The lone Juliet in May will be Irina Golub on the 20th, making us wonder when Somova may be making her debut as Juliet. June 6 will be the very last R&J back home before the London tour, as the Mariinsky website now lists all performances between now and July 31. So either "Ms X" debuts on June 6 or she may be debuting in London, at the start of the tour.

The biggest recent news, as far as I'm concerned, is Tatyana Tkachenko having replaced -- at the 11th hour --Irma Nioradze in one of last week's two Raymondas. (Kolegova danced the 2nd performance.) Tkachenko is really making a move. It's been a long time coming. She also essays Zarema in Bakh Fontan this Sunday, opposite Dumchenko.

More justice prevailing: Tonight Yana Selina finally debuts in a leading classical role in a full-evening ballet -- La Sylphide! She graduated the Vaganova Academy in '96 or '97 and had been confined to "Chorypheeland" for at least a decade, before being promoted to 2nd Soloist last fall. It's about time. She's the Mariinsky's long-time counterpart to POB's Thibault.

Then Ekaterina Osmolkina debuts as the Tsar Maiden in Ratmansky's Little Humpbacked Horse on the 10th.

Admirers of Vikharev's reconstructions can take heart that Flora's Awakening will reawaken on June 11. (However, it's still the 1952 Soviet Beauty being presented at the Mariinsky, sorry to report. EXTRA! Edited on May 18 when the playbill was changed to show that the 1890 version of Beauty would be presented on June 18.)

The highly-anticipated Vaganova Academy Graduation Performances commence June 20.

The premiere of a new production of Yakobsen's full-length Shuraleh takes place on June 29, repeated June 30.

The announcement for the annual three-month Stars of the White Nights Festival is found here:

http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/news1/pressa/xviiwnf_programme/

[carrying over from the Amsterdam tour thread]

Casting now up for most of June (though not yet for the two Shurales on the 29th & 30th):

Viktoria Terioshkina -- not Alina Somova, as many of us speculated -- will debut as Juliet on June 6:
http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill/playbi...009/6/6/1_1900/

Maya Dumchenko's debut as Zarema -- yes, you read correctly; not her usual role of Maria -- in Fountains of Bakhshiserai:
http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill/playbi...009/6/9/1_1900/

Obraztsova in 1st mvt of In the Night (her 2nd perf in the role) & 'Big Red' in Symph in C-2nd mvt:
http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill/playbi...09/6/11/1_1900/

Daria Pavlenko returns to Emeralds; Denis Matvienko debuts in Rubies:
http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill/playbi...09/6/12/1_1900/

Oksana Skorik debuts as Queen of Dryads in Don Q!
http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill/playbi...09/6/14/1_1900/

***EXTRA! EXTRA! The return of Sleeping Beauty 1890 production, with a bunch of debuts, incl the Matvienkos as Aurora/Desire and young, tall beauty Lilia Lischuk as Lilac Fairy:
http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill/playbi...09/6/18/1_1900/

Casting is now up.

June 28
Siyumbike: Yevgenia Obraztsova
Ali-Batyr: Mikhail Lobukhin
Shurale: Leonid Sarafanov

http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill/playbi...09/6/28/1_2000/

June 29
Siyumbike: Yekaterina Osmolkina
Ali-Batyr: Denis Matvienko
Shurale: to be announced

http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill/playbi...09/6/29/1_1900/

Niiiice!!!!! Thank you, Rosa! Yahooooo!!!!!!!!

Thanks Rosa! Congratulations to both Genichka and Katya 'O'!

Earlier, I had reported:

***EXTRA! EXTRA! The return of Sleeping Beauty 1890 production, with a bunch of debuts, incl the Matvienkos as Aurora/Desire and young, tall beauty Lilia Lischuk as Lilac Fairy



That's just been reversed. It will be the Soviet 1952 version after all. The Mariinsky-KIROV Powers have prevailed:

http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill/playbi...09/6/18/1_1900/

So much for that.

