SwissBalletFan

My 2 cents on the performances: - I agree about all of the comments about the 'mother' role above - I felt that Polunin was not a believable prince or 'noble' character at all, nor do I think that his dancing ability was enough to compensate for his lack of compassion nor emotions for Giselle at all. Last season I watched Friedemann Vogel as an arrogant noble, mistreat and play with poor Giselle's emotions, and the Graceful Roberto Bolle sweep Giselle from her feet and getting carried along with emotion to forget his responsibilities as a noble until it was too late. Both brought a story, a character and emotions for Giselle. Polunin brought 'Polunin' who as a 'Name' I did not even hit me that he was trying to be another character, and I found myself just looking for some 'amazing' dancing to compensate for the lack of character, sadly to say I didn't find it at all. - Following from lack of a noble prince, to a princess throughout, Zakharova. In a way it seemed more like roles were reversed in many of the pas de deuxs with Zakharova looking beautiful and graceful, apart from some minor chest pain every now and then. Again, she was too beautiful and strong to be the vulnerable and naive Giselle in Act 1. So I found myself losing any story line at all, and instead looking for why 'zakharova' was such a star in this role. I had to wait for Act II, and then on stage alone as a beautiful ghost, dancing fantastically, I could understand why she is a star Name as a Giselle (to some point) - With all of the scenery looking a bit dated and comical at times, with not much emotion or story on stage, and only some elements of fantastic dancing ability of Zakharova shining through, I wonder to myself why would the Bolshoi transmit this to the world? It wasn't as if after I felt, hmmm poor my in Zurich having to go to watch Giselle and trying to take comfort with what I see. In fact I felt very happy about the emotion, and partnership of the dancing I see on stage in Zurich that to me this is the important part of watching. So in summary, I would happily spend hundreds to fly to La Scala to watch Zakharova dance Sleeping Beauty, and this time only if the Noble Tissi was dancing again. I wouldn't rush to fly to Bolshoi to see this Giselle again nor would I watch it online again, even for free. I don't want to sound like a harsh 'wannabe' critic and I am sure Polunin is amazing in some roles and more than likely opposite someone that he has an emotional attachment to, namely osipova, but this performance left me cold. I am excited to watch Giselle in Zürich again though, and cheer a little louder at the end Also, with the chance to replay, Zakhavorva's fall was from an overextension and he actually landed on the top of her foot, there was no slipping at all. Just FYI, she recovered and danced amazingly! (heroine)

Dear all, I have heard from a friend in Russia and they still have the HD link on the Bolshoi youtube account here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emt57z3CE3c If you travel to Russia or know someone there. or have an IP address proxy account such as DotVPN for chrome. Then you can watch the whole performance online. I hope this helps.

In actuality there has been until yet very little about the aims of Ratmansky's Swan Lake or the inspirations about its setting. I guess we can gather from his Sleeping Beauty that it will be very beautiful and traditional. Until he starts to work with the staff and dancers in Zurich I guess he will keep his cards close to his chest. I will set up a new topic if/when any news comes through

I would hope that the production would tour to the many Opera Houses in the world, then everyone can see how it is. I doubt blue ray could even do the beauty of the setting justice Put a call in to Mr O'hare I am even more excited about the coming Swan Lake and the mind boggles how beautiful it could be...and now that makes me feel like a child

Here is a review by Gramilano: http://www.gramilano.com/2015/10/ratmanskys-sleeping-beauty-in-milan-casts-its-magic-spell/ I agree with everything he says apart from the recepr¨tion of the audience, which to my ears was much more muted at the premiere. He does however tackle the reaction of the 'La Scala stalwarts' to this version, versus that of Nureyev.

