Bayerisches Staatsballett: Coppelia by Roland Petit

[Sabine0308]

Coppelia in Munich April 22nd, 2022
Staatsballett Munich currently performs Coppelia by Roland Petit with three different casts in the main roles, and I went to see Ksenia Ryshkova as Swanilda, Shale Wagman as Franz and Javier Amo as Dr. Coppelius (he dances this role in all performances).
Petit's choreography is a colorful and "bonbon-rose" version of this ballet. And especially when the corps dances I was under the impression that we see a revue rather than a ballet with a story to tell. Somehow it felt that the extended corps parts were made to give the 3 main characters time to catch their breath backstage. And for no other purpose 😀. It sounds a bit mean but it really didn't add to the story at all.

 

As for the story, it was pure entertainment and fun to watch. Mostly, and I have to focus now on the main reason why I travelled to Munich again  - because of the witty, defiant, proud, brilliant performance Shale Wagman delivered as Franz.
It was his first main role in a full length ballet in Munich as soloist (which in Munich means "demi-soloist"), alongside principal dancer Ksenia Ryshkova as a lovely, charming and graceful Swanilda, who was also very good in acting as poor Swanilda, trying frantically to get her Franz. She delivered beautiful clean solo parts especially with her fouettes.

 

Shale's technical and acting skills met the funny, mischevious and proud character of Franz perfectly. High jumps (one to the back of the stage made me literally gasp), beautiful tours en l'air, wonderful manege jumps, his "trademark" flexibility and a charming partnering for Ksenia as well as duets with Coppelius were just so delightful to watch. His expressive face (eyes!) and body language  for the pantomime parts were so funny, the audience chuckled along and gave applause during his gorgeous solo parts. I know I am biased but when he's onstage, his presence and fun to dance is palpable and striking.

Thunderous applause, bravi and many curtain calls for Franz and Swanilda were highly deserved. Munich is one lucky city to have him.
His next main role (according to the recent Staatsballett's press release) will be "Puck" in Neumeier's Midsummernights Dream.

 

Link to my Instagram with my Video:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ccqs6SoIS-Z/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Edited April 23, 2022 by Sabine0308

[FionaM]

Sounds wonderful.  Wish I could have been there.   Super role for Shale to make his lead debut at Munich.  And seems he and Ksenia make a super couple too.  
 

It’s a super version … such fun for the leads and Swanhilda’s friends.  And a bittersweet role for Dr Coppelius.  I prefer his role in this version.  It’s more touching and heartbreaking, and also wonderfully funny in places, but without being a bent-over comic (often over-acted) creature as in other versions.  There are long sections of recordings on YouTube of performances at Stanislavsky when Igor Zelensky was director there.
 

Thank you so much for the tip about casting for Neumeier’s Midsummer Night’sDream.  Is there a link to the press release?  I’m guessing Ksenia will be Titania/Hippolyta.  

[Sabine0308]

@FionaE wow it took me a while to find the press release again...they know how to hide stuff on their website....🙄 

Here actually the header is for Coppelia, in German only, and scroll down 

https://www.staatsoper.de/presseinformation-wiederaufnahme-coppelia

No info on Ksenia though, later....

Edited April 24, 2022 by Sabine0308

[Sabine0308]

For those of you with an Instagram Account, I recommend Shale’s Account where he posted some clips today from the performance on Friday. He was on FIRE for sure!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CcvdMTwM_mW/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[Sabine0308]

Review from a Munich newspaper:

https://onlinemerker.com/muenchen-bayerisches-staatsballett-coppelia/

 

Translation for the part about Shale:  

"The audience was really carried away by the brilliant performance of Shale Wagman as Franz. The young semi-soloist, who recently attracted attention as a soloist in "Rubies" and in the new ballet evening "Passages", dominated the stage with his virtuoso technique, his joy in dancing and his interesting stage personality."

 

[Jorgeb]

 

Shale is a wonderful artist!!

Elements about the other cast (my compatriots António Casalinho and Margarita Fernandes):

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CcbqxRJo0h-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc3Mq3oo6sE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CcnxwcdIpgb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CckBIkiIOVN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CckaFMqoZyU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

https://lesballetonautes.com/2022/04/21/

https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/kultur/buehne/bayerisches-staatsballett-die-suche-nach-dem-neuen-art-808458

Translation

Margarita Fernandes and António Casalinho shine

In the first two revivals, Margarita Fernandes (16) and António Casalinho (18) shone – Zelensky’s very youngest shooting stars and his latest discoveries. Her debuts as Swanilda and Franz lacked nothing. Even in moments deliberately exaggerated by Petit, they offered a great deal of passion and playful accuracy

Both young artists come from Portugal and have been training since they were eight years old at the Annarella Sanchez International Ballet and Dance Conservatory in Leiria, which follows the Cuban training methodology. Casalinho casually puffs on a cigarette as Franz – then he starts: downright love-struck in his long jumps and energetic pirouettes. There is also a perfect opponent: Javier Amo, who as the lonely, gallant oddball Dr. Coppélius shakes magic tricks out of his sleeve. He lends powerful impetus to a (mock) duet with his constructed puppet. One can only hope that Fernandes and Casalinho will remain loyal to the Bavarian State Ballet under new management and that they will not be enticed away elsewhere.