The Shurale casting for both performances has been removed.

Rosa, well-well-well...if the name of a certain someone with flexible joints appears, then I smell a political rat.

Uh oh. I'm having another Charlie Brown moment. Here it is: .

just came across with it ;-))
sorry that it's all in russian, but great dancing, and on OFFICIAL site of Mariinski.
Adore Tereshkina's interpretation of Juliet and how she prepared, got tears in my eyes at the end.
Loved the words of their coach "I teach them not to dance with the music, but to DANCE THE MUSIC"
http://www.mariinsky.ru/news1/media/
and Lopatkina with Chistyakova
http://www.mariinsky.ru/news1/media/lopatkina
Humpback rehearsals -
http://www.mariinsky.ru/news1/media/konyok

Enjoy, i surely DID

It's just one day before the big ballet premiere of the White Nights -- the revival of Yakobsen's SHURALE -- and still no casting announcements on the Mariinsky website or the posters in front of the theater. An earlier (June 2) announcement of Evgenia Obraztsova (Simbiuke, the bird maiden), Mikhail Lobukhin (Ali Batir, the hero) and Leonid Sarafanov (Shurale, the monster) as the opening night stars was retracted within days that it went up, you may recall, as per Rosa's posts, above. Also, the lovely Ekaterina Osmolkina and Denis Matvienko had earlier been announced as the leads of the 2nd cast and that, too, was retracted. [However, reliable sources say that Obraztsova may still be the opening Siumbike...was seen in the costume shop, being fitted with the Siumbike costumes. Ditto Osmolkina, for 2nd cast. No flexible gymnast was seen in the costume shop that day.]

Ninel Kurgapkina -- coach of Obraztsova -- who passed away a month ago, was the leading stager, along with Tatyana Terekhova -- coach of Somova and, I think, Osmolkina. After Kurgapkina's death, Terekhova took over as leading stager. Whose charge will show up on the stage tomorrow night, for the honor of the opening night? It's the biggest mystery in the St. Petersburg ballet world.

Link to story of ballet:

http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill/playbi...09/6/28/1_2000/

In the link to Maryinsky-Playbill you provided, Obsbratsova,D Matvienko and A Sergeyev are listed for the openning night.

Natalia, I believe Osmolkina is actually injured - one Russian board reports that Irina Golub will be second-cast Siyumbike in her absence, but since the Mariinsky website now signals the first cast, the second will likely be up soon.

Thanks. When I checked this morning it was still "TBA".

Looking forward to seeing both Yevgeniya and D. Matvienko tomorrow

Thanks. Just checked now, too. No 2nd cast yet. This is particularly nice for Alexander Sergeev; a feather in his cap to be named to the opening night cast. However, I wonder what happened with Sarafanov, who had originally been listed to dance the title role of the forest monster.

Very sad news about Osmolkina, if so...but great news for Golub. Let's hope that it materializes. (wink)

I know nothing of Sergeev; if he's as impressive as Sarafanov, then I'm in for a treat.

Just back from the Mariinsky. It was a spectacular evening.

As for tomorrow's cast, based on the premiere booklet, it's likely to be:

Irina Golub
Mikhail Lobukhin
Anton Pimonov

Alexander Sergeyev was impressive as Shurale, Denis Matvienko was outstanding, and Obraztsova was simply breathtaking.

Thanks, windflyer.

Well, YouTube works quickly. Several vids of tonight"s SHURALE revival-premiere are up, including these two.

Adagio, Obraztsova/Matvienko:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9uZakx8HB4...feature=channel

Act II Tatar wedding folk dance, with Obraztsova, female corps and enormous silk scarf (a-la Denishawn Soaring):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69327u6CInI

By all accounts, another big hit for the Mariinsky, certainly for knowledgeable 'locals' who adore old-fashioned spectacle and pure elegance.