For Ms McNulty from whom I have learned a lot about Northern Ballet and BRB...and other people here of course: Mike Dixon chooses: David Nixon - Northern Ballet - Director of the Year Martha Leebolt - Northern Ballet - Cathy in Wuthering Heights - Outstanding performance by a Female Dancer Tobias Batley - Northern Ballet - Dracula/Heathcliff - Outstanding performance by a Male Dancer Kevin Poeung - Northern Ballet - Ranfield in Dracula - Outstanding performance by a Male Dancer David Bintly's The King Dances BRB - Best premiere

The October issue of Dance Europe has arrived, and inside are all of the critic's awards. I have bought an online copy too.. I am not sure how much of it I can share due to copyrights. However if anyone has any requests for mentions I will be happy to share. My personal highlight was Anna Karenina a full length ballet made for Viktorina Kapitonova in Zürich was chosen for one of the outstanding female performance awards and one of the best premieres, as chosen by Jessica Teague of Amsterdam. link to buy online here : http://www.danceeurope.net/store Interetsed to know which you agree or disagree with. There are a few things in some 'best of' and 'most disappointing' notable Ratmansky's Sleeping Beauty splitting some critics.

Dear BcF, I very often watch the Galas in Italy of Roberto Bolle & Friends, and they are really fantastic events! I was just in Bari to watch the show and it was a really amazing show and atmosphere, I highly recommend them. Also in his choice of 'Friends' I think you get to see a mix of you emerging talent, the emerging stars and the fully fledged 'bought the T Shirt' stars. Check out Roberto's website for dates, and there are lots of great photos and funny things that follow the tour on instagram and Twitter #bolletour2015 Also with Prototype which is a video based choreography where Roberto does everything from Duel with a computer version of himself, to leading an dancing Army of Bolles. Here was the programme in Bari on 3,4,5 October: Roberto Bolle: Prototype Kiyoka Hashimoto & Davide Duato: Mozart a 2 Viktorina Kapitonova & Dinu Tamaslacaru: Carneval de Venice Maria Eichwald & Alexander Zaitsev : Ring them bells Julie Kent & Roberto Bolle: Manon bedroom PDD Roberto Bolle: Through the light Kiyoka Hashimoto & Davide Duato: Donizetti PDD Julie Kent & Roberto Bolle: Sinatra Suite Maria Eichwald & Alexander Zaitsev: Kazimir's colours Dinu Tamaslacaru: Les Bourgeois Viktorina Kapitonova & Roberto Bolle: Le Grand Pas De Deux by Christian Spuck (Funny with the cow) As a quick review, Davide & Kiyoka were enthusiastic and very nice dancers, both from Vienna, Maria & Alexander (both Freelance now) were technically very good in their PDDs but I am not sure about how Marco Goeke's choreograpy really shows the best of the Liza Minelli song 'Ring them Bells' but the skateboards they use made for a really funny video (see below) Dinu (Berlin) is a regular and his Les Bourgeois is really charismatic, and that guy can jump! Julie Kent was lovely in the slower more easy numbers with Bolle, but she shows great class even in 'retirement' Viktorina (Zürich) yes I am not ashamed to say I am biased, but if you have not seen Spuck's Grand PDD watch it on youtube. It can be really hilarious and she plays it with Bolle Fantastically to end with Standing ovations (the crowd very much warmed up by DinuT) Roberto Bolle...A true star!! And for me one of the best ever! Curtain calls: A quick video summary, and the skateboard piece I will be in Parma one night at the end of the month where they do 3 more nights 22, 23, 24 October. The videos are not mine, but from RBs army of fans

Dear Nick, I hope you do make it to Zürich, the Swiss do make for a very knowledgeable and appreciative audience. A tip on tickets as due to currency fluctuations, they will be a bit scary for visitors.... The cheaper seats on the side have a very restricted view, so go central and its not that high even in the cheapest seats compared to the Bolshoi or La Scala. I think I remember Roberto Bolle saying that i was like a very beautiful comfortable living room

Here is the guardian review: http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/sep/30/alexei-ratmansky-the-sleeping-beauty-la-scala?CMP=share_btn_tw

