Durban can expect a Russian cultural feast
next week (June 18 and 19) when the Stars
of the Ballet Moscow perform in celebration of great Russian composers Tchaikovsky and
Rachmaninov in the Playhouse Opera.
Following a successful South African tour
in 2011, the company returns with a magnificent new programme devised for the
South African tour by former Bolshoi Ballet director, Yuri Vetrov
The first act features music by Rachmaninov
with the one-act ballet Paganini, Adagio
from Symphony No 2 and All by Myself.
The second act - a salute to Tchaikovsky - features extracts from classical
masterpieces Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake
and Sleeping Beauty.
The 16-strong company is led by husband and
wife team Anna Ivanova and Alexander Alikin. Other soloists are Maria
Sokolnikova, Maria Kylueva and Konstantin Marikin. Ivanova and Alikin both
worked as principal dancers for the Imperial Russian Ballet with a repertoire
that includes Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Don
Quixote and Romeo and Juliet.
Vertov completed his choreography degree at
the Moscow State Academy in 1967 and then joined the Bolshoi Theatre as
principal dancer. 1n 1980 he went to the Leningrad Conservancy of N A
Rimsky-Korsakov, where he trained under the direction of world-renowned
choreographer, Y Grigorovich. He completed his ballet master training at the
Bolshoi Theatre in 1982.
Vetrov was the creator of the television
film ballets Adagio and This Wonderful World and has
choreographed many concert ballet scenes, miniatures and the dancing scenes in
the operas The Spanish Hour (M Ravel)
and the Masquerade Ball (D Verdi).
Stars
of the Ballet Moscow comes to South Africa thanks
to Russian impresario Edouard Miasnikov, himself an honoured artist of Russia, who
founded his artistic agency in 1992 to widen the cultural exchange between
Russian and South Africa. He has brought numerous productions to the country,
including dance, music and ice shows.
“Ballet and dance is a form of art which is
loved and understood in all corners of the world,” says Miasnikov. “It knows
neither regional nor language barriers. People of all different nationalities,
cultures and religions come together to be touched by a world of exquisite
sound and visuals.”
The performances take place on June 18 and
19 at 19h30 in the Playhouse Opera. Tickets range from R140 to R250 and are
limited so early booking is advised through Computicket.
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