Here is Golub rehearsing for tomorrow's 2nd performance, courtesy of the Mariinsky's site, Russian media section:

http://www.mariinsky.ru/news1/media/

Natalia,

Very nice videos. I even liked the distinctly "non-Western" feel of the music, too. (The music reminded me of the orchestral music from China with its distinctly Asian themes I would hear from documentaries produced by the Chinese government.)

(Methinks someone had a hard drive digital camcorder and was able to quickly download it to a computer, encode it to YouTube specs, and quickly upload it to YouTube.)

Obraztsova, as usual, was excellent in the role of Siyumbike.

Agree. Setting aside for a moment the finer points of dancing, the production is, IMHO, a major triumph—amazing sets, many many beautiful costumes, exotic music, yes, lots of dancing (but not in a <yawn> parade of variations), and a nice dose of humour (there is one variation where four drunk tatar women dance in the courtyard doing a subtle send-up of the cygnettes in Swan Lake ).

I found it an amazing experience, and most importantly, a very unique spectacle (in umpteen years of going to the ballet)!!

I personally think that *this* is the kind of thing that the company should throw its resources after (this coming from someone who a couple of years ago wondered why the Mariinsky would bother with Ondina).

The central-Asian feel is certainly one of the most attractive elements of the ballet, not just as it pertains to the music and the costumes but also some of the dances.

I think of myself as very fortunate to have been able to attend the premiere.

For those who also saw the video production of 1970 with Terekhova, how does it compare?

Again - many, many thanks for your on-the-ground insights, Windflyer.

Mireille, I can compare with regard to the length as I've seen both the video and a live production by another Russian troupe in Egypt. The Terekhova video lasts about 90 minutes, so at least 30 minutes of the ballet had to be cut out of the filming, including a number of character-folk dances. As far as the dancing is concerned, Obraztsova seems to bring a softer edge to the bird-maiden than does the phenomenal technician Terekhova (and main stager here, after Kugapkina's passing). Matvienko, in early You Tube clips, seems to be stronger and more heroic than the very fine Vadim Budarin in the film. I'd LOVE to see a clip of Alexander Sergeev in the title role of the slimy monster...I heard that he came close to stealing the show last night.

I saw so much 'Odette' in those few clips of Obraztsova. Could Swan Lake be far behind for her? Yes, she can!!!

What's the reason of her not dancing "Swan Lake"? Her height?

Yes, bingham, she is not considered Swan Lake material by Russian standards - you have to be tall to dance the role in Saint-Petersburg these days (cf Lopatkina, Kondaurova, Tereshkina, etc).

Yes. The Mariinsky is very picky about 'emploi' -- who has the physical characteristics to do certain roles. What's more, 'emploi' can change from generation to generation, e.g., the short-but-slender-long-lined Natalia Makarova was considered good enough for Odette/Odille in the 1960s. By the early 1980s -- especially with the Sylvie Guillem craze but also Galina Mezentseva at the Kirov -- Leningrad-St.P coaches stopped considering shorter dancers for the roles of Odette-Odile and Nikiya.

Especially nowadays, when she is longer-lined and more willowy than ever before, Obraztsova should be given a chance at Odette and Nikiya. Certainly Odette; she has already performed Black Swan pdd on tour, to great success.

In a recent interview with Dance Europe Magazine, Obraztsova stated that she believes that she may not be able to become a Principal without Odette in her repertoire. Sad...so a long and ultra-bony flexnatic can be thrust to attempt Odette and Nikiya, thus making her more worthy of "Principal" status? Ridiculous.

So how tall is Terioshkina? Not so tall...but taller than Obraztsova. However, I believe that Obraztsova has so slenderized herself in the past few months -- even more so than normally by the looks of her Simbiuke You Tube bits -- that she is very capable of achieving an acceptable "Odette Look" now. They should at least give her one or two performances "for the road...for her future" a-la Ayupova, who only danced Odette a couple of times, just to complete the Principal Resume. Once she became Principal, she never really danced Odette, did she? But it stayed on her resume and that's all that matters for The Powers That Be. [Not that we want Obraztsova to suffer the same fate of Ayupova -- hardly ever used once she achieved Principal status.]

