Ryo Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 PRESS RELEASE 5 December 2023 WORLD RENOWNED STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA BRINGS SWAN LAKE TO THE LONDON COLISEUM IN SUMMER 2024 SUPERSTAR NINA ANANIASHVILI, FORMER PRIMA BALLERINA OF THE BOLSHOI, EX PRINCIPAL DANCER OF AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE, FORMER GUEST STAR OF THE ROYAL BALLET AND NOW DIRECTOR OF STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA, RETURNS TO THE CAPITAL FOR THE COMPANY’S LONDON DEBUT STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA WILL PERFORM THEIR LAVISH PRODUCTION OF SWAN LAKE FROM 28 AUGUST FOR A LIMITED SEASON AT THE LONDON COLISEUM ALL PERFORMANCES WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE AWARD-WINNING ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA ORCHESTRA TICKETS ON GENERAL SALE THURSDAY 7 DECEMBER In 2024, State Ballet of Georgia makes its first visit to England with Swan Lake. Based at the stunning Opera and Ballet State Theatre in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, this company of “versatile and accomplished” dancers (The New York Times) has soared under the bold artistic direction of world-renowned, Georgian-born Nina Ananiashvili, former prima ballerina with Bolshoi Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Ananiashvili, considered one of the all-time greats, returned home to her native country in 2004 to lead the company. State Ballet of Georgia’s last visit to the UK was in 2008 when they performed at the Edinburgh International Festival. Having performed on the London Coliseum stage in 1999 (as Kitri in Don Quixote with the Bolshoi), Ananiashvil now brings her company to London for the first time. Considered among the world’s 10 best classical companies, with a tradition of 175 years, experience the sleek grace and physicality of classical ballet at its best with State Ballet of Georgia. Swan Lake’s enthralling story, timeless score, and unforgettable choreography have made it the most in-demand ballet in the world. This breathtakingly beautiful production with gorgeous white tutus and sumptuous lakeside and ballroom settings will undoubtedly draw audiences into the fantasy of the world’s most loved ballet. Director of State Ballet of Georgia, Nina Ananiashvili said of the production: ‘Swan Lake is one of our best repertoires. It combines elaborate costumes, stunning choreography, exquisite ornaments and the young generation of dancers with Georgian characteristics. Swan Lake has always had an important place in my career. It was the first ballet that I performed in the Bolshoi Theatre and was my first and final significant performance at American Ballet Theater. I can’t wait to share it with audiences in London for the first time.’ A highlight of the London calendar for summer 2024, UK and international visitor audiences are sure to flock to State Ballet of Georgia’s Swan Lake when it lands on stage at the London Coliseum. With a company of 60, and accompanied by the award-winning English National Opera Orchestra, this lavish production opens on 28 August for a limited run with tickets going on general sale on 7 December. 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 Goodness! Hot on the heels of the RB’s very long run of Swan Lake and ENB’s in the round version at the RAH. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheilaC Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 Wonderful news. Nina A, as we used to call her, was a true ballerina, such style and technique. I have never forgotten how she, and her company, delivered near perfect performances of Giselle in Edinburgh the very weekend that the Russians were invading Georgia, such courage and professionalism when they had no idea what was happening to their country and loved ones. It is poetic justice that they are taking over a Russian slot. Jonathan Grey visited the company on home turf a couple of years before the Dancing Times folded, and he was most impressed. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 It does feel like a lot of Swan Lakes in 2024.....but I'd be interested to see how Nina Ananiashvili is running the company and will check them out. The ENO orchestra is also another reason I'll be booking. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 Much as I question whether I can sit through yet another Swan Lake next year, I really would love to see this company, so I will go along. Maybe enough time will lapse between the RB's and theirs at the end of August that I can see it with fresh eyes. I will therefore skip ENB's... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanut68 Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 Well that’s decided me….I’ll give RB’s SL a miss in favour of seeing this! (sorry RB..) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 Sounds like quite a good idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 More information from the press release: Listings Information State Ballet of Georgia Swan Lake London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4ES Performances from 28 August 2024 Evening Performances Wednesday - Saturday 7.30pm Matinees Thursday Saturday and Sunday 2.30pm Tickets https://londoncoliseum.org/ - general on sale 7 December (Members Priority Booking 5 & 6 December). Choreography: Marius Petipa & Lev Ivanov, staged by Alexei Fadeyechev & Nina Ananiashvili. Music: Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky ENO Orchestra Detailed casting to be announced. Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes incl interval Producers: Simon Bryce and Andrew Guild General Management : Giles Rowland, Mark Goucher Ltd Marketing: Guy Chapman, Make a Noise Ltd Notes to Editors About Nina Ananiashvili, Director of State Ballet of Georgia Nina Ananiashvili took first steps towards the art of ballet at the age of 10. She studied at the Tbilisi Choreographic School, in Tamara Vikhodtseva’s class. In 1977, she pursued her education at the Moscow Choreographic School (often referred to as the Bolshoi Ballet School) under the tutorship of the prominent pedagogue Natalia Zolotova. In 1981-2004, she was prima ballerina at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre and, under the guidance of the outstanding ballerina Raisa Struchkova, Her first season with the Bolshoi Theatre was triumphant. She performed Odette-Odile (Swan Lake) in Hamburg, Germany, during the Bolshoi Theatre’s tour and received a 30-minute non-stop ovation from the audience after the performance. Nina Ananiashvili is the only ballerina honoured with the four most prestigious international ballet awards: Varna (Bulgaria) X International Competition Gold Medal (1980), Moscow IV International Competition Grand Prix (1981), Moscow V International Competition Gold Medal (1985) and Jackson (US) III International Competition Grand Prix (1986). Annaniashvili’s performances with Andris Liepa with Balanchine’s, New York City Ballet in 1988 are regarded as a milestone in her career. She was the first dancer from the former Soviet Union to be invited to the theatre and was given leading parts in Balanchine’s ballets Symphony in C, Raymonda Variations and Apollo. She also performed with the Royal Ballet in England (Covent Garden), the Royal Danish Theatre, St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre. In 1993-2009, Nina Ananiashvili was guest Principal Dancer at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT). In addition, she danced in Sweden, Norway, Portugal, Finland, Germany, Monte Carlo, Birmingham, Boston, Tokyo and other ballet theatres. She appeared as guest étoile with Rome Opera Ballet, La Scala Ballet and in Genoa’s Teatro Carlo Felice. From September 2004, Nina Ananiashvili has been Ballet Artistic Director of the Zakaria Paliashvili Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, as well as Artistic Director of the Vakhtang Chabukiani State Choreographic School. Under her direction, more than sixty new performances and ballet miniatures have been staged at the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre. The theatre’s repertoire includes new choreographic editions of classical ballets, as well as productions by George Balanchine, August Bournonville, Mikhail Fokin, Sir Frederick Ashton, and Jiří Kylián. Choreographers Alexei Ratmansky, Alexei Fadeyechev, Yuri Possokhov, Trey McIntyre, Stanton Welch, Jorma Elo, Medhi Walerski, Pär Isberg, Teet Kask and others collaborate with the ballet company. The touring performances of the State Ballet of Georgia have gained great success in the United States, Japan, Israel, Egypt, Italy , Spain, Estonia, Taiwan, Ecuador, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Ukraine, Finland, Lebanon, Ecuador, Portugal, Russia, Israel, China, Dubai, Oman and Belarus. In 2008, the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre’s ballet company was awarded with the prestigious Herald Angels award at the Edinburgh International Festival. In 2022 under the directorship of Nina Ananiashvili, a scenic cantata and one-act ballet Carmina Burana by Carl Orff (Ilya Jivoy choreography) was staged. In the performance participated Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre opera soloists, choir, orchestra and the State Ballet of Georgia ballet company.The project was then presented at the Teatro Regio Torino (Turin, Italy).The Orchestra and Choir of Teatro Regio Torino, soloists of the Odessa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre and the State Ballet of Georgia participated in this international co-production. Nina Ananiashvili is honoured with the title of People's Artist of Georgia (1989), laureate of Rustaveli State Prize (1993), Zurab Anjaparidze (2002) and Veriko Anjaparidze Award (2018) and The Presidential Order of Excellence (2010). The American Biographical Institute granted her the title of Woman of the Year (1997). She was awarded with the International Prize Golden Goddess (1999) established by a successor of the royal family of France, Princess Marie de Bourbon. In 2000, she was granted the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance for her performance in Don Quixote during the Bolshoi Ballet's tour at the London Coliseum. She was named as Dance Magazine Award winner in 2002. Nina was elected as United Nations Goodwill Ambassador in Georgia (2007) for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The President of Italy awarded her with the Italian Solidarity Medal of Honour (2011). In 2017, Nina Ananiashvili received the prestigious award Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. On 19 April 2019, Nina Ananiashvili was named as the Honorary President of Europa Nostra Georgia, a Pan-European network for protecting cultural and national heritage. About the State Ballet of Georgia In September 2004, at the personal invitation of Mikheil Saakashvili the then President of Georgia, Nina Ananiashvili was appointed Artistic Director of The State Ballet of Georgia Theatre. Under Ananiashvili’s leadership, more than 60 ballets and miniatures have been staged at the Georgian Opera and Ballet Theatre in Tbilisi. The theatre’s repertory includes both new choreographic versions of classical ballets, as well as works by George Balanchine, Sir Frederick Ashton, August Bournonville, and Jiří Kylián. Alexei Ratmansky, Alexey Fadeechev, Yuri Possokhov, Trey McIntyre, Stanton Welch, Jorma Elo, and other choreographers collaborate with the theatre. Under Ananiashvili’s leadership, the company has toured substantially internationally including to the United States Japan, Israel, Egypt, Italy, Spain, Estonia, Taiwan, Ecuador, Scotland, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Ukraine, Spain and Italy. In 2008, the ballet company of the Georgian