions and scientific conferences. The ships "Kruzenshtern" and "Sedov" will make their entrance into the Monaco harbor; an exposition about the House of Romanov will open at the Prince's Palace. The Bolshoi Theatre's artists will officially open the year of Russia in Monaco. On December 19th they will present there the production "The Taming of the Shrew". Anna Netrebko will make her debut at the Bolshoi Theatre W orld opera stars will take part in the "Opera Ball", marking the anniversary of Elena Obraztsova "Opera Ball", marking the 75th anniversary of Elena Obraztsova, a People's Artist of the USSR, will take place on the Bolshoi Theatre Historic Stage on October 28th. Several great opera stars - Anna Netrebko, José Cura and Olga Peretyatko - will make their debut at the Bolshoi. Dmitry Bertman, the director of the concert and the artistic director of the theatre "Helikon-Opera", told "Izvestia": - Each of these artists gathers full audience halls in any part of the world; this time all of them will perform on Russia's main stage. Only the name of Elena Obraztsova can bring such artists together on the same stage. The opera diva will host the ball herself. It is expected that she will perform one of her signature numbers, the song of the Countess from the opera "The Queen of Spades" by P. T chaikovsky. Anna Netrebko will perform solo and together with her fiancé, the Azerbaijani tenor Y usif Eyvazov. Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Maria Guleghina, Ekaterina Siurina and prima ballerinas Svetlana Zakharova and Yulia Makhalina will take part in the "Opera Ball" as well. The emblem of the 2018 FIFA W orld Cup will appear on the Bolshoi's façade The organizing committee "Russia-2018" announces that the official presentation of the 2018 FIF A W orld Cup emblem will take place during the light show on October 28th; the emblem will appear on the Bolshoi Theatre's façade. The light show will start at 11.30 p.m. (Moscow time). At the same time the logo will be presented to the viewers of the Channel One in the program "Vecherny Urgant" ("Evening Show with Ivan Urgant"). Alexey Sorokin, the CEO of the organizing committee "Russia-2018", stated: "The Bolshoi Theatre is one of the best-known symbols of Russia in the world; it symbolizes the traditions of our country". /…/ Newsletter October, 28 2014 Mass media about the Theatre Newsletter , 7 For articles published 24-26 October 2014 Hundreds of local editions around the globe announce the transmission of the Bolshoi's A Legend of Love in local cinemas. The Denver Post calls the Bolshoi Ballet the world's most admired ballet company. Inverclyde Now (UK) says A Legend of Love is "stunning" and that the ballet is further enriched by the talent of the Bolshoi Ballet. The critics of The Telegraph and The Express in London praise the debut of former Bolshoi Ballet dancer Natalia Osipova in A Month in the Country at the Royal Opera House in London. Classicalite reports about the upcoming tribute Elena Obraztsova at the Opera Ball at the Bolshoi Theatre saying opera diva Anna Netrebko will make her first-ever appearance at the Bolshoi at the event. Maria Allash performed the part of Mekhmene Banu. Photo: Damir Yusupov For more information about the production please go to: Sergei Filin, a People's Artist of Russia and the Bolshoi Ballet artistic director celebrated his birthday on October 27th. We wish Mr. Filin success in his creative career and all the best! http:// Nizhny Novgorod mass media: The Festival "The Boldino Autumn" will take place in Nizhny Novgorod from November 14th till November 21st The 28th All-Russian Pushkin Festival "The Boldino Autumn" will take place at the Nizhny Novgorod State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre from November 14th till November 21st. The Festival will open with M. Mussorgsky's opera "Boris Godunov", based on Pushkin's tragedy. Vladimir Taisayev, a soloist of the Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre, will perform the role of the Tsar Boris. Roman Muravitsky, the Bolshoi Theatre's soloist, whom the Nizhny Novgorod audience have known and loved for a long time, will perform the part of the Pretender. /…/ October, 28 2014 Bolshoi Theatre in the Internet |
