The losses of Mariinsky Theater were the gains for Bolshoi. Andrey Merkuryev moved from St. Petersburg to Moscow. As a guest star, Diana Vishneva, on the photo, rattled the women’s company in Bolshoi.
Photo: Valentin Baranovsky
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Bolshoi Gains Mean Losses to Mariinsky
Russia’s Bolshoi Theater has entered a long run of rebuilding this season. St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theater will face the same next year. The effect on the companies of both opera and ballet authorities will be at least profound.
In Bolshoi Theater, the rebuilding started July 1. Moving to a new stage didn’t result in hefty losses for the audience, let alone longing for the beloved old stage aggravated by the unfortunate construction of the new one, which the theater-goers hardly see from a third of seats.
But the rugged times have apparently come for the troupers, ranging from the smaller size of the stage to places in changing rooms and rehearsal halls. The company faces intense rejuvenation, especially the women with older ballet dancers forced out of the first nights or foreign trips.
In Bolshoi, the abiding classic ballets are presented to the maximum extent, as most of the dancers cannot manage the modern choreography. From six to eight ballerinas of different talent and ranking are eyeing each performance, forming long queues along with their dancing masters. The women’s revolt peaked it April, when eight local stars went to Iksanov to protest against attracting Diana Vishneva from St. Petersburg. To no avail though, Vishneva is performing in Boshoi as a guest star and the Muscovites have notably improved thanks to the competition.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of July 20, 2006
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