Opera and Ballet Theatre was awarded the prestigious Herald Angels award at the Edinburgh International Festival. In 2012, Ananiashvili’s 30-year career was celebrated at an event that included international ballet celebrities. Under the direction of Nina Ananiashvili, State Ballet of Georgia has been in demand for international touring and has performed in Japan, China, Taiwan, Israel, Egypt, Estonia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Ecuador, Oman, Dubai, Portugal, Scotland, among others. About Tbilisi Z. Paliashvili Opera and Ballet State Theatre Ballet Company The theatre opened on Apr 12, 1851, and for the second season in 1852 the St. Petersburg Ballet Company (featuring F. Manokhin, E. Panov) arrived in Tbilisi. They presented the second act of F. Taglioni’s ballet La Sylphide and Polka-Vengerka. This was the first ballet performance in Tbilisi. One year later Manokhin staged the second act of Giselle, and the first full ballet performance took place in 1854 when Manokhin again mounted Taglioni’s three-act ballet Gitana the Spanish Gypsy. Unfortunately, due to lack of finances, he returned to the Bolshoi Theatre in the Summer of 1854. In the 80s and 90s of the XIX century, Tbilisi saw performances by St. Petersburg Emperor Ballet Theatre. The stage of Tbilisi Opera Theatre was the venue for the foreign debut of Maria Perini, pupil of Italian dancer Enrico Cecchetti. She was the dancer who demonstrated the 32 fouette to the Georgian audience for the first time. During 1897-1907 she performed at the Tbilisi Opera Theatre. The creation of the Georgian ballet school is associated with her name; she founded the first choreographic studio for classical dances. Perini lived in Georgia for 48 years. Before returning to Italy in 1936, she attended the first Georgian ballet, staged by her pupil Vakhtang Chabukiani and it became clear to her that her work had not gone in vain. Mzechabuki (Heart of the Mountains in the following stagings) by Andria Balanchivadze is the first Georgian ballet and was staged by Vakhtang Chabukiani at the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre. From 1929-1941, he worked at the Kirov Opera And Ballet (Mariinsky) Theatre, performing all leading roles from the classical repertoire. Chabukiani returned to Tbilisi in 1941 and managed the Opera and Ballet State Theatre Ballet Company until 1973. His partners at various times were Galina Ulanova, Maia Plisetskaya, Raisa Struchkova, Marina Semyonova, Alla Shelest, and Natalia Dudinskaya. On the Tbilisi stage he was continuously partnered by the legendary Vera Tsignadze. In the beginning of the 1970s, the ballet company had a new artistic director–George Aleksidze, Fyodor Lopukhov’s pupil. Aleksidze brought new aesthetics to the theatre, as neoclassical ballets became the part of repertory alongside classical works. The company’s next artistic director through 1982-1985 was Mikhail Lavrovsky, the internationally known Bolshoi Theatre dancer and choreographer. Under his short directorship several interesting ballets were staged – his own version of Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet and Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. About the ENO Orchestra The award-winning ENO Orchestra is renowned for the versatility of its repertoire spanning four centuries, providing the musical landscape and emotion for all ENO productions. As equally at home in the fun and sparkle of Gilbert and Sullivan as it is in Wagner’s epic scores, it also brings to life the complexities and colours of contemporary operas including those by Birtwistle, John Adams, Tansy Davies, as well as musical theatre productions like Sweeney Todd, Sunset Boulevard and My Fair Lady. With an established reputation for its Handel work, from pioneering performances with Charles Mackerras in the 1980s to new work with specialists like Laurence Cummings for the BBC Two broadcast of Messiah (Easter 2021), in recent years the Orchestra has also received praise for the stamina and commitment it brings to the operas of Philip Glass, including the award-winning productions of Satyagraha and Akhnaten. Benefiting from the experience and passion of its players, the ENO Orchestra attracts some of the country’s brightest talent. It actively seeks to train the next generation of players through the ENO Evolve scheme with the Royal College of Music; Orchestral Fellowships for ethnically diverse string players to increase representation to better reflect our society; and to support a new generation of conductors through the ENO Mackerras Fellowship. It also seeks to inspire young people in its work with the ENO Engage department, welcoming schools to its dress rehearsals, playing and recording for educational projects and participating in workshops. About the London Coliseum The London Coliseum is the largest theatre in London with 2,359 seats. Built in 1904 by legendary theatre architect Frank Matcham, the glorious Edwardian architecture and interiors were magnificently restored in 2004. The theatre has been home to the English National Opera since 1968, and hosts some of the best entertainment the capital has to offer. Twitter: @LondonColiseum Facebook: @londoncoliseum 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 What terrific news who knows some of those messages I’ve sent about how lovely it would be to see the Company in London may have got through!! I wish they were bringing Bayadere though!! That production looked fab!! Still I will definitely be going along to see them and hope Oscar Frame will be dancing Siegfried…I know he has performed it but not sure who will dance it in London. I wish the big Folk Company would come along as well as its years since I’ve seen them last ….at the Festival Hall I seem to remember. