LISTINGS RELEASE/CRITICS¹ CHOICE
BALLET STARS OF ST PETERSBURG
Royal Albert Hall London
7 & 8 May 2003 7.30pm
BOX OFFICE 020 7589 8212
www.royalalberthall.com Two showcase performances to celebrate St Petersburg¹s tercentenary in
London, featuring contemporary legends of the Russian ballet performing
excerpts from the classical repertoire plus the UK premiere of a new work
specially commissioned for this occasion from the Mariinsky¹s choreographer
Kirill Simonov.
Programme
Madame Lionelli (UK premiere)
Choreography: Kirill Simonov
Music: John Adams and Gavin Bryers
Performers: Irma Niorazde & Ilya Kuznetsov
and members of the Kirov corps de ballet
Excerpts from
Legend of Love
Choreography: Grigorovich
Music: Arif Melikov
Performers: Irma Nioradze and Nikolai Tsiskaridze
Le Corsaire
Chor: Petipa
Music: Adam, Drigo, Minkus
Performers: Elvira Tarasova & Igor Zelensky
Manon
Chor: MacMillan
Music: Massenet
Performers: Yulia Makhalina & Ilya Kuznetsov
Narcissus
Chor: Goleizovsky
Music: Cherepnin
Performer: Nikolai Tsiskaridze
Scheherezade
Chor: Fokine
Music: Rimsky Korsakov
Performers: Irma Nioradze and Farukh Ruzimatov
Swan Lake
Chor: Ivanov
Music: Tchaikovsky
Performers: Daria Pavlenko & Evgenij Ivanchenko
Death of a Poet
Chor: Bejart
Music: Mahler
Performer: Farukh Ruzimatov
Raymonda
Chor: Petipa
Music: Glazunov
Performers: Yulia Makhalina & Ilya Kuznetsov
Don Quixote
Chor: Gorsky
Music: Minkus
Performers: Irma Nioradze and Evgenij Ivanchenko
Finale featuring whole cast
The Russian Orchestra of London is conducted by Alexander Sotnikov
The Ballet Stars of St Petersburg at the Royal Albert Hall is presented by
Ensemble Productions and Alfa Bank as part of the St Petersburg 300
Celebration Programme under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture of the
Russian Federation. Performances are sponsored by Alfa Bank and
Stolichnaya-Genuine Russian Vodka.
*******************
BALLET STARS OF ST PETERSBURG
IN LONDON FORŒ300¹ CELEBRATIONS - TWO NIGHTS ONLY
Royal Albert Hall, 7 & 8 May 2003
For more than two centuries St Petersburg has been a major centre for the
establishment and evolution of classical ballet and has consistently
produced many of the world¹s most legendary dancers including Anna Pavlova,
Vaslav Nijinsky, Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Natalia Makarova.
As part of the UK celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of Russia¹s
most regal city, some of today¹s most sensational Russian ballet stars take
to the stage at the Royal Albert Hall in May for two performances only.
These gala evenings will be a showcase for the rich legacy of two profoundly
influential masters of choreography from Russia¹s cultural capital: the
legendary Marius Petipa , whose 19th century ballets are still constantly
performed by companies all round the world, and Mikhail Fokine who
revitalised dramatic ballet in the 20th century during his tenure with
Diaghilev¹s Ballets Russes . Bringing the 300 celebrations into the 21st
century is St Petersburg¹s newest young talent, Kirill Simonov whose
recently commissioned one act ballet for Irma Nioradze will be given its
British premiere on this occasion*.
Accompanied by members of the Kirov corps de ballet, these renowned soloists
will display their artistry and technical virtuosity in two stunning gala
programmes. Five of the dancers have the most prestigious accolade of
ŒHonoured Artist of Russia¹ : celebrated ballerinas Yulia Makhalina and Irma
Nioradze, the flamboyant Farukh Ruzimatov, Bolshoi star Nikolai
Tsiskaridze (a frequent guest performer with the Kirov soloists) and Igor
Zelensky who is remembered by UK audiences for his partnering of Darcey
Bussell during his guest appearances with the Royal Ballet a few years ago.
The remaining four soloists were all trained in the Kirov tradition at the
Vaganova Academy in St Petersburg and are soloists with the company: Andrei
Batalov, Ilya Kuznetsov, Daria Pavlenko and Elvira Tarasova.
The repertoire will include excerpts from Petipa¹s classics Swan Lake, Le
Corsaire, La Bayadère, Don Quixote and The Sleeping Beauty, and Fokine¹s
Scheherezade and The Dying Swan. Playing under the baton of one of the
Mariinsky Theatre¹s ballet conductors, the Russian Orchestra of London will
also have an opportunity to commemorate some of Russia¹s great composers
whose talents were nurtured and performed in St Petersburg: Tchaikovsky,
Rimsky Korsakov and Minkus. In contrast, the new Simonov ballet is to set
to music by John Adams and Gavin Bryers. The climax of the evening will be a
dazzling display by the whole cast of classical ballet¹s most challenging
feats of technique a fusion of fouettés, pirouettes, powerful leaps, and
dashing turns effortlessly executed to a percussion-led accompaniment from
the orchestra.
The Ballet Stars of St Petersburg at the Royal Albert Hall is presented by
Ensemble Productions and Alfa Bank as part of the St Petersburg 300
Celebration Programme under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture of the
Russian Federation.
Ends
FURTHER PRESS INFORMATION:
Debra Boraston
Henry Moore Studio 11a Parkhill Road London NW3 2YH
T: 020 7483 1950 F: 020 7586 3790 E:
debra@henrymoorestudio.co.uk BOOKING AND PROGRAMME INFORMATION:
Royal Albert Hall T. 020 7589 8212 or online:
www.royalalberthall.com Tickets priced from £12 to £60
*world premiere of new Simonov ballet in St Petersburg is April 2003
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Russian Orchestra of London was established in 1998 and comprises
Russian-speaking musicians based in the UK. The orchestra tours the UK and
overseas with Chief conductor Julian Gallant and has especially strong links
with the Far East, Russia and the former Soviet Republics. Guest conductors
have included Martyn Brabbins, Yuri Bashmet, Sian Edwards and Thomas
Sanderling and soloists include Boris Berezovsky, Mikhäil Rudy, John Lill
and Emma Johnson. The orchestra played for Irek Mukhamedov¹s Farewell Gala
in 2001 and will accompany Nina Ananiashvili and the Moscow Dance Theatre in
March 2004 at Sadler¹s Wells.
Ensemble Productions Ltd is an independent production company in the UK
founded by Olga Balakleets and Julian Gallant. Its mission is to present
international artists and repertoire in the UK and promote cultural exchange
between Russia and the UK. The latest evidence of their success was the
launch of the Russian British Cultural Association in January 2003 (Chairman
Sergei Kolushev, Managing Director Julian Gallant). Forthcoming 2003 events
presented by Ensemble Productions include The Russian Chamber Orchestra of
London with cellist Denis Shapovalov at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on 12
February, Dmitri Hvorostovsky recital at the Wigmore Hall on 22 April and
Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists at the Barbican on 20 June.
www.ensembleproductions.co.uk Alfa Bank founded in 1990, is Russia¹s largest privately-owned commercial
bank with more than 80 branches across Russia and subsidiaries in Ukraine,
Kazakhstan, UK, US and the Netherlands. Alfa Bank sponsors many highly
prestigious Russian cultural events at home and overseas, including the
Imperial Russian Ballet, soloists of the Kirov and the Bolshoi Ballets,
Vladimir Spivakov, Dmitri Hvorostovksy and the Russian Chamber Orchestra.