<P>Asylmuratova as Schéhérazade (no apologies for a second use of the photo]<P> <BR>Debra Craine is pleased to see the Kirov's first Fokine programme and also the reception given to the Queen Mother on her 100th birthday. Craine tells us:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><BR>...this turned out to be the Schéhérazade of your dreams. Asylmuratova was Zobeide, the Sultan's favourite wife, who comes to grief over her lust for Faroukh Ruzimatov's powerful Golden Slave. Asylmuratova is without equal in the role, a Zobeide in the prime of her sexuality, voluptuous yet dignified as the ripples of sexual anticipation course through her gorgeously snake-hipped body.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Hmmm....wonder if I can get a ticket for Wednesday.<P> <A HREF="http://www.the-times.co.uk/news/pages/tim/00/08/07/timartdan02001.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.the-times.co.uk/news/pages/tim/00/08/07/timartdan02001.html</A>

Nadine Meisner doesn't enjoy the Fokine programme, but loves Sofia Gumerova, plucked from the corps to perform Odette/Odile<BR> <P><A HREF="http://www.independent.co.uk/enjoyment/Theatre/Dance/Reviews/2000-08/kirovballet090800.shtml" TARGET=_blank>http://www.independent.co.uk/enjoyment/Theatre/Dance/Reviews/2000-08/kirovballet09 0800.shtml</A> <P>Josephine Leask has more fun with Fokine than Meisner did.<P> <BR><A HREF="http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4048867,00.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4048867,00.html</A> <p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited August 12, 2000).]

Stuart, did you go? 90 years later, Fokine remains controversial and provokes contradictory reviews....