GATOB named after Abay presented "Romeo and Juliet" ballet in the production of the People's Artist of the USSR Yuri Grigorovich at the "Eurasian Dance Festival".
Flyura Musina
ballet critic
After the plotless neoclassical productions of Hans van Manen and Milko Shparemblek, Yuri Grigorovich's ballet impressed with the juicy oil painting of a bright picture that stuns its powerful sound after admiring graphics and pastels. It should be noted that the entire program of the festival is very diverse and built on the principle of contrast. Judging by the announced performances, the audience will not only receive vivid impressions from skill and professionalism of artists, colorful scenery, video content and various music, but will also get acquainted with a variety of styles of choreography, outstanding choreographers and productions during six festival days.
The living classic
People's Artist of the USSR Yuri Grigorovich undoubtedly entered the top ten greatest choreographers of the 20th century, he was a ballet ideologist of the Bolshoi Theater for 30 years, having created eight original ballets and a new reading of almost the whole ballet classics. "Romeo and Juliet" is one of masterpieces of the master of ballet genre, effective ballet, the main language of which is an expressive classical dance.
The play "Romeo and Juliet" was staged by Grigorovich at the Paris Opera and the Bolshoi Theater; in Seoul, Krasnodar and Yakutsk, in Moscow theater "Kremlin Ballet" and in Almaty GATOB named after Abay. The choreographer does not seek to replicate his performances at any cost, moreover, Grigorovich does not seek to earn money in his performances in the spirit of our time, demanding royalties for each ballet show. But he is very picky about the level of troupe and executors of main parties - if there are no worthy performers in the company or the company is technically weak - alas, refuses. The 83-year-old choreographer came to stage “Romeo and Juliet” to Almaty in 2010, put on the light and sought the authenticity of life in dance from artists, when not "depict", but "express" feelings with dance. The master was satisfied with the troupe and the premiere that passed with great success, and instructed Gulzhan Tutkibayeva, the People's Artist of the RK, who, today, is the chief choreographer of the theater, to keep the performance in proper form, knowing her professionalism and responsibility.
"Yuri Nikolayevich highly appreciated our troupe, and we try to justify this trust, preserve the quality of performance. Although, the time is passing, and several compositions of performers have already changed, only Aset Myrzakulov in the party of Mercutio and Dmitry Sushkov-Capuletti remained among the dancers who performed the premiere."
The play has been on stage of Almaty theater for eight years, and always with a full house. The general director of the theater, Askar Buribayev, is firmly convinced that this performance should remain in the playbill of the theater as a golden fund: "The original value of this performance to Prokofiev’s genius music, then in Grigorovich’s brilliant choreography, and thirdly in magnificent scenography by Simon Virsaladze. Masterpieces are born when such ingenious people put their hand to them.
There is no sadder story in the world ...
The story of young lovers, whose happiness was the victim of the age-old enmity of clans and so inspired by the English playwright in the 16th century, still does not give rest to directors, composers and, of course, choreographers. The latter understand that what Shakespeare did not finish in his immortal lines, you can try to amplify and express with the help of plastic body, expressive dance and music.
Sergei Prokofiev’s music is also incredibly attractive for directors - it has everything necessary to create a variety of dance scenes and lyrical monologues in terms of tempo, rhythm and mood. Therefore, there are hundreds of variants of this story on ballet scene. Among the directors are such iconic names as Kenneth Macmillan, John Cranko, J. Neumeier, Maurice Bejart ... the list can be continued, but among this dance abundance Grigorovich's ballet remains one of the best in its dramatic integrity and dance fullness.
Now, without leaving Kazakhstan, two completely different performances can be compared. We recall that the ballet "Romeo and Juliet" in Astana Opera Theater goes to the same music, but in production of the French choreographer Charles Jude, based on the stage version by Rudolf Nureyev.
The third day of festival pleased with the full notice, attention and sensitivity of the audience once again. Today, this was especially felt, the viewers were very warm to the performance of Almaty residents. Enthusiastic applause accompanied every performance of the stunning Mercutio (Asset Myrzakulov).
Disregarding all the laws of gravity, the dancer - in the role of the closest friend of Romeo and ringleader of the whole company - took off over the stage, succeeding in making incredible tiles in the air, while remaining in the image and precise drawing of the choreographic text. And he added a magical "a little bit" of the real master, when character and image are born from usual execution of movements, in this case - bright, burlesque, in the spirit of carnival nature of Shakespearean epoch theater. His Mercutio is cheerful, courageous, faithful in friendship and ruthless in battle, was perhaps the brightest color in this ensemble. Zhanel Tukeyeva’s Juliette grew up and gained depth. The talented ballerina danced this party quite young, and was an extremely tender Juliette-girl. Today you believe in the mature power of her love.
Romeo of theater premiere Azamat Askarov is dreamy and kind. The beautiful dancer with a high, surprisingly soft, "cat" jump is destined to dance the party of princes and beloved heroes. Nargiz Mirseyidova (Senora Capulety) and Dmitry Sushkov (Capuletti) created bright textured characters whose parties seemingly do not have detailed dance scenes, but the manner of behavior, noble bearing, expressive look, turn of head, hand gesture - everything very accurately works for the image. Young soloists of the theater Rakhim Dairov (Tibald) and Aziz Esenbayev (Paris) performed their parties with dignity, which, of course, will be improved in the future.
Master of symphonic dance paintings, Yuri Grigorovich stunningly puts mass scenes. Dance of the Knights (sometimes called "dance with pillows") is one of such scenes, and it was performed magnificently! Wonderful light, flickering noble costume fabrics, synchronism of the corps de ballet made this scene one of the best in the play. Just the scene of the carnival in Verona can compete with her?
The orchestra, under the direction of maestro Erbolat Akhmedyarov, sensitively followed the author's score, not forgetting convenience of pace for those who dance on stage.
The audience did not let the artists go off stage for a long time, the whole audience applauded standing up.