The Bolshoi Ballet Live from Moscow cinema transmissions always have given me pleasure. Have loved ballet for over 20 years and just love the authentic atmosphere seeing the simulcasts of different operas and ballets from different houses (namely Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera and Bolshoi), while seeing it for cheaper, going to the opera is extortionate, and in a location that is easier to get to.
'Raymonda' is not one of my favourite ballets. It is not up there with the 3 Tchaikovsky ballets, 'Giselle' and 'Coppelia'. It is though very charming and always has been a pleasant watch and listen, even if the story is slight and at times feel over-stretched. Glazunov's music is a pleasure to listen to as well and beautifully orchestrated and placed, though not among the composer's best work and not among the most memorable ballet scores. Reviving the Yuri Grigorovich choreography, though there are flashes of Marius Petipa too, this 2012 Bolshoi production is not one of the highlights of the Bolshoi Ballet Live from Moscow transmissions and didn't blow me away. It is however well done and a worthwhile watch.
A lot to like here. The production values are visually atmospheric and beautiful to look at, not drab or garish and parts in the last act is appropriately lavish. The choreography is both graceful and dynamic, with a little wit and always clever. While also providing significant challenges for the dancers, thankfully they make it seem easy. Act 3 throughout is superbly done, the Abderakhman nightmare being a clear highlight of the production, very clever choreography and appropriately nightmarish, while the Corps De Ballet avoid being static.
Musically, the orchestral playing is energetic and nuanced and helped by alert yet sympathetic conducting. Maria Alexadrovna is a technical marvel without ever over-thinking the steps, her interpretation is far from a cold one and actually is very expressive. Anna Nikuylina and Yekaterina Shipulina delight too while my award for the best performance goes to a frightening and never over-the-top Pavel Dmitrichenko.
On the other hand, there are a few short-comings. It did feel like the first act took too much time to get going, the momentum warmed up later but wasn't there straight-away and the staging didn't have the lustre of the third act. Have always felt somewhat that the story for 'Raymonda' is over-stretched and it feels that way at first in the performance.
Ruslan Skvortsev's dancing is technically perfect but he doesn't have Alexadrovna's emotion and unlike her he over-thinks at times, have also seen him as a more sympathetic partner in other productions where lifts have been more precise.
In summary, a pleasant watch but wasn't mind-blown. 7/10 Bethany Cox
'Raymonda' is not one of my favourite ballets. It is not up there with the 3 Tchaikovsky ballets, 'Giselle' and 'Coppelia'. It is though very charming and always has been a pleasant watch and listen, even if the story is slight and at times feel over-stretched. Glazunov's music is a pleasure to listen to as well and beautifully orchestrated and placed, though not among the composer's best work and not among the most memorable ballet scores. Reviving the Yuri Grigorovich choreography, though there are flashes of Marius Petipa too, this 2012 Bolshoi production is not one of the highlights of the Bolshoi Ballet Live from Moscow transmissions and didn't blow me away. It is however well done and a worthwhile watch.
A lot to like here. The production values are visually atmospheric and beautiful to look at, not drab or garish and parts in the last act is appropriately lavish. The choreography is both graceful and dynamic, with a little wit and always clever. While also providing significant challenges for the dancers, thankfully they make it seem easy. Act 3 throughout is superbly done, the Abderakhman nightmare being a clear highlight of the production, very clever choreography and appropriately nightmarish, while the Corps De Ballet avoid being static.
Musically, the orchestral playing is energetic and nuanced and helped by alert yet sympathetic conducting. Maria Alexadrovna is a technical marvel without ever over-thinking the steps, her interpretation is far from a cold one and actually is very expressive. Anna Nikuylina and Yekaterina Shipulina delight too while my award for the best performance goes to a frightening and never over-the-top Pavel Dmitrichenko.
On the other hand, there are a few short-comings. It did feel like the first act took too much time to get going, the momentum warmed up later but wasn't there straight-away and the staging didn't have the lustre of the third act. Have always felt somewhat that the story for 'Raymonda' is over-stretched and it feels that way at first in the performance.
Ruslan Skvortsev's dancing is technically perfect but he doesn't have Alexadrovna's emotion and unlike her he over-thinks at times, have also seen him as a more sympathetic partner in other productions where lifts have been more precise.
In summary, a pleasant watch but wasn't mind-blown. 7/10 Bethany Cox