A pair of exposes in the NY Times:<P><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>In Russia, a New Vulgarity and a New Freedom<P>CELESTINE BOHLEN, NY Times<P>MOSCOW — BY all accounts, the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Moscow Conservatory Great Hall on April 17 marked a low point for Russian culture. Instead of an occasion worthy of Tchaikovsky or Shostakovich, the concert, sponsored by Rosinterfest, a commercial presenter, turned into a musical smorgasbord, laced with free martinis, ordered up by Russia's new rich. <a href=http://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/19/arts/19BOHL.html target=_blank>more</a><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Eastern European Singers Go West<P>JOHN ALLISON, NY Times<P>LONDON -- The Kirov Opera, one of the music world's greatest icons, has received a rare critical battering in recent weeks. Rare, that is, at least since its reigning czar, Valery Gergiev, took over in 1988, capitalizing on the spirit of perestroika that was sweeping Russia. The institution had taken repeated critical batterings during the Communist era, when it was forced to play poor relation to the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. Ever since Mr. Gergiev's ascension, the Kirov has been seen to carry the cultural banner for Russia. But during a brief residency at the Royal Opera House here last month, it severely tarnished its reputation with the public and critics alike, and the sometimes hostile reception must have shocked a company more accustomed to accolades. <a href=http://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/19/arts/music/19ALLI.html target=_blank>More</a><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>

Related threads in our <a href=http://forum.criticaldance.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=15>Managing Dance forum</a>:

<font size = -2><center>(Edited by salzberg to fix link)</center></font>

<small>[ 08-11-2002, 05:38: Message edited by: salzberg ]</small>

Hey, look troops, it's time for a reality check...there hasn't been a helluva lot going on in Russian ballet for the last eighty years. Prokofiev tried with R&J and had a deuce of a time getting it on stage...Shosty tried with Golden Age and his inimininiminiminitable Ballet Suites, the music for which survives in super shape. Balanchine ran away...Leonid Jakobson tried and tried and eventually ran away...etc. etc. There have been some good dancers - many of which came acropper like Vladimir Vasiliev who is probably one of the best who ever lived - he had nothing but troubles...etc. etc. Most pianists who try and play American jazz make it sound like there's something wrong with the plumbing - more later after I get unpacked - been in Aloha-land for the last week - missed you all...

From what I understand, the Russian economy is in dire straits. I'd venture to guess that these festivals would not have happened without the "corporate" sponsorship. I'm not clear if it's a good thing or not?

Auntie, you're not supposed to announce in this forum that you've just been back from vacation... especially not in front of me, who hasn't been on a real vacation in ages... <P>Back to the topic, the Kirov will bounce back, no? As for the Bolshoi...

It sounds like they are going through the growing pains as now being a member of the "free world".Doesnt this happen to cultures that go though great political,social change ,a period of great confusion?<BR>I guess the closets we (US)came to in that same thing was 1960's.