You're welcome. I may get around to posting a more comprehensive review sometime...

Meanwhile, yes, Sergeyev was magnificent. He practically owned Act I. He slithered about with androgynous grace and exploded in frenetic dance and jumps—and everything in between. I kept thinking that Sarafanov is perhaps not physical enough for the role?

Oh, and by my watch, the net of the performance was just under two hours, so yes, a ninety-minute video (which i have not seen) would have about thirty minutes cut.

um, I wouldn't use those you tube bits to make any pronouncements: the aspect ratio of the clips is messed up, giving her a willowier appearance than she has in real life—not just in Shurale, but also in In The Night last week.

Having said that, yes, she has slenderized herself some.

I seem to recall that D Vishneva did not dance SL at the Kirov until she danced it in the west(ABT?). Maybe,Evgenia can do the same. We sure would be happy to see her dance it here.

Right...Obraztsova has practically built her career in the 19th-C Petipa classics on having first danced the big leading roles in the West, e.g., Raymonda in Thailand, Aurora in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, etc. If it weren't for this, she'd be dancing only Juliet, soubrettes and knee-length Romantic tutu ballets at home...not that those roles are anything to sneeze at!

Here's the problem with Obraztsova--she's just a tad too short to be matched with most of male dancers with Principal status at the Mariinsky (Obraztsova with Danila Korsuntsev in Swan Lake? I don't think so!).

Now, if Obraztsova can do Swan Lake she needs to be matched with a shorter male ballet dancer like her husband, Vladimir Skylyarov. Now THAT would work quite well indeed.

Many of the shorter Mariinsky male Principals would do perfectly: Sarafanov, Kolb or (when back to good health) Fadeev. Obraztsova also dances very well with the 'middle height' men like Matvienko (the recent Shurale) and, as you pointed out, Schklyarov. [Schklyarov is not Obraztsova's husband, by the way, but definitely a friend and professional partner. I learned this during my recent visit to St. Petersburg. Some of the early publicity from St. Petersburg Times newspaper and Kultura TV 2-3 years ago reported this erroneously.]

Genichka would be an excellent O/O. If she has to outsource this role the way Diana Vishneva has, then she should definitely look into it. To date Genichka has had to outsource her debuts as Aurora (Kazan), Raymonda (Bangkok), and Kitri (Tokyo). The only full length Aurora she has danced at home this season, was at her mother's alma mater the Mikhailovsky Ballet, not the Maryinsky. Ruzimatov is the Mikhailovksy's Artistic Director.

Vishneva wasn't granted O/O at the Maryinsky for a number of years because in the beginning the management's verdict was that she was a soubrette, and that her legs and feet were deemed unsightly. To her credit, Diana didn't let this deter her from essaying the role elsewhere. I hope that Genichka's success in "Shurale" will prompt the authorities to grant her the opportunity to dance "Swan Lake" on her home stage. Natalia, I agree that the gentlemen you named would all be the perfect foils for her. I would also like to add to your list Sasha Sergeev, (Pavlenko's husband), who made his magnificent debut as Albrecht opposite Genichka's sublime Giselle. I hope that Genichka doesn't have to wait a decade to essay the role on her home stage like Katya Osmolkina. Consider this: Alina Somova was thrust into O/O, making her debut within six months of her graduation from the Academy. That fact puts this issue of "emploi" and Maryinsky casting policy in the proper perspective, doesn't it?

Vids of the 2nd Shurale performance (Golub & Lobukhin) are now up, too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP6lVel4Q08...feature=channel

Interesting to compare this same adagio with the first cast one.

http://www.russiatoday.com/Art_and_Fun/200...te_Nights_.html

this page has some beautiful footage of vishneva's performance on saturday