11 replies to this topic

[Mashinka]

[Editing to add:  I've moved a few posts from the Moscow International Ballet Competition in the Bolshoi forum here for continued discussion. (The discussion was sparked by a passing comment Natalia made in describing Somova as "one [or two] of the younger Kirov-Mariinsky stars.") -- Alexandra]

Please don't think I'm being rude Natalia, but having seen Alina Somova dance in Cardiff recently, I feel that to call her a star is very much an oxymoron.

[Alexandra]

I wasn't very impressed with her in DC either, Mashinska, but they're certainly presenting her as a star!

[Thalictum]

Samova is not a star; she is a dancer being cast in lead roles.

[Mireille]

I agree for having seen her perform in Swan Lake and Firebird, she should avoid "bird" roles as they are not her emploi, but she performed well in Dryad scene.

[Cygnet]

Thalictum, on Jun 20 2005, 04:11 PM, said:

Samova is not a star; she is a dancer being cast in lead roles.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Amen & ditto that Thalictum!

[Natalia]

Alexandra, on Jun 20 2005, 01:30 PM, said:

I've moved a few posts from the Moscow International Ballet Competition in the Bolshoi forum here for continued discussion.  (The discussion was sparked by a passing comment Natalia made in describing Somova as a rising star at the Kirov.)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Whoops -- I work for three hours & come back to see this!  Well, as Alexandra mentioned, Somova is being promoted as a star by K-M management. I certainly don't consider her a star in my book.

Whether we like it on not --- Somova was given the honor of dancing the Black Swan pdd in the recent gala kicking-off the K-M's White Nights Festival.  Too, we will be 'graced' by Somova's Medora here in DC (2nd cast), very soon!    

[Natalia]

It gets better.

Alina Somova danced one of the three full-length "Swan Lakes" at the K-M Theater, during the prestigious Stars of the White Nights Festival.  The two remaining Odette/Odiles will be:

June 21 - Yulia Bolshakova (tall & lanky blonde 2004 grad, who was injured during much of the past season)...a debut for her? Her Siegfried will be Yevgeni Ivanchenko.

June 24 - Elena Vostrotina (another tall & lanky...redhead this time). She debuted last year in this role, not too successfully.  Her Siegfried is none other than Igor Zelensky...who also partnered her in Le Corsaire pdd at the May 28 gala.

So those are the Kirov's three 'great' Odette/Odiles, given the honor of White Nights performances.  We know that Vishneva -- who has never danced O/O in her home theater -- is dancing it in NY with ABT. However, is this the best that the K-M can do for such an important ballet?  Where are Lopatkina? Pavlenko? Terioshkina?

I wonder if Somova, Bolshakova & Vostrotina will be joining Lopatkina as leads in the July 2005 London tour's 'Swan Lakes'?

I suppose that the debut of Daria Vasnetsova -- female 'star' of the just-graduated Vaganova Academy Class of 2005 -- as Odette/Odile, can't be too far behind?  Maybe in London? Hey, she has one whole month to prepare!

[Marc Haegeman]

Natalia, on Jun 20 2005, 07:30 PM, said:

It gets better.

I wonder if Somova, Bolshakova & Vostrotina will be joining Lopatkina as leads in the July 2005 London tour's 'Swan Lakes'?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We're bound to get a full-scale kindergarten treatment again in London - with lots and lots of debuts and second-timers. At £ 85 per night, it can't get any better.  
Gumerova and Sologub won't be there. Pavlenko is unsure. So yes, Natalia, you might be right about Swan Lake.

[Natalia]

Marc Haegeman, on Jun 20 2005, 04:38 PM, said:

So yes, Natalia, you might be right about Swan Lake.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yikes, Marc!  I was half-joking but it may not be a joke after all. Scary.

Both Osmolkina and Terioshkina have recently danced Nikiya, in the Soviet version of Bayadere, so it's a pretty safe bet that we'll be seeing the two of them in London (in addition to Lopatkina and Vishneva, I would think).  After Somova's Mariinsky Festival Fiasco as Nikiya (at corps de ballet benefit night), they wouldn't dare cast her in the full-length ballet, would they? Or would they?

[Mashinka]

Exactly one month on from the 'would they? Or would they?' speculation, Somova will dance the lead in Swan Lake at Covent Garden.  I had heard from a reliable source that she would be dancing the matinee on the 20th, but from the official casting now available it seems she will now dance the evening performance instead.

An interesting choice of date as most reviewers and dance fans will be over at the Coliseum that evening for the first night of the Australian Ballet, so comment on her performance will be minimal.

[Natalia]

Ha ha, Mashinka!  So my Kirov-on-tour predictions aren't too bad, eh?  

[Alexandra]

Natalia, you should take bets