I attended the premiere of Ratmansky's Sleeping Beauty with Svetlana Zakharova and Jacopo Tissi as the lead performers on Saturday night. First thing I have to say was too look for the set english word to describe the performance as a whole...and it is GORGEOUS! In a world of cut budgets, and downscaling of set design and costume, the stage and (most of) the costumes were the most extravagant and gorgeous I have ever seen. It reminded me of Hollywood sets in the Golden Era of stage design...amazing, awe inspiring, and delicious! A lot has been written about the inspiration and research that Ratmansky undertook to make this staging as close to Petipa's original, and fantastically the programme all 150+ pages included a lot of the original drawings and research which demonstrated the aims of Ratmansky. It is with this point, the audience would be split. There is very little dancing in the whole performance, with a lot of posturing and acting and ,most of the dancing on Demi-point and with low arabesques and the legs not being raised above hip level. This for me resulted in a very natural fairy tale piece of beauty and history that took me back to my childhood, and the innocence of beauty and simple imagination and stories. Which I loved!!! With each of the 3 acts defining the story in amazing sets, and all of the cast looked free and like they were having fun, especial in the final act where the fairy tale characters were playful and full of energy! Then we get to how this project fits into the 'modern' age and how it fits with all of the additions and changes since this faithful original reproduction. First, Jacopo Tissi is a beautiful dancer, however there was very little dancing for him apart from a variation in the third act that involved very fast small movements, and like 'hopping' for his lines and length it was not very suitable to his natural skills, but there were some glimpses of fantastic quality. Zakharova seemed a bit nervous in the beginning, and the role and the choreography on mostly demi-point did not showcase her fantastic ability either. However her variation in the final act and her arms were beautiful! Massimo Murru was great as the Carabose with such amazing set design and costume in the background, deserving of a hollywood Oscar. I felt the music was slower than it was supposed to be as some of the variations were quite 'laboured', so maybe not as Ratmansky designed. At the final curtain of Ratmansky's premiere of Sleeping Beauty with Svetlana Zakharova as the lead on a saturday night in Milan....(I emphasise these points as I had my expectations of a respectful and great reaction for the choreographer and Etoile) The crowd politely clapped for each of the cast in the first curtain call. As the curtain closed after the first call 80% of the parkett stood up and headed straight for the exits. I was aghast and totally shocked, as the the lead characters came in front of the curtain to some applause and to see the backs of the people leaving. After opening again to show the full ensemble a group of the crowd formed at the front of the stage to take photos, but the parket was largely empty. In talking to some audience members, they said they are used to the speed and dancing of Nureyev's version and simply didn't take to the project with the 'lack of' technical dancing and show-off variations. Regarding Polunin etc... he was not missed in this role really, as there is not much opportunity for the prince to show off his dancing skills to the fullest. I would expect a future star in Tissi however. I personally left very happy, having seen the most beautiful thing I have seen in my life regarding stage and design, and having a part of my childhood given back to me with an innocence and naivety. Whatever the reviews, I think the world needs a reminder of why Ballet exists and why people love the escapism of a Fairy Tale night. I can't wait for how his Swan Lake will look in Zurich, which will be a crowd that I am sure will rapturously applaud a beautiful project! I would not be so confident that the crowd at La Scala will be wildly excited for their premiere this season, but I think Swan Lake will be back to the times of Pavolva, and I can't wait!!!!

Am I going crazy, or has a mod edited my post below? I think I wrote Zurich's stars or would have at least written dancers. 'performers' is not in my limited English vocabulary.

Friedemann Vogel, Alicia Amatriain and Jason Reilly have officially been announced as Kammertänzer, the highest honour for a dancer in Germany... From Stuttgart website: The Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg will honor our Principal Dancers Alicia Amatriain, Jason Reilly und Friedemann Vogel with the national title “Kammertänzer”, the highest honour that can be bestowed on a dancer in Germany. We are very happy and proud! Congratulations to all three!

Having slept on this news, which is always the best way before posting on forums I guess I am still looking forward to the performance and especially the Ratmansky choreography, which was the real reason for choosing this performance. I wanted to get an insight into how Mr Ratmansky's Swan Lake will be and how Zürich's performers will compare with Zakharova. SO that is both boxes still ticked. I still feel that with 'Team Polunin' still announcing proudly his Giselle DVD performance at the Bolshoi with Zakharova only 2 weeks later, its not exactly serious. In any case, I still will feel it is money well spent, and we always have a great time at the ballet. Betterankles....he was 'lent' to Vienna last season after graduating from the La Scala academy. Anyway, I hope the Balletcoforum can sympathise, and forgive for an artist style 'hissy fit' I will give my review after the performance. Best regards Stef

Once I have calmed down,I will write my impressions of the whole event. Apologies in advance if I am not as descriptive or poetic as other reviewers.

