RUSSIA: Bolshoi Ballet rolls out a new American leading man, new costumes and set, as an old classic premieres on the newly-built stage of the storied theatre

Record ID: 220648

  • Title: RUSSIA: Bolshoi Ballet rolls out a new American leading man, new costumes and set, as an old classic premieres on the newly-built stage of the storied theatre
  • Date: 18th November 2011
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (NOVEMBER 16, 2011) (REUTERS) BOLSHOI THEATRE EXTERIOR
  • Embargoed: 3rd December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA2O6DDTTTRELWG0XCSC2Y9ATJ0
  • Story Text: Moscow's famed historic Bolshoi Theatre is scheduled to premiere the first ballet of its 236th season on Friday night (November 18), when it stages a company classic "Sleeping Beauty."
    Though the old standard graces the stage for the umpteenth time with familiar traditional choreography by Marius Petipa to Tchaikovsky's score, this performance is one of a number of firsts: It is the first time Bolshoi dancers will dance on brand new stage in the meticulously-restored theatre with an American performing as a permanent member of the company, and it is the first time the company has performed since the departure of two of its stars this week.
    David Hallberg will play Prince Desire to Svetlana Zakharova's Aurora. He is the first American to be named a principal dancer by the Bolshoi and joined the company this fall.
    At a news conference on Wednesday (November 16) touting the premiere on the new stage prior to a dress rehearsal, Bolshoi Artistic Director Sergei Filin said Zakharova chose Hallberg from six other dancers to partner her in this role, and that the two of them, despite linguistic difficulties, found a way to fully communicate though ballet.
    "Svetlana's and David's respect for each other and relationship, I think, will be obvious from the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre, during the performance, during the premiere of 'Sleeping Beauty'," Filin said.
    The theatre had been undergoing a full historic renovation for years, costing millions of dollars, to restore it to it's tsarist-era gild. Wednesday's rehearsal was the first time dancers had access to the stage. Zakharova talked a bit about the stress in having to wait out years of renovations on the 19th century building and dealing with the retirement of her long-time partner earlier this year. But, she said, she was happily dancing with Hallberg, and despite the difficulties, she was approaching this premiere fresh.
    "You know, it seems like although I've been dancing "Sleeping Beauty" for a few years now, all the same, the feeling I have of the premiere, I feel like it's the first, that it's all new to me," Zakharova said.
    In the rehearsal on Wednesday, Zakharova and other dancers showed off beautiful technique enhanced by Venetian-style costumes by Italian costumer Franca Squarciapino. They danced accompanied by a pianist, but a full orchestra will accompany the cast on Friday.
    Hallberg, whose dress rehearsal was delayed until Thursday (November 17) because of technical problems, praised Zakharova and the company, but also revealed the changes he has endured since accepting a position in one of the world's most revered companies, in a city that draws six dozen journalists to a ballet dress rehearsal.
    "It is an absolute honour to be in this theatre and to be doing the premiere of 'Sleeping Beauty', and, um, I'm learning day by day. I'm learning Russian; I'm learning a new technique of the Bolshoi Theatre, and I'm learning how to grocery shop really in Russia. It's a completely different life for me," Hallberg said.
    The premiere comes the same week as two Bolshoi stars, Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev announced they were leaving the company to take new positions at the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Hallberg was reportedly lured to the company in part by the opportunity to partner Osipova, with whom he has danced before.
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