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Bolshoi BalletFebruary 2007 Washington, Kennedy Center Opera House by Fedora |
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As posted on our Postings pages... Svetlana Zakharova. I like to be surprised in a manner in which I was surprised by Svetlana Zakharova, performing the closing night of the Bolshoi tour in the Nation's capital. I saw Svetlana in the same exact role at the Lincoln Center in the summer of 2005 and thought that the character of mischievous Kitri lies outside her amplois. She was spectacularly beautiful of course in the glittering Dream Scene of the 2nd act, but there where her magic ended. Not now. Not this time. This time she was head and shoulders above her professional rivals even in the role that apparently did not come naturally to her. I could see and appreciate how much work had gone in creating this character of witty, charming and … funny inn keeper’s daughter Kitri. You didn’t know that Svetlana can be funny? Neither did I. She managed to turn this not-so-funny scene with the rich suitor genuinely funny. I was laughing. People seating next to me were laughing. Children in front were screaming with delight just about after each number in which Svetlana was in. And when she wasn’t on stage, one could only wish that she came back soon. Her presence literally illuminated the stage! Yes, she was that spectacular! Natalia Osipova, who danced the role the day before, draws her character with wide brush strokes, employing her amazing jumping ability. Svetlana does the same with equally spectacular developpe-battements that speak volumes, amplified by her singularly beautiful legs and arches. I don't want to get into a pointless debate over 6 o’clock. I only wish to note that in her case they were not only appropriate but absolutely essential in order to create the character that she wanted to create. Denis Matvienko. This handsome Scandinavian looking blond was very convincing in the role of fun-loving barber Basil. He courted his Kitri with powerful leaps and whirlwind turns. How could Kitri resist this lethal combination of boyish charm and manly confidence? Sunday, the day of the performance, as friends and relatives hurried to join thousands of other stranded travelers (we had that last mega-storm of the year, as predicted), I was left to my own devices to find my own entertainment and company for the balance of that day. Seating in the lounge and sipping … what does it matter what I was sipping, I caught bits and pieces of the conversation next to me: “……. zakharova…….zakharova….”. I inquired whether the young couple was planning to attend the evening performance; they cheerfully nodded their heads. I asked if they attended any other Bolshoi performances that week. They said that they didn’t because they go only to the shows with Zakharova. In fact they plan their vacation around her schedule, which is published on her website. If she performs in France, then they take vacation in France and that it matters not what company she appears with. If she dances in Milan, then they go to see La Scala. As I was listening to their stories about how they met Zakharova and how much more beautiful she looks in real life without make-up and all, I thought that perhaps back in ancient times, she very well could have been a Helen of Troy of a sort. Perhaps a famous dancer, singer or an athlete ... certainly the object of tribal pride for whom a thousand of ships could be launched. Svetlana and Denis had tremendous effect on the performance of the whole company, as everyone seemed to be doing their very best. And Shipulina looked better that evening.
Imagine the Forrest scene of the 2nd act. Curtain rises over the diagonal line of dryads (forest nymphs) dressed in pastel pink, while in the center is Zakharova-Dulcinea standing in a perfect tendue, dressed in the palest shade of green with the glittering tiara in her hair. Vision of loveliness and the audience let out a collective “ahh!”
 © Damir Yusupov
Nelli Kobahidze danced 2nd variation in the Grand pas de deux of the last act. Nelli is tall, delicately built with huge dark eyes on the fashionably pale face. This eastern beauty was a bit too careful in my opinion. She should let herself go. Pleasure to watch, all the same. The pair of two animated dryads standing in the front row showed me how to hold a conversation without ever uttering a word. This is something right from the Trocks! To sum things up – I am glad that I saw Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev. Both are products of the Bolshoi Academy and both are very … bolshoi! The roles suite them very nicely and since Don Quixote is the Bolshoi signature piece, I have no doubt that they will be very successful. In fact they already are! Zakharova, on the other hand, is and will always remain the first truly global ballerina, who like a sponge absorbs different schools and styles, processes them internally and then delivers her very own Zakharova magic. She is in the league of her own. I hope to see Svetlana as Phrygia before too long!
Here are some pictures of the snow storm in Washington, DC. |
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