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Russian Orchestra
of London
Performers
Irma Nioradze
Yulia Makhalina
Daria Pavlenko
Elvira Tarasova
Igor Zelensky
Farukh Ruzimatov
Nikolai Tsiskaridze
Ilya Kuznetsov
Andrei Batalov
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Royal
Albert Hall
7 - 8 May
2003
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The success of
a ballet performance depends on two
things: the dancers, and the programme.
Without the skills and sensitivity of
its dancers, a programme is rarely able
to bear fruit; conversely, anything
less than an adequate programme does
not do justice to the dancers. The Royal
Albert Hall performance by the ballet
stars of St. Petersburg, accompanied
by the Russian Orchestra of London,
most certainly did not lack outstanding
dancers; but much of the programme let
them down.
This
is particularly disappointing given
that St. Petersburg could justly be
called the home of classical ballet.
The dancers collected for this show
are members of the prestigious Kirov
and Bolshoi companies, and are therefore
among the best in the world. And despite
the shortcomings of the programme, the
exceptional quality of almost all the
dancers was never for a moment in doubt.
The programme
started with a piece entitled Madam
Lioneli
choreographed by Kirill Simonov. The
choreography felt out-of-date and contained
few, if any, excitements or novelties,
and the music (by Gavin Bryars and John
Adams) was entirely unsuitable. This
inauspicious beginning set the scene
for most of what followed.
But amongst
the disappointments were several outstanding
pieces. These included Death
of the Poet
to the music of Gustav Mahler in the
choreography of Maurice Bejart, memorable
for the intensity and technique of the
outstanding Farouk Ruzimatov and the
intelligently innovative choreography.
This was by far and away the best performance
of the evening. The
Manon choreographed
by Kenneth Macmillan and performed by
Yulia Makhalina and Ilja Kuznetsov,
notable for the playful elegance of
the dancers' interaction, also deserves
special mention. Of interest too were
Le
Corsaire,
with music by Adolphe Adam and choreography
by Marius Petipa, performed by Igor
Zelensky and Daria Pavlenko, and Scheherazade
performed by Irma Nioradze and Farouk
Ruzimatov. Dancers worth special mention
were Ilja Kuznetsov (Mariinsky Theatre
Ballet Company),Yulia Makhalina (Kirov
Ballet), Irma Nioradze (Mariinsky Theatre
Ballet Company), and Farouk Ruzimatov
(Kirov Ballet). Finally, for those who
are particular fans of St. Petersburg
ballet, there is an exhibition of the
'Icons of the St Petersburg Ballet'
at the Luke & A Gallery of Modern Art
in Mayfair until the 24th of May.
Elisabeth Schellekens
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