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| Tuesday, 18 March 2003 |
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65th Birth Anniversary of Rudolf Nureyev by Gwen Herat
Among them, A Shelest, I Kolpakova, Natalia Maraova, Alla Sisova, B. A. Baryshinikov and V. Panov during our time along with Rudolf Nureyev who defected soon to be followed by many that included Natalia Makarova. There were others before them such as P. Gerdt, O. Preobrajenska, M. Kchessnki, V. Treflova, A. Vaganova, A. Bomn and V. Nijinsky. While these dancers brought fame to Russia, it was Rudolf Nureyev who turned Russia into the legendary ballet citadel. To do this, Kirov turned him into an artist of dazzling virtuosity while at tender age. His electrifying charisma of demi god was achieved after his defection in 1961. It was Nureyev's luck that brought him to the Kirov. He immediately got down to working which resulted with LAURENTIA being his first major ballet. His partner was the brilliant Dudinskya who was considered the greatest ballerina at that time. The Commandor's role was played by B. V. Shavrov. Following this success, choreographer Konstantine Mikhailovich arranged Nureyev to dance in LA BAYADERE with Olga Moiseyeva. Strangely, Moiseyeva was picked to partner Nureyev a few hours before the opening night and though she protested, they danced as if they were floating in the air without as much as missing a step. It was a miracle. His role as Solor in the Kingdom of the Shadows were
so infinite and perfect and thrilled Mikhailovich.
No other male dancer was at high point which gave him the impression that his legs and body were much longer than they actually were. He was able to stretch like elastic and immediately roll back into a ball. That was Nureyev. No male dancer was able to perform like that. He was the first to introduce high passe' into his pirouettes. That is why LA BAYADERE was so different and he looked stunning in the blue costume he wore for the act. He was the wind across the stage and looked magical and mystical like a spirit from a grave. The whole act was so vivid and haunting that after the curtain fall, the audience stood entranced for a while. Nureyev was the first male dancer to do a double circular assemble' in the coda. Later, others were to follow but none had the advantage over Nureyev because of his stage form. He spent a great deal of time devoting himself and readied for any role or if a choreographer needed him. His personality was a shifting form. For instance, as Siegfried in SWAN LAKE, he appeared from the wings as the stylist gentleman of high breed but in real life, he was totally a different man with an uncomplicated face and strikingly penetrating eyes. At this stage in his life though he was a mega star, he was barely twenty years. When others were mastering the Pas De Deux, he was a genius at it. Kirov was his dream come true. From St. Petersburg, he trekked to the Hermitage, the university auditorium and the philharmonic. It appeared these institutions were waiting for his arrival. Walking through the corridors of the Kirov, he astonished everyone with whom he came in contact. They marvelled at his talent and the passion he held for ballet. His cascades of leaps, rotations, pointe work, batterments, leaps and passes overwhelmed the Kirov. His teacher, Valantine Ivanovich simply could not handle the youngster's talent. He was confused and at complete loss knowing this prodigy needed better handling. He advised his brilliant young student to get in touch with Alexander Pushkin who was the most important figure in ballet during this period. With highly developed ballet skills already oozing out of him, Pushkin was able to do a reverse act on his young icon with calmer but somewhat enriched sense in art. He taught him to be courteous and elegant. In his enthusiasm Nureyev would leap over tables and chairs swiftly like a deer in flight. As much as it delighted Pushkin and his wife, there were many who resented his liberty at ballet. He was a restless young man. There was explosive within to explode. They were ticking away. He could never keep his feet quiet nor his arms at rest anytime even when he was not practising. His body was a volcano with hot molten flowing through until Pushkin was able to take charge and do the needful. Within a short time, Nureyev found not only the traditions of Kirov but home environment in Pushkin's home as his wife who was a former Kirov dancer, would demonstrate choreography to him. As he progressed, he never liked any selfish showing off and particularly on stage. He abhored insincerity. He believed where there was hypocrisy in art, that it ceased to be an art. This discipline cultivated at such young age was later to become his guiding star to success. It drew people to him in their thousands, such as choreographers, dancers, and all involved in ballet. He danced all the great roles during his three years. They extended from Solar in LA BAYADERE, Basil in DON QUIXOTE, to Desire. Siegfried, Albrecht, Romeo and Farhad. The moment he took off from the Kirov, it went into decline. The bright star that had kept the Kirov shining had defected to the West. This was followed with further calamities when during the next ten years, other leading dancers followed Nureyev to the West. The succession of highly acclaimed performances at the Kirov gave Nureyev the experience he needed. His reputation spread across the country along with his notoriously unpleasant character and wayward behaviour. At the All-Union Festival Ballet in Moscow in 1958, he outshone all others and immediately became the Capital's star. He danced with all the leading ballerinas of the Soviet Union within this short span of three years. Ballets danced at the Kirov 1958 - The Nutcracker - Raymonda (revised for him) - La Bayadere - Don Quizote - Le Corsaire - Sleeping Beauty |
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Produced by Lake House |
The Leningrad Academic Theatre was in existence from 1783 to 1880
though ballet was not performed seriously until the October Revolution in
1917 when the then Maryinski Theatre became the Kirov as it stands today.
Like the Bolshoi Theatre, became the citadel of ballet where the greatest
of dancers and choreographers emerged.
