http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill?pbmy=200509

Thanks to NO7 for alerting me in another thread on the Kirov's overseas tours.

http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill?pbmy=200510

http://www.pointemagazine.com/backissues/may04/diana.shtml

I believe her debut at the Mariinsky Theatre next month will definitely be a phenomenon.

Certainly if we are to look at unsuitable ballerinas for the role, surely one need look no further than Alina Somova, who danced the part on the Wednesday evening during the London season , whose hyper-extensions, as I wrote at the time, had little to do with the Petipa/Ivanov and more to do with displaying her own technique.

I hope very much that someone will be able to report back from her debut...

It is a very great shame that Manon is unlikely to be performed anymore as part of this season.

This is not the only case of inexplicable casting decisions by the Kirov. I don't understand either why Vishneva wasn't allowed to dance Odette/Odile till now, when her dancing of this ballerina role with the ABT two months ago received a glowing review from the eminent New York Oberver critic Robert Gottlieb.

Another example is the relegation of Irina Zhelonkina to minor roles in recent years and not fully developing her potential as a classical ballerina. Leonid Sarafanov has also provoked a lot of controversies lately among Kirov followers. In the current issue of "Ballet Review", Joel Lobenthal wrote "...Since he joined the Kirov in 2002, Sarafanov has had almost the entire repertory handed to him, but at twenty-two he is not plausible in heroic or danseur noble roles."

http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/massmedia/press/open213

There isn't that much information on the ballet repertory. I hope that there will be a more detailed press release available in due course. The Ballet company still hasn't returned from the summer holiday yet.

The Mariinsky Ballet Festival next year will run from March 16-26, according to this press release. The Mariinsky Theatre will close for renovation at the end of this season, and the performances thereafter will be held in other theatres in St. Petersburg.

I would be grateful if any LUCKY ballet.coers are there tonight, that they can share their views after the performance.

With great respect to Diana, I don't think she's been mistreated in ANY way by the Maryinsky Theatre. She and Uliana have practically divided the repertory between them. Also they both enjoy the complete favor and confidence of the Management and V. Gergiev. There are many other exceptional dancers in the MT who are slighted all day long and unappreciated. Many who deserve the prestige of an opening night, but never get it. Many, who having experience, are under utilized, while others,(who are pushed ahead too soon), need to be benched until they're ready.

But this was NOT the Kirov's finest hour. I am still in fact, a bit
flabbergasted at the companý's behavior.

Yes, Vishneva was much better than in New York.
She and Tchernichova rehearsed every day beginning at the end of August.

“Reportedly, the ballet administration had vowed that she would never dance Swan Lake on the Mariinsky stage, and after Gergeiv insisted she be given the opening, a defamation campaign was waged.”

Can we have a link to this ‘report’, please. Or the source at least.

http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/playbill?pbmy=200512

Of particular interest are the return of "Jewels" to the repertory, as well as the annual performances of Vainonen's production of "Nutcracker" by the Vaganova Academy. Lately the Kirov company have mostly been dancing Chemiakin's production of Nutcracker at home in St. Petersburg.

Highlights of the Festival
Complete programme to be announced on December 31, 2005

Shostakovich Centenary
In honour of the 100th Anniversary of Dmitri Shostakovich, the
Festival will present all 15 of his symphonies. The cycle will be
opened by the composer's son, Maxim Shostakovich, who conducted the
world premiere of the 15th symphony in the presence of his father.
Riccardo Muti, Christoph Eschenbach, Esa Pekka Salonen, Paavo Jarvi,
Mariss Jansons and - of course - Valery Gergiev will lead the
orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre in this marathon. The London
Symphony Orchestra will also join the celebrations in this, the
orchestra's first visit to St Petersburg under its future Principal
Conductor. In addition, the Festival will present Shostakovich's
operas Lady Macbeth and the less known Katerina Izmailova, The Nose, a
selection of his ballets, including the world famous Len