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmhopton Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 Yes, I wish they were bringing Bayadere too! Swan Lake isn't a favourite and I don't know if my bank balance will have recovered even by August from all The Ashton performances I'd like to see. Then it also depends on the RB season next performing year. If they're doing Fille, Onegin or Sylvia... The only time I've ever seen Nina dance live was when she did a performance or 2 of Raymonda in a wonderful Bolshoi visit in 1999 at the Coliseum and she was stunning. Some great performances that season. Svetlana Lunkina debuted Don Q on her 21st birthday and Sergei Filin was wonderful in everything he did. Perhaps I'll manage a visit. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serenade Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 5 hours ago, Peanut68 said: Well that’s decided me….I’ll give RB’s SL a miss in favour of seeing this! (sorry RB..) My thoughts exactly 😀 Actually I already decided to make do with just seeing the cinema RB broadcast because of the price increases for SL being too much for me to stomach in my favourite area of seating …so now I’m pleased I can see an alternative version at a (presumably) more reasonable price. Also looking forward to seeing the company who I’ve never seen before. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 2 hours 15 minutes sounds rather shorter than usual, even if you miss out an interval. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSR101 Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 Do any of our much travelled forum members know anything of the dancers in the company? I noticed the much travelled Maria Kochetkova is in the company as a principal but other than that I know nothing of them. Swan Lake undoubtedly more saleable but agree with all the others above, La Bayadere would have been my choice too! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanut68 Posted December 5, 2023 Share Posted December 5, 2023 1 hour ago, serenade said: My thoughts exactly 😀 Actually I already decided to make do with just seeing the cinema RB broadcast because of the price increases for SL being too much for me to stomach in my favourite area of seating …so now I’m pleased I can see an alternative version at a (presumably) more reasonable price. Also looking forward to seeing the company who I’ve never seen before. Ah yes - good idea! I too will take advantage of opportunity to still see EB via cinema screening (nor really am ‘in stead of ROH ticket purchase’ - more an additional sale) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanut68 Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 13 hours ago, Peanut68 said: Ah yes - good idea! I too will take advantage of opportunity to still see EB via cinema screening (nor really am ‘in stead of ROH ticket purchase’ - more an additional sale) That should have read as seeing the RB screening (as am pretty sure there will be a live transmission of SL from the ROH) Does ENB ever get filmed & screened or streamed too? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naomi M Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 14 hours ago, TSR101 said: Do any of our much travelled forum members know anything of the dancers in the company? I noticed the much travelled Maria Kochetkova is in the company as a principal but other than that I know nothing of them. Swan Lake undoubtedly more saleable but agree with all the others above, La Bayadere would have been my choice too! There are several outstanding dancers, such as Laura Fernandez (formerly of Mariinsky Ballet, Prix de Lausanne awardee). There are also some Japanese dancers in the company. The company had toured Japan several times and I had seen them then, not as great as the great Russian Companies but quite good, both in classical pieces and also in Balanchine. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 Just now, TSR101 said: La Bayadere would have been my choice too! And mine, especially since the RB doesn't seem to be doing it anymore. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeliB Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 (edited) 22 hours ago, LinMM said: What terrific news who knows some of those messages I’ve sent about how lovely it would be to see the Company in London may have got through!! I wish they were bringing Bayadere though!! That production looked fab!! Still I will definitely be going along to see them and hope Oscar Frame will be dancing Siegfried…I know he has performed it but not sure who will dance it in London. I wish the big Folk Company would come along as well as its years since I’ve seen them last ….at the Festival Hall I seem to remember. No Oscar I'm afraid LinMM - he joined Bejart Ballet in Lausanne in August.... Which is rather sad as it would have been our first chance to see him dance on home turf since Modanse (I can tell you Tbilisi is a bit of an epic trip). Still, Bejart do perform a bit closer to home and I will see him on stage at the Paris Opera in Jan so it's not all bad ... Edited December 6, 2023 by CeliB to add an extra comment 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 Oh thanks for that update CeliB I hadn’t realised he had left. Would be great to see the Bejart Company years since I’ve seen them…another Company which hasn’t been to UK for yonks either! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango Dancer Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 Oh this will be good. I loved Georgia. I went to Tbilisi on a business trip before Covid and loved it, such a beautiful city and lovely food and wine. I saw the company performing while I was over there and they were amazing. I don't remember who I saw but I was very impressed by the corps and the musicality. It's a shame they're not doing something else as there's a lot of Swan Lake on. I'd definitely prefer their version though as I've seen RB do it a few times. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FionaM Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 One of the main principals is Nino Samadashvili. I notice she often has the first night performance of their productions. https://www.instagram.com/p/CaOyR_fIlbA/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FionaM Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 On 05/12/2023 at 22:29, alison said: 2 hours 15 minutes sounds rather shorter than usual, even if you miss out an interval. A vote from me for the one interval version. I don’t like the break in the drama caused by having an interval between the shock ending of Act 3 and the sadness of Act 4. Also Act 4 is the shortest of the acts, often shorter than the interval ! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheilaC Posted December 7, 2023 Share Posted December 7, 2023 Although general booking was scheduled to open today I wasn't able to find the season on the Coli website. However I rang the box office and was able to book my usual seat. I asked when the season would end, as I don't think it was stated in the press release, and it's Sunday 1 September. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted December 7, 2023 Share Posted December 7, 2023 (edited) So it’s only 5 days then? And many people still on holiday! The Coli is a big Théâtre to fill nevertheless. Edited December 7, 2023 by LinMM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 On 06/12/2023 at 13:04, Peanut68 said: That should have read as seeing the RB screening (as am pretty sure there will be a live transmission of SL from the ROH) Does ENB ever get filmed & screened or streamed too? ENB can't do live streaming from most of the theatres they perform at because unlike RB and Royal Opera at ROH, the theatres are not ENB's so there would be a big question mark over whose responsibility it is to pay for all the equipment and structural work to equip the theatre with the technology and equipment for live streaming. And once ENB leaves for another theatre, who pays for the maintenance of the equipment etc. I suspect discussions/conversations have taken place but as other producers booking those theatres don't want to/can't do live streaming, it wasn't cost effective to do it for just ENB. Also, some of their runs are very short (eg less than a week) compared to RB's long Nutcracker, Swan Lake or Romeo runs, which doesn't give them enough time to set up live streaming to a professional standard. The only performance I've ever seen ENB do live streaming of was their Emerging Dancer Competition at Sadler's Wells twice, but I think Sadler's Wells already had the live streaming infrastructure for their own projects (they are a specialist dance venue and while they have many, many more companies using the theatre than ROH, they/Alistair Spalding and his team oversee all the productions unlike Mayflower, Palace Theatre, Bristol Hippodrome etc). Also Emerging Dancer is a more informal presentation (the first livestream was free, the second had only inexpensive tickets) with no expensive costs or technical demands (no sets, props, complex lighting, stage props, nor corps de ballet) so it could be done. They have filmed their productions of Le Corsaire, Akram Khan's Giselle and Creature for delayed cinema broadcast or/and DVD. They've also filmed short ballets by Yuri Possokhov, Arielle Smith and Stina Quagebeur made for them during the Covid theatre closures which are for digital subscribers but not cinema/DVD. I don't know if more filming is planned. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanut68 Posted December 8, 2023 Share Posted December 8, 2023 (edited) I guess I rather niaively imagined a better than home use camcorder plonked on a cushion in the best seat in the house ha ha… guess it is rather more complex just as you so accurately explain! Also, I’d be wary of too much being filmed for fear a whole trench of audience may gradually disappear from theatres or newcomers never arrive Edited December 8, 2023 by Peanut68 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted April 8 Share Posted April 8 PRESS RELEASE - THE STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA'S PRODUCTION OF SWAN LAKE EXTENDED AT LONDON COLISEUM UNTIL 8 SEPTEMBER PRESS RELEASE 8 April 2024 WORLD RENOWNED STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA ANNOUNCES EXTENSION FOR SWAN LAKE AT THE LONDON COLISEUM IN SUMMER 2024 ● THE STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA’S SWAN LAKE EXTENDS HISTORIC RUN AT THE LONDON COLISEUM UNTIL 8 SEPTEMBER ● FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS 175 YEARS OF EXISTENCE, THE COMPANY ADDS LONDON AND DUBLIN TO THE LIST OF WORLD CAPITALS IT HAS BROUGHT JOY. SUPERSTAR NINA ANANIASHVILI, FORMER PRIMA BALLERINA OF THE BOLSHOI, EX PRINCIPAL DANCER OF AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE, AND FORMER GUEST STAR OF THE ROYAL BALLET RETURNS TO LONDON NOW AS DIRECTOR OF THE STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA ● THE STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA LATER TRAVELS TO DUBLIN’S BORD GÁIS ENERGY THEATRE TO PERFORM SWAN LAKE FROM 20-24 NOVEMBER ● COLISEUM PRIORITY TICKETS FOR THE EXTENDED DATES ON SALE TODAY, WITH SEE PRIORITY BOOKING ON TUESDAY 9 AND WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL, AND GENERAL ON-SALE ON THURSDAY 11 APRIL AT 10AM YOUTUBE VIDEO HERE SOCIAL MEDIA www.facebook.com/swanlakeinlondon www.instagram.com/swanlakeinlondon The State Ballet of Georgia has extended its first visit to London, with performances of Swan Lake at the London Coliseum now running until from 28 August to 8 September. Based at the stunning Opera and Ballet State Theatre in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, this company of “versatile and accomplished” dancers (The New York Times) has soared under the bold artistic direction of world-renowned, Georgian-born