"Sleeping Beauty" reconstruction 8/17 The Mariinsky Ballet; Obraztsova/Korsakov

Sergei Vikharev's controversial reconstruction of Marius Petipa & Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's original 1890 production of "The Sleeping Beauty" for the Kirov/Mariinsky Ballet.

**see clip 1 for notes on the production


**Cast -
--Princess Aurora - Eugenia Obraztsova


**Résumé of pieces for this clip -
Grand pas d'action (continued)
--Variation d'Aurore
--Grand coda


**Notes -
In 1890 the final moments of the music for Aurora's Act I variation was edited in favor of an ending reminiscent of Minkus or Pugni. For some reason the Mariinsky chose not to use the historically accurate 1890 version & instead have presented Tchaikovsky's music as originally composed. Interestingly, the Mariinsky's old Sergeyev production retained the 1890 ending, which can be heard in this clip below in a performance by Alla Sizova - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRPPk3i86Ts#t=08m04s ). I suppose that the Mariinsky producers retained Tchaikovsky's original ending for Aurora's variation so that her manège of piqué turns around the stage--which are actually a Soviet-era revision--could be performed along with Petipa's original steps, which is the manège of poses en attitude. The Bolshoi Ballet's Grigorovich production also retains the 1890 ending.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Sleeping
• Beauty
• kirov
• Mariinsky
• ballet
• Tchaikovsky
• Petipa
• Obraztsova
• Korsakov
• Imperial
• Russia

[camille32087]

@theamazingsoter Yea, I saw a post about it like back in May or something (I was so excited) and have been frantically searching youtube for clips since. But all I've been able to find is one clip of black swan variation. But this isn't good enough for Kirov (what I meant was that their tradition is for the role to be danced...on their stage of course, grrrrrr). Anyways, she so totally deserves it. And she's, like, one of my top 5 favorite ballerinas! Cheers!

[camille32087]

Somova is not short, i think she is "above average" height for most ballerinas compared to other companies but this seems the be the marriinsky prototype. Evgenia on the other hand is Super short which i think makes it more difficult for her to get certain roles in the theatre. Ballet is political, go figure! (side note: tradition with the theatre says you have to dance Swan lake before they make you principle which is why she has not been named thus, which I think she is more than deserving)

[ballerinarori]

I personally like Alina Cojocaru better as Aurora. She has the right personality and technique for it. She also has better balances and makes this variation look more fluid but strong.

[agosballet]

lastima la primer piruette xq la variacion le sale genial ! es de mis bailarinas preferidas ...

[issyballet95]

@al1936ful Random guess, and I don't really know, but is it because the costumes are in primary colours and Aurora's friends are in black?

[al1936ful]

Why was this production so controversial?

[fashionballetNYC5]

@Eye4dance I think it is when she prepares for a pirouette in fourth but instead of flowing through the movement, she is 'frozen in fourth'. You can see this at 2:07, 2:17, and 2:26 before her turns.

[tutus4life]

@superballetlover Somova is a good head taller than her, Obratszova is one of the shortest in the company.

[Eye4dance]

there do seem to be "frozen" as opposed to "sustained" moments in her musicality... but what is a "Frozen 4th"?

[Azaurmyth]

I'm sure that if the Russians didn't want the Frozen 4th, they wouldn't have let her do it. Ballet is tricky, at best.