My post was edited because in my frustration I could be a lot worse about Mr.Polunin. Considering his past reputation, the fact that the girl who has the same name as the new tattoo he has on his left hand has already ruled herself out of the Autumn program....I think it isn't too much of a cynical stretch of the imagination. Also, in reading the comments about Osipova and the ROH replacements, which may not be peoples' 'cup of tea' in style etc.. It was also a reminder about how things could be worse in terms of nearly EUR1,000 for flights, hotels and tickets to originally see David Hallberg, and then when all is planned and dress (Ms SBF) has been bought etc.. A neck 'disease'? I am sorry if I am not less cynical about the events leading up to this, nor the effect it upon seeing the 'Artist' well, all I can say is. Once bitten... as the English say. I wrote previously that for the replacement it is a sign for people to keep working to get the chance to 'star'. I have no issue with him, and wish him the best and will show my support as loud as anyone. The fact that it is physical and 'artists' working with their body, I can ALSO understand how frustrating 'A PAIN IN THE NECK' can be....

Also... for those of you annoyed about Osipova. Just think having spent EUR360 and booked hotels etc. for Hallberg, feeling ok with Polunin, and now can't cancel or exchange tickets. Then having a new school graduate as a replacement...

It seems Osipova and Polunin are having a great effect in each other.... BUT its a good example to young ballet dancers that if you work and take your chances...and not think you are a rock star...but a disciplined athlete it can work out.

I can understand the statement about the amount. To be fair though, I think its a fair way for the audience to repay what must have been a huge investment by La Scala (and ABT) to produce such a large scale new production. It isn't like they will make any profit on this (or any) production.

Then you might enjoy his interview and front page of the latest Zürich Operahouse Magazine. Here: http://issuu.com/opernhauszuerich/docs/mag32_gzd2

Zürich Opera house have announced that Friedemann Vogel will guest as Albrecht on 17th December and 2nd January, and Polina Semionova will guest on 22nd January. Friedemann danced alongside Zürich's star classical ballerina Viktorina Kapitonova as Giselle last season and will likely be performing with her again this season, although casting is to be announced. More uncertain is who will dance with Polina (who danced with Friedemann in her guest in Zurich last season). due to injuries to principals Denis Vieira danced as Albrecht as first cast last season. It will be too early for William Moore I think, but I would imagine that new principal Alex Jones is the likeliest partner. link here: http://www.opernhaus.ch/kiosk/notizen/#news382

In preparing for my trip to see Polunin and Zakharova in Ratmansky's Sleeping Beauty at La Scala on 26 September, I notice that it is the premiere performance. In Zürich Opernhaus, there is a premiere party on the stage after the performance which is open for the general public to meet the stars and hear the speeches etc. with free drinks and food (an inside tip maybe ) Initially I would like to know if anyone knows how La Scala party after premieres and if they are open to the public as I would of course love to see the stars etc. Does anyone know? Also how do the other ballet companies handle premieres and partying

Actually strangely there are still many tickets available for this, even including the premiere. I will be attending the Premiere to see Polunin and Zakharava for the first time, and to see how the 'traditional' style of Ratmansky translates to Sleeping Beauty. From this I can then imagine how his production of Swan Lake may be in Zürich Stucha, that is the only casting information that is given on the website that I can find.

Now confirmed on the La Scala website: Due to an injury, David Hallberg will be unable to perform Sleeping Beauty this season. He sends his best wishes to his audience in Milan and looks forward to returning soon. Partner of Svetlana Zakharova on 26 September, 2 and 6 October will be Sergei Polunin in the role of the Prince Désiré; the same dates, as already announced, will be enriched by the presence of Massimo Murru in the role of Carabosse.

It has been announced that Sergei Polunin will replace David Hallberg for La Scala's premiere and subsequent performances of Ratmansky's Sleeping Beauty with Etoile Svetlana Zakharava. Sergei Polunin's own Twitter and an article by Graham Spicer have announced this as news, but La Scala's website has not been updated. The dates are 26th September, 2nd and 6th October. Terrible news for David Hallberg if his long term injury has not recovered LInk: http://www.gramilano.com/2015/09/sergei-polunin-replaces-david-hallberg-in-ratmanskys-sleeping-beauty-at-la-scala/