Nina Ananiashvili, former prima ballerina with Bolshoi Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Ananiashvili, considered one of the all-time greats, returned home to her native country in 2004 to lead the company. The State Ballet of Georgia’s last visit to the UK was in 2008 when they performed at the Edinburgh International Festival. Having performed on the London Coliseum stage in 1999 (as Kitri in Don Quixote with the Bolshoi), Ananiashvili now brings her company to London for the first time. Considered among the world’s 10 best classical companies, with a tradition of 175 years, experience the sleek grace and physicality of classical ballet at its best with The State Ballet of Georgia. Swan Lake’s enthralling story, timeless score, and unforgettable choreography have made it the most in-demand ballet in the world. This breathtakingly beautiful production with gorgeous white tutus and sumptuous lakeside and ballroom settings will undoubtedly draw audiences into the fantasy of the world’s most loved ballet. This version of Swan Lake, staged for the Company by Nina Ananiashvili’s long-term dancing partner, the renowned Alexei Fadeechev, features hand-painted cloths made in the Georgian Opera House’s own workshops. They were designed by theatrical legend Vyacheslav Okunev. He also created the nearly 100 costumes for the production, all coming from Tbilisi to London. Director of The State Ballet of Georgia, Nina Ananiashvili said of the production: ‘Swan Lake is one of our best repertoires. It combines elaborate costumes, stunning choreography, exquisite ornaments and the young generation of dancers with Georgian characteristics. Swan Lake has always had an important place in my career. It was the first ballet that I performed in the Bolshoi Theatre and was my first and final significant performance at American Ballet Theater. I can’t wait to share it with audiences in London for the first time.’ With a company of 65, and accompanied by the award-winning English National Opera Orchestra, this lavish production opens on 28 August. The company will then travel to Dublin’s Bord Gáis Energy Theatre for performances of Swan Lake from 20-24 November. Listings Information The State Ballet of Georgia Swan Lake London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4ES Performances from 28 August 2024 Evening Performances Wednesday - Saturday 7.30pm Matinees Thursday Saturday and Sunday 2.30pm Tickets https://londoncoliseum.org/ The State Ballet of Georgia Swan Lake Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Grand Canal Square, Docklands, Dublin, Ireland Performances from 20 November 2024 Evening Performances Wednesday - Saturday 7:30pm Matinees Saturday 2:30pm and Sunday 1pm Tickets https://www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie/show/swan-lake-state-ballet-of-georgia/ Choreography: Marius Petipa & Lev Ivanov, staged by Alexei Fadeyechev & Nina Ananiashvili. Music: Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky ENO Orchestra Detailed casting to be announced. Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes incl interval Producers: Simon Bryce and Andrew Guild General Management : Giles Rowland, Mark Goucher Ltd Marketing: Guy Chapman, Make a Noise Ltd Notes to Editors About Nina Ananiashvili, Director of State Ballet of Georgia Nina Ananiashvili took first steps towards the art of ballet at the age of 10. She studied at the Tbilisi Choreographic School, in Tamara Vikhodtseva’s class. In 1977, she pursued her education at the Moscow Choreographic School (often referred to as the Bolshoi Ballet School) under the tutorship of the prominent pedagogue Natalia Zolotova. In 1981-2004, she was prima ballerina at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre and, under the guidance of the outstanding ballerina Raisa Struchkova, Her first season with the Bolshoi Theatre was triumphant. She performed Odette-Odile (Swan Lake) in Hamburg, Germany, during the Bolshoi Theatre’s tour and received a 30-minute non-stop ovation from the audience after the performance. Nina Ananiashvili is the only ballerina honoured with the four most prestigious international ballet awards: Varna (Bulgaria) X International Competition Gold Medal (1980), Moscow IV International Competition Grand Prix (1981), Moscow V International Competition Gold Medal (1985) and Jackson (US) III International Competition Grand Prix (1986). Ananiashvili’s performances with Andris Liepa with Balanchine’s New York City Ballet in 1988 are regarded as a milestone in her career. She was the first dancer from the former Soviet Union to be invited to the theatre and was given leading parts in Balanchine’s ballets Symphony in C, Raymonda Variations and Apollo. She also performed with the Royal Ballet in England (Covent Garden), the Royal Danish Theatre, St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre. In 1993-2009, Nina Ananiashvili was guest Principal Dancer at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT). In addition, she danced in Sweden, Norway, Portugal, Finland, Germany, Monte Carlo, Birmingham, Boston, Tokyo and other ballet theatres. She appeared as guest étoile with Rome Opera Ballet, La Scala Ballet and in Genoa’s Teatro Carlo Felice. From September 2004, Nina Ananiashvili has been Ballet Artistic Director of the Zakaria Paliashvili Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, as well as Artistic Director of the Vakhtang Chabukiani State Choreographic School. Under her direction, more than sixty new performances and ballet miniatures have been staged at the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre. The theatre’s repertoire includes new choreographic editions of classical ballets, as well as productions by George Balanchine, August Bournonville, Mikhail Fokin, Sir Frederick Ashton, and Jiří Kylián. Choreographers Alexei Ratmansky, Alexei Fadeyechev, Yuri Possokhov, Trey