© Natasha Razina Kirov 'Swan Lake' reviews 'Swan Lake' reviews Zakharova in reviews Zelensky in reviews recent Kirov reviews more Baletoman reviews

Did anyone see the Swan Lake yesterday? Could you, please, write something about your impressions?

I had mixed feelings... Moreover, I had not very good tickets: they were for the second row from the end ( though in the very centre, which is good to see choreogrphy of white scenes).

First of all, it is my favourite ballet: the music, the choreography, the beauty of every moment and the sense (lots of senses) - cosmic ballet!

I've seen this casting twice. Both times - the same feeling. Is it only my perception or others also have the feeling that during the first 2 acts the story falls into pieces? Hm.. I don't know what to say. The images are sometimes a little bit hollow, to my mind. Where is soul or ardour (where appropriate)? Or I have to blame my tickets?

Ivanov's (Jester) spinning , its speed was again impressive! Well done!

I missed Ilia Kuznetsov as Rothbart very much. He is absolutely wonderful in this role: powerful, light, precise and frightening. Though Ivan Popov's Rothbart was also good, but I think he did not have enough power, pressure and significance. He is so thin! And I think the scene when Siegfried defeats Rothbart was not very precise, the effect was blurred a little bit.

Zelensky was very good: he was such as Prince must be in this ballet: reserved, with dignity. His Prince is not naive and he is quite mature, I must say. In particular, I liked how Igor played the end of the 2nd act when deceit is revealed and Prince understands the tradegy of all this. Igor was wonderful:the white swan is struggling with her wings against the window in the castle, the deceipt is reveled and Rothbart and Odile retire quickly; Prince catches a flower from the bunch thrown into his face by that woman who was his beloved a second ago, may be as a hope, in disbelief he ran after her swiftly, but then he has to believe it and in shock, terror from such an insidious deceit and understanding of the tradegy (he was deceived and without his fault breached the oath of fidelity given to Odette - Odette will never be a woman!) he comes back with his hands down liflessly, and his legs soft, he runs to his mother and sharply falls on both knees before her: no dignity and Prince's posture is left, he is bended, full of sincere grief and looks for mother's defence as an every child would do; he addresses the spectators, asking by his arms why? and what to do? and runs to the lake to try to find his Odette. Igor's acting was full of intense feelings those moments. It was the second time I was really touched by the ballet that evening.

The first one was during the white scenes in the 1st Act and my favourite white adagio.The choreogrphy is so beautiful that it is impossible to be indifferent. Svetlana Zakharova's Odette dances perfectly, but it did not touch me much in the 1st act. (Sorry, I am totally obsessed by Lopatkina's image of swan and her hands). Prince was very attentive and tender towards his beloved. Very nice.

The 2nd act has fabulous decorations and costumes! The character dances are very stylish and were danced masterly. Odile...hm..not touching. Zakharova's fouettee in pas de deux are incredible! Zelensky was perfect!

The third act was mesmerizing! Corps, Svetlana and Igor and Rothbart, all were fantastic, very beautiful! Svetlana's Odette and Igor's tenderness towards her were very touching! Bravo!

Corps were like in the army: in unison, almost. They are among the main heroes in this wonderful ballet (as well as Tchaikovsky and Lev Ivanov).

I wish all to have nice evenings at ROH these days! And sorry for this clumsy posting.