assoluta Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 Absolutely sensational cast for Nureyev http://www.bolshoi.ru/en/performances/1025/roles/#all Looks like the most ambitious ballet since Petipa's Sleeping Beauty. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 Interesting cast of characters, but no Eric Bruhn......or Wallace Potts.......or Robert Tracy? Oh well, it is Russia. Ballets about dancers are rare as hens teeth, sincerely hope this one fares better than Isadora. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnpw Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 12 minutes ago, MAB said: Interesting cast of characters, but no Eric Bruhn...... There is a character called Erik and since it's Rodkin in one of the casts I assume it's a significant role and, presumably, Erik Bruhn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 Doh, no hard c in Russian where the letter is pronounced as an s I didn't pick up on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 Huge cast but no mention of Anna Tikhomirova. I would have thought she'd be in there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 Wow this sounds like a big production. I can't wait to hear about it. Gosh, how times have changed; who would have thought just 40 years ago (or less) that the Bolshoi Ballet would be presenting a ballet about Rudolf Nureyev, in all (it would seem) his colourful glory! For that reason alone, it deserves to succeed. Best of luck to the whole company! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackdove Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 1 hour ago, Don Q Fan said: Huge cast but no mention of Anna Tikhomirova. I would have thought she'd be in there? Anna is expecting her first child hence her absence Don Q 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 Lovely news...congrats to her and Artem? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balletomanewithoutacause Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 Updated cast listing for Nureyev. http://www.bolshoi.ru/en/performances/1025/roles/#all Rodkin no longer listed for the Erik Bruhn role. There may be other changes? Also, the names of two episodes have been changed to A Letter to Rudi. The Pupil and A Letter to Rudi. The Diva from I think Letter #1 and #2 respectively. Any guess on who the Diva might be? Clearly a tall flexible beautiful ballerina since Zakarhova, Stepanova and Shipulina are listed in that role. Sylvie Guillem? Makarova? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
assoluta Posted July 7, 2017 Author Share Posted July 7, 2017 Natalya Makarova isn't tall and, moreover, she requested to be left out of the script. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balletomanewithoutacause Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 15 minutes ago, assoluta said: Natalya Makarova isn't tall and, moreover, she requested to be left out of the script. True, Makarova is short -- I have stood next to her at the SF Ballet -- but somehow she has that elongated look anyway, even now. I think her legs must be quite long compared to her torso to give that impression. But that's a really interesting tidbit that she wasn't interested in being in the story! Any insights as to why? I don't know Nureyev's story well enough to know which divas he had important relationships with other than Fonteyn and to I believe a lesser degree, Guillem, and of course both of those were in his post-Russia days. Perhaps this role is of a ballerina who was important to him while he was in Russia? An early partner or teacher? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrewCo Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 8 hours ago, Lexy said: True, Makarova is short -- I have stood next to her at the SF Ballet -- but somehow she has that elongated look anyway, even now. I think her legs must be quite long compared to her torso to give that impression. But that's a really interesting tidbit that she wasn't interested in being in the story! Any insights as to why? Sense of dignity? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
assoluta Posted July 8, 2017 Author Share Posted July 8, 2017 Nureyev postponed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 I saw that on Twitter too, wonder why? Apparently Maria Akexandrova said on social media it's not because the dancers weren't ready. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 13 hours ago, Lexy said: I don't know Nureyev's story well enough to know which divas he had important relationships with other than Fonteyn and to I believe a lesser degree, Guillem, and of course both of those were in his post-Russia days. Perhaps this role is of a ballerina who was important to him while he was in Russia? An early partner or teacher? The dancer most important to him in Russia was Dudinskaya. He also danced a lot with Alla Sizova, someone he detested, she also shared a flat with him. During his career he must have danced with scores of dancers as he appeared with so many companies, apart from Fonteyn I think he had a couple of favourites but never formed a partnership with anyone that was so significant. His two occasional Russian partners post defection were Makarova and Panova and both claimed not to have enjoyed the experience of dancing with him. His teacher was famously Pushkin though he had a woman teacher before the Kirov, don't think she could be described as a diva though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 http://tass.com/society/955366 This brief news item says there will be a briefing at the theatre on Monday 10th July. It seems very odd given that the premiere was scheduled for Tuesday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnpw Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 5 hours ago, assoluta said: Nureyev postponed. What a pity. I see Igor Tsvirko - one of the Nureyevs - has posted a picture on instagram with the single word "Shock". The many comments on it, in Russian, seem to be expressing sadness, disappointment, concern and support. Clearly there's a "story" - let's hope Monday's briefing will throw some light. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balletomanewithoutacause Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 2 hours ago, Jan McNulty said: It seems very odd given that the premiere was scheduled for Tuesday. Yesterday Trump and Putin apparently agreed not to meddle in the internal affairs of each others nation. Today Putin orders repressive censorship of the arts based on his dislike of the subject matter. Very odd indeed but not totally unexpected. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lull Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 1 hour ago, Lexy said: Yesterday Trump and Putin apparently agreed not to meddle in the internal affairs of each others nation. Today Putin orders repressive censorship of the arts based on his dislike of the subject matter. Very odd indeed but not totally unexpected. Why the censorship? I am finding it difficult to translate the Instagram comment threads from the dancers' accounts. Is it due to the people involved in creating the ballet (one of them is facing criminal charges??) or some content (one of the dancers playing Erik dropped out before it all was canceled??) or... whatever it is, the dancers feel free enough to comment on it. I just can't understand what they are saying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrewCo Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 (edited) Serebrennikov (director/libretist working with Possokhov as on Hero of Our Time) was recently questioned regarding misuse of funds at his Gogol Center Theater, though he was supposedly not himself under investigation at that time. Urin spoke publically on his behalf too. People in the arts world (those on social media at any rate) think he and his theater are being harassed because the government does not like what they are doing. I have NO idea if this has anything to do with the Bolshoi production's postponement. Edited July 8, 2017 by DrewCo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balletomanewithoutacause Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 Alexandrova says on her Instagram that the artists were in fact prepared and references similar occurrences of productions being pulled in the 1930's. Yes, the photo is all black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balletomanewithoutacause Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 1 hour ago, DrewCo said: Serebrennikov (director/libretist working with Possokhov as on Hero of Our Time) was recently questioned regarding misuse of funds at his Gogol Center Theater, though he was supposedly not himself under investigation at that time. Urin spoke publically on his behalf too. People in the arts world (those on social media at any rate) think he and his theater are being harassed because the government does not like what they are doing. I have NO idea if this has anything to do with the Bolshoi production's postponement. These events could have been intended as a warning to Serebrennikov to tone it (Nureyev) down. Financial stings have been reportedly used by the Russian government in recent years to modify undesirable behavior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springbourne3 Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 'Nureyev' The opening night has been cancelled due to ongoing investigations by the Police - not sure who is involved as yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lull Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 (edited) From Russian newspaper reports (easier to translate!), it seems the official line is that the ballet was not "ready" but sources are saying that the ballet was cancelled due to its LGBT content. The ballet depicts the Nureyev-Bruhn relationship (it seems even their letters are read aloud); there is a scene in the "Bois de Boulogne" part of the ballet with male corps dancers as transvestites; and Forbes (Russia) has an image of the scenery that is NSFW (i.e., projected images of Nureyev's nude photo shoot). Very bold for the Bolshoi!!! I hope another company is able to perform this production. I imagine it could have a place at POB or another LGBT-friendly company (maybe in Sweden with its new director?). Edited July 8, 2017 by lull Boulogne, not Bologna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balletomanewithoutacause Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 (edited) This from Anna Okuneva (@call_me_perch on Instagram) is very sad. The Google translation seems to say that this is a video of the close of the last runthrough of Nureyev. (Perhaps someone literate in Russian could provide a proper translation?) I'm pretty sure that at the end she says, "But now I understand Rudolph. I understand why he decided to give up his land, relatives, from home. He chose freedom, which we do not have." Edited July 8, 2017 by Lexy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 Vladislav Lantratov posted his disappointment on Facebook. I really admire all the dancers who have the guts to post their opinions in public. They are getting loads of support from all over the world. Sadly, it probably won't make any difference. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 I see the link given at the top of the thread is now just a blank. There's a surprise. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 From the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40546377 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melody Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 (edited) Article in the Guardian, although the authors aren't named. This is pretty sad. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/jul/09/shock-as-bolshoi-cancels-world-premiere-of-nureyev-ballet "Russia’s Bolshoi theatre has announced the cancellation of next week’s world premiere of a ballet about Russian dance legend Rudolf Nureyev, staged by an outspoken director who has been questioned in a high-profile criminal investigation. [...] "Serebrennikov has fallen out of favour with Russia’s cultural authorities in recent years and has denounced increasing censorship of the arts. Supporters of Mr Serebrennikov reportedly said his questioning was politically motivated." Edited July 9, 2017 by alison Reduced size of quote to comply with forum guidelines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betterankles Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 It's really odd that Yuri Possokhov, unless I am totally wrong, who is the choreographer of this piece, is nowhere credited anywhere it talks of the cancelled production of 'Nureyev'.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninamargaret Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 Looks as though things are going back to the old Soviet days. And shades of Shostakovich 's troubles seem to be raising their ugly heads. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 (edited) 4 hours ago, betterankles said: It's really odd that Yuri Possokhov, unless I am totally wrong, who is the choreographer of this piece, is nowhere credited anywhere it talks of the cancelled production of 'Nureyev'.... Reminds me of when, a few years ago, the Bolshoi brought 'Declan Donnellan's Romeo & Juliet' to London with little mention of politkaru the actual choreographer.. Perhaps the Russians like work where the major hand is that of the producer. Edited July 9, 2017 by MAB Spelling error Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 I've edited down Melody's post towards the bottom of page 1 to comply with our quoting guidelines, although I think I've left the most pertinent portions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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