McIntyre, Stanton Welch, Jorma Elo, Medhi Walerski, Pär Isberg, Teet Kask and others collaborate with the ballet company. The touring performances of the State Ballet of Georgia have gained great success in the United States, Japan, Israel, Egypt, Italy , Spain, Estonia, Taiwan, Ecuador, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Ukraine, Finland, Lebanon, Ecuador, Portugal, Russia, Israel, China, Dubai, Oman and Belarus. In 2008, the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre’s ballet company was awarded with the prestigious Herald Angels award at the Edinburgh International Festival. In 2022 under the directorship of Nina Ananiashvili, a scenic cantata and one-act ballet Carmina Burana by Carl Orff (Ilya Jivoy choreography) was staged. In the performance participated Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre opera soloists, choir, orchestra and the State Ballet of Georgia ballet company. The project was then presented at the Teatro Regio Torino (Turin, Italy).The Orchestra and Choir of Teatro Regio Torino, soloists of the Odessa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre and the State Ballet of Georgia participated in this international co-production. Nina Ananiashvili is honoured with the title of People's Artist of Georgia (1989), laureate of Rustaveli State Prize (1993), Zurab Anjaparidze (2002) and Veriko Anjaparidze Award (2018) and The Presidential Order of Excellence (2010). The American Biographical Institute granted her the title of Woman of the Year (1997). She was awarded with the International Prize Golden Goddess (1999) established by a successor of the royal family of France, Princess Marie de Bourbon. In 2000, she was granted the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance for her performance in Don Quixote during the Bolshoi Ballet's tour at the London Coliseum. She was named as Dance Magazine Award winner in 2002. Nina was elected as United Nations Goodwill Ambassador in Georgia (2007) for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The President of Italy awarded her with the Italian Solidarity Medal of Honour (2011). In 2017, Nina Ananiashvili received the prestigious award Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. On 19 April 2019, Nina Ananiashvili was named as the Honorary President of Europa Nostra Georgia, a Pan-European network for protecting cultural and national heritage. About The State Ballet of Georgia In September 2004, at the personal invitation of Mikheil Saakashvili the then President of Georgia, Nina Ananiashvili was appointed Artistic Director of The State Ballet of Georgia Theatre. Under Ananiashvili’s leadership, more than 60 ballets and miniatures have been staged at the Georgian Opera and Ballet Theatre in Tbilisi. The theatre’s repertory includes both new choreographic versions of classical ballets, as well as works by George Balanchine, Sir Frederick Ashton, August Bournonville, and Jiří Kylián. Alexei Ratmansky, Alexey Fadeechev, Yuri Possokhov, Trey McIntyre, Stanton Welch, Jorma Elo, and other choreographers collaborate with the theatre. Under Ananiashvili’s leadership, the company has toured substantially internationally including to the United States Japan, Israel, Egypt, Italy, Spain, Estonia, Taiwan, Ecuador, Scotland, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Ukraine, Spain and Italy. In 2008, the ballet company of the Georgian Opera and Ballet Theatre was awarded the prestigious Herald Angels award at the Edinburgh International Festival. In 2012, Ananiashvili’s 30-year career was celebrated at an event that included international ballet celebrities. Under the direction of Nina Ananiashvili, State Ballet of Georgia has been in demand for international touring and has performed in Japan, China, Taiwan, Israel, Egypt, Estonia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Ecuador, Oman, Dubai, Portugal, Scotland, among others. About Tbilisi Z. Paliashvili Opera and Ballet State Theatre Ballet Company The theatre opened on Apr 12, 1851, and for the second season in 1852 the St. Petersburg Ballet Company (featuring F. Manokhin, E. Panov) arrived in Tbilisi. They presented the second act of F. Taglioni’s ballet La Sylphide and Polka-Vengerka. This was the first ballet performance in Tbilisi. One year later Manokhin staged the second act of Giselle, and the first full ballet performance took place in 1854 when Manokhin again mounted Taglioni’s three-act ballet Gitana the Spanish Gypsy. Unfortunately, due to lack of finances, he returned to the Bolshoi Theatre in the Summer of 1854. In the 80s and 90s of the XIX century, Tbilisi saw performances by St. Petersburg Emperor Ballet Theatre. The stage of Tbilisi Opera Theatre was the venue for the foreign debut of Maria Perini, pupil of Italian dancer Enrico Cecchetti. She was the dancer who demonstrated the 32 fouette to the Georgian audience for the first time. During 1897-1907 she performed at the Tbilisi Opera Theatre. The creation of the Georgian ballet school is associated with her name; she founded the first choreographic studio for classical dances. Perini lived in Georgia for 48 years. Before returning to Italy in 1936, she attended the first Georgian ballet, staged by her pupil Vakhtang Chabukiani and it became clear to her that her work had not gone in vain. Mzechabuki (Heart of the Mountains in the following stagings) by Andria Balanchivadze is the first Georgian ballet and was staged by Vakhtang Chabukiani at the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre. From 1929-1941, he worked at the Kirov Opera And Ballet (Mariinsky) Theatre, performing all leading roles from the classical repertoire. Chabukiani returned to Tbilisi in 1941 and managed the Opera and Ballet State Theatre Ballet Company until 1973. His partners at various times were Galina Ulanova, Maia Plisetskaya, Raisa Struchkova, Marina Semyonova, Alla