NataliaN wrote:
Thanks for posting this , Buddy. Now this is ridiculous, IMO. The beauty of past Mariinsky Festivals was in the variety of dance offerings...something new and exciting every day, for 10-11 straight days. If one wants to see the same ballet night after night, then travel to virtually any 'ballet city' outside Russia, where companies usually dance a string of the same ballet(s) over the course of a week or two.
I'm so happy that I'm foregoing the festival this year. I'll see more variety by attending the Kirov's run at City Center/New York in April.
Natalia I totally agree with you. Webster's Dictionary defiines "Festival" as
" 2. An often regularly, recurring program of performances, exhibitions or competitions. Some notable ballet
festivals are: RDB's Bournonville Festival, Balanchine's Stravinsky Festival (1972), Ravel Festival (1975) and Tchaikovsky Festival (1981), and the Maryinsky International Ballet Festival. The difference between the first four and the last one listed, is that the last festival is an annual event. None of these were noted for being programs of performances of
one ballet with different casts. Not until now.
This wins the prize for OTT lack of vision, planning and direction. Wouldn't it have been easier not to have the Festival this year? Or, have the performances without guests and fanfare? Or, undertake yet another week long tour, and do that instead of this? Isn't it the management's responsibility (charge) to maintain tradition, and produce the 'new and exciting' works that
might be premiered during an
annual international festival? If the management doesn't have the skills to do this, shouldn't they vigorously seek, cultivate and engage those choreographers who do have the skills to create the 'new and exciting?' If the management is unwilling, (unable?) to present, "something new and exciting every day, for 10 - 11 straight days," for what they
know is an
annual international event, then perhaps it's time they surrendered the keys to the office. A string of "Swan Lake" performances with different casts is not a 'festival' by any stretch of the imagination.