Review in the FT.

MORE

[This message has been edited by Joanne (edited April 08, 2002).]

<small>[ 02 April 2003, 02:46 AM: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>

Review in The Independent by Nadine Meisner (found via the FT site).<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Well, hello there, Latvian National Ballet, but who are you? A company with roots linking it to the Mariinsky (Kirov) Ballet in St Petersburg. The Mariinsky ballet master Nikolai Sergeyev initiated the idea of a permanent Latvian company in 1922, when he arrived to teach classes in Riga and mounted the first ballet production. (Soon after he was to introduce the core classics to Britain's own new ballet.) Then came the Mariinsky ballerina Alexandra Fyodorova, who developed the repertoire and refining technique and schooling. The result is that aspiring ballet stars could do a lot worse than grow up in Riga. Mikhail Baryshnikov and Maris Liepa started their studies there, and the Latvian National Ballet (also known as the Riga Ballet), which draws its 65 dancers from home talent, has a sophisticated style, welding knife-edged clarity and precision with spatial breadth.<P><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><A HREF="http://globalarchive.ft.com/globalarchive/article.html?id=020411001120&query=ballet" TARGET=_blank> <B> MORE </B> </A><p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited April 11, 2002).]

We saw La Sylphide at the Lowry. I know it is a 2 Act performance but is it usually so short? <BR>It started at 7.30 had a 5 minute prelude first act finished at 8.05, a 25 minute break and we were out at 9.00. <P>We felt robbed at £30 each.

Short preview piece:

Critics' choice: Swan Lake
From The Scotsman

Apart from vodka, the former Soviet Union has little of which to be proud, but the National Ballet of Latvia is certainly worthy of celebration.

The troupe proved to us in 1999 - with their performance of Sleeping Beauty - just how magical ballet can really be and their latest performance is no ugly duckling. This national tour provides a rare opportunity to see one of the great classical ballets in the Russian tradition with a full-sized corps de ballet.

Tchaikovsky’s most romantic score will be performed live by the Orchestra of Latvia National Opera and Ballet, ensuring all your senses are engaged in such a world of beauty and elegance you’ll be pirouetting out of the building.

click for more

"Apart from vodka, the former Soviet Union has little of which to be proud, but the National Ballet of Latvia is certainly worthy of celebration."

I haven't been to Latvia, but sure as heck the writer of this glib, ignorant sentence above hasn't been either.

I do follow affairs in the three Baltic States and they are one of the big successes of the former Soviet Union, reflected by the fact that all are on the list of invitees for the expansion of the EU.

The Scotsman has always had a good reputation, but cheap, shoddy journalism like this won't help that standing.

<small>[ 31 March 2003, 05:26 AM: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>

Fulsome praise from someone who has seen more "Swan Lakes" than most:

Dangerous lady will have you in thrall
By Mary Brennan for The Herald

For many dance companies, the classic ballet repertoire has become something of a mouldering albatross - the seriousness of this issue was reflected in a talking shop of worldwide company directors in Snape Maltings earlier this year.

Latvian National Ballet, however, exhibit no such misgivings. Instead, they offer up a confident Swan Lake, its scenario and choreography tweaked a little, here and there, by the company's artistic director, Aivars Leimanis, but with core tradition essentially unruffled by his revisions. Indeed, his decision to make the clutch of national dances in Act III into an entertainment provided by Rothbart makes very neat narrative sense.

click for more

<small>[ 02 April 2003, 02:47 AM: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>

Review from The Guardian.

MORE

The Company has been forced to close it's latest production of "Cinderalla" because it was approved by the Prokofiev estate:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainmen ... 204332.stm

I'm very surprised that a national company would not get permission first - ignorance or reluctance is no excuse for violating copyright. And it would have saved much money and energy to work with the estate to begin with, rather than have to deal with refunding tickets.

Kate

I know of a Russian choreographer who had similar problems with Prokofiev's music. He believed that a 50-year rule applied, whereas it turned out to be 75 years and perhaps the Latvians thought the same. Not sure whether the Russian arrangements are common elsewhere. Anyone know?

Found this link, which shows how the situation has developed. Note in particular:

"Note: This chart does not take into account certain works published outside of the United States, formerly in public domain, which came back into copyright protection after the signing of the GATT treaty, notably music of Russian composers."

So, perhaps some Prokofiev scores passed into the public domain and then became covered by copyright again after GATT.