Shelest, and Natalia Dudinskaya. On the Tbilisi stage he was continuously partnered by the legendary Vera Tsignadze. In the beginning of the 1970s, the ballet company had a new artistic director–George Aleksidze, Fyodor Lopukhov’s pupil. Aleksidze brought new aesthetics to the theatre, as neoclassical ballets became the part of repertory alongside classical works. The company’s next artistic director through 1982-1985 was Mikhail Lavrovsky, the internationally known Bolshoi Theatre dancer and choreographer. Under his short directorship several interesting ballets were staged – his own version of Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet and Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. About the ENO Orchestra The award-winning ENO Orchestra is renowned for the versatility of its repertoire spanning four centuries, providing the musical landscape and emotion for all ENO productions. As equally at home in the fun and sparkle of Gilbert and Sullivan as it is in Wagner’s epic scores, it also brings to life the complexities and colours of contemporary operas including those by Birtwistle, John Adams, Tansy Davies, as well as musical theatre productions like Sweeney Todd, Sunset Boulevard and My Fair Lady. With an established reputation for its Handel work, from pioneering performances with Charles Mackerras in the 1980s to new work with specialists like Laurence Cummings for the BBC Two broadcast of Messiah (Easter 2021), in recent years the Orchestra has also received praise for the stamina and commitment it brings to the operas of Philip Glass, including the award-winning productions of Satyagraha and Akhnaten. Benefiting from the experience and passion of its players, the ENO Orchestra attracts some of the country’s brightest talent. It actively seeks to train the next generation of players through the ENO Evolve scheme with the Royal College of Music; Orchestral Fellowships for ethnically diverse string players to increase representation to better reflect our society; and to support a new generation of conductors through the ENO Mackerras Fellowship. It also seeks to inspire young people in its work with the ENO Engage department, welcoming schools to its dress rehearsals, playing and recording for educational projects and participating in workshops. About the London Coliseum The London Coliseum is the largest theatre in London with 2,359 seats. Built in 1904 by legendary theatre architect Frank Matcham, the glorious Edwardian architecture and interiors were magnificently restored in 2004. The theatre has been home to the English National Opera since 1968, and hosts some of the best entertainment the capital has to offer. Twitter: @LondonColiseum Facebook: @londoncoliseum 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted April 8 Share Posted April 8 This month, Dance Europe magazine had a feature on the company taking their production of Swan Lake on a tour to Italy. The company had three ballerinas dancing Odette/Odile : Nino Samadashvili (who trained at the affiliated school), Laura Fernandez-Gromova (a Swiss born Vaganova Academy graduate of Spanish and Ukrainian heritage),and Maria Kochetkova (familiar to ENB, SFB and ABT regulars). Soloist Filippo Montanari was mentioned as Fernandez-Gromova's partner in the role of Siegfried on the Italy tour, but nobody else was mentioned. I know Xander Parish has danced with the company as a guest artist in the past but there's no mention of whether there will be guest artists dancing Siegfried or who their other Siegfrieds were. The production was described in the article as being quite traditional and the corps de ballet well rehearsed and well synchronised. It sounds like Fadeyechev and Ananiashvili are aiming for a traditional, pleasing, reliable Swan Lake that does what it says on the tin, with no radical concepts or unexpected reworking. The writer didn't say what sort of ending it had - I guess we'll find out in August! The company didn't have live music on the Italy tour, but glad to see that the versatile ENO Orchestra (who have recently been performing ballet scores magnificently- from Giselle to Tchaikovsky pas de deux to Don Quixote pdd to Le Corsaire pdd etc - despite being primarily an opera orchestra!) will be playing for the company in August. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shade Posted April 8 Share Posted April 8 Thanks Janet that provides more choice for dates if people are away at the end of august. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted April 8 Share Posted April 8 *typo: will be playing for the company in August and September. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawnstar Posted April 8 Share Posted April 8 3 hours ago, Emeralds said: The company didn't have live music on the Italy tour, but glad to see that the versatile ENO Orchestra (who have recently been performing ballet scores magnificently- from Giselle to Tchaikovsky pas de deux to Don Quixote pdd to Le Corsaire pdd etc - despite being primarily an opera orchestra!) will be playing for the company in August. Given ENO's seasons are getting ever shorter, and musicians' contracts ditto, the orchestra are probably happy to have a couple of weeks of extra work this summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted April 9 Share Posted April 9 Looking back through the earlier posts, I couldn't work out what the original announced end date was. I guess I must have missed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted April 9 Share Posted April 9 6 hours ago, alison said: Looking back through the earlier posts, I couldn't work out what the original announced end date was. I guess I must have missed it. It was originally scheduled to end with the Sunday 1 September matinee but has now been extended by a week. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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