Classical old guard
And not only because the Bolshoi has one of the largest theaters in the world - 2,100 seats, an imposing auditorium 21 meters high, 25 meters long, 26 meters wide, richly ornamented with chandeliers, gold stucco decoration and plush red velvet furnishings. The theater was originally located at a different site - and was known as the Petrovsky Theater after the street - and burned down twice after moving to its current location.
More surprisingly still, this professional musical theater was originally more closely associated with vaudeville and entertainment based on folklore and traditional folk music! That was before Mikhail Glinka and his operatic productions, which became the most important event in the Bolshoi's history. Glinka was called the 'father of Russian classical music' and was responsible for the dawn of the national classical repertoire which has lasted until the present day. The Russian National Ballet started to form on Bolshoi's stage in the nineteenth century when productions of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty were staged with such venerated ballerinas as Ekaterina Sankovska, Nadezda Bogdanova and Praskovia Lebedeva.
The Bolshoi's golden age started in the early twentieth century under the influence of Leonid Sobinov and Feodor Shaliapin. But history claims that the real gold age was under Stalin. The dictator was a big enthusiast of the Bolshoi and was very generous toward the theater. The only trouble was that the Party took control over the repertoire - and the best and safest were classical productions. This problem no longer exists, but the Bolshoi is still conservative. And conservative about its classical repertoire. The theater has come in for criticism because of this conservatism, but its players will not hear of such criticism. Why?
"No one can imagine the last 225 years of opera and ballet history without the Bolshoi Theater," says Pronin Ruslan, one of the Bolshoi's dancers, who are to visit Poland in February, "We are the foundation and creators of the classical. That doesn't mean that we are rigid... Classics evolve along with civilization, there is no point in changing something so precious. And remember, the Bolshoi is not only a theater, it is also a school; one of the best and one that shapes tradition and trains opera's future masters..."
Watching the dancers it is hard to believe that the figure on stage is mere flesh and blood, not elf, or water-nymph or swan. Just a person who may be tired, sleepy or even in pain.
Ballet lovers want to raise their own children in the true classical art, sometimes parents send their children to ballet school and, of course, many young girls dream about being a ballerina themselves. After they arrive at the school, frequently it becomes clear that their expectations were very different from the reality.
"It happens because true art hates competition," says Irina Zibrova, "If dancing and ballet are not in your heart, but only one of many things that you want to do in your life, or your parents just told you to go to ballet school - then you'll never be satisfied. It is hard work and the pressure of the school is huge. But if your love of ballet is deep and authentic then all the self-sacrifices and disappointments aren't in vain."
"Ballet is not a business", adds Anna Ivanova, "Hard work alone yields success. There are no stories of quick and brilliant careers. Instead there is a lot of doubt, sometimes even breakdowns. But dancing is our fate and it wins every time."
These days, when art is smothered in special effects and sophisticated performances, the Bolshoi Theater stands at the forefront of tradition and the classical. They didn't give up after two fires and they won't give up due to criticism or any other difficulties. They are faithful to true art and that is why their performances are still worthy of their work and of our attention.
The Bolshoi Theater starts its tour in Poland in Kraków on February 27, Warsaw February 28, Bydgoszcz February 29 and Łódź March 1-2.
Featured will be the ballet '4Kisses' by Jörg Mannes, music by Johanne Sebastian Bach and classic pas de deux from such popular ballets as Don Quixote or Giselle as well as modern miniature ballets.
Dancers: Natalia Maladina, Anna Ivanova, Ruslan Pronin, Irina Zibrova, Denis Medevev, Ilija Rzhova, Morichio Ivata and others.
More surprisingly still, this professional musical theater was originally more closely associated with vaudeville and entertainment based on folklore and traditional folk music! That was before Mikhail Glinka and his operatic productions, which became the most important event in the Bolshoi's history. Glinka was called the 'father of Russian classical music' and was responsible for the dawn of the national classical repertoire which has lasted until the present day. The Russian National Ballet started to form on Bolshoi's stage in the nineteenth century when productions of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty were staged with such venerated ballerinas as Ekaterina Sankovska, Nadezda Bogdanova and Praskovia Lebedeva.
The Bolshoi's golden age started in the early twentieth century under the influence of Leonid Sobinov and Feodor Shaliapin. But history claims that the real gold age was under Stalin. The dictator was a big enthusiast of the Bolshoi and was very generous toward the theater. The only trouble was that the Party took control over the repertoire - and the best and safest were classical productions. This problem no longer exists, but the Bolshoi is still conservative. And conservative about its classical repertoire. The theater has come in for criticism because of this conservatism, but its players will not hear of such criticism. Why?
"No one can imagine the last 225 years of opera and ballet history without the Bolshoi Theater," says Pronin Ruslan, one of the Bolshoi's dancers, who are to visit Poland in February, "We are the foundation and creators of the classical. That doesn't mean that we are rigid... Classics evolve along with civilization, there is no point in changing something so precious. And remember, the Bolshoi is not only a theater, it is also a school; one of the best and one that shapes tradition and trains opera's future masters..."
Watching the dancers it is hard to believe that the figure on stage is mere flesh and blood, not elf, or water-nymph or swan. Just a person who may be tired, sleepy or even in pain.
Ballet lovers want to raise their own children in the true classical art, sometimes parents send their children to ballet school and, of course, many young girls dream about being a ballerina themselves. After they arrive at the school, frequently it becomes clear that their expectations were very different from the reality.
"It happens because true art hates competition," says Irina Zibrova, "If dancing and ballet are not in your heart, but only one of many things that you want to do in your life, or your parents just told you to go to ballet school - then you'll never be satisfied. It is hard work and the pressure of the school is huge. But if your love of ballet is deep and authentic then all the self-sacrifices and disappointments aren't in vain."
"Ballet is not a business", adds Anna Ivanova, "Hard work alone yields success. There are no stories of quick and brilliant careers. Instead there is a lot of doubt, sometimes even breakdowns. But dancing is our fate and it wins every time."
These days, when art is smothered in special effects and sophisticated performances, the Bolshoi Theater stands at the forefront of tradition and the classical. They didn't give up after two fires and they won't give up due to criticism or any other difficulties. They are faithful to true art and that is why their performances are still worthy of their work and of our attention.
The Bolshoi Theater starts its tour in Poland in Kraków on February 27, Warsaw February 28, Bydgoszcz February 29 and Łódź March 1-2.
Featured will be the ballet '4Kisses' by Jörg Mannes, music by Johanne Sebastian Bach and classic pas de deux from such popular ballets as Don Quixote or Giselle as well as modern miniature ballets.
Dancers: Natalia Maladina, Anna Ivanova, Ruslan Pronin, Irina Zibrova, Denis Medevev, Ilija Rzhova, Morichio Ivata and others.
