I had the incredible luck to watch last night's Swan Pake from the wings! While I'm aware that what I saw was not, strictly speaking, what the artists intended to be seen (and I didn't have much of a view of the scenery at all), I am so pleased to have gotten such a perspective on the performance.
I was truly impressed with Chudin, once again - his stamina, his charm, and his ability to stay connected and present even at times on stage when he didn't have much to do.
The Fool was such fun to watch, as were the trio of swans. The dance of the white swans just before Odette's return in act II was particularly beautiful to watch. There was such an evident synergy amongst dancers in the corps.
The biggest treat for me was the ability to have such a clear and close view of Smirnova's eyes throughout the evening. Apart from her incredible technique as a ballerina, what I saw last night was that she is not only a magnificent dancer, she is also a first-class actress! I don't know if the transformation she underwent was evident from further away, but from where I was watching...I was blown away. I didn't think she was as "flawless" as I thought she was in Diamonds, but this is a much more demanding role that she will grow into for years to come.
Such a special night for me.