Russian State Ballet Theatre
Following a successful tour of Scotland in December 2013, The Russian State Ballet Theatre will be returning to the United Kingdom to tour more extensively in November / December 2014. Availability currently exists for engagements between November 24 and December 10.
In addition to solo performances, for their 2014 tour the company will this year be featured in the Come Prima production East Meets West at Christmas by Candlelight together with the Chamber Orchestra of Wales Further information on the Candlelight production can be found here
Russian State Ballet Theatre - Background
One can start the story of the "Russian State Ballet" Theatre of Moscow with the words of remarkable artist, People's Artist of the USSR, a winner of Lenin and State Awards Michail Lavrovsky.
"There are plenty ballet troupes which, unfortunately, have no face of their own. It is hard to name the reason. Probably it occurs because of aspiration to the fast commercial success leading to smash hit of repertoire, garish manner of performance behind which depth is not always looked through. Obviously not infrequently artistic directors simply cannot achieve high results though they are sincere in their wish to do so. In the "Russian State Ballet" we find a positive example. First of all it is The Theatre in the best sense of the word. The extended repertoire of the company is the result of carefully thought over strategy; it is very versatile which testifies that the troupe carefully preserves classical heritage and simultaneously is not afraid of searches and experiments. Secondly, the company is highly professional. It can cause heated arguments just because it is undoubtedly interesting. Active tours of the "Russian State Ballet" have not "stirred it up": one fails to find here elements of hack-work or desire to exploit well-established reputation. It is an alive, developing organism. And, certainly, high achievements of the theatre are indissolubly connected with the name of Vyacheslav Gordeeev who has not simply formed the "Russian State Ballet" and raised it to the international level, but also has defined parameters of creative growth".
The history of the "Russian State Ballet" Theatre is similar to story of Cinderella who has become princess due to her kindness, sincerity and indefatigable work. In 1981 at the Moscow philharmonic society was born a small company "Ensemble of Classical Ballet". At that time the company consisted of just 8 artists and was headed by a well-known ballerina Irina Viktorovna Tikhomirnova and was aimed at propagating the art of classical choreography in Moscow area. Nobody could imagine then that soon enough this small troupe will turn to one of the leading ballet theatres of Russia and will obtain the world recognition.
It was Vyacheslav Gordeev - dancer and ballet-master - who became the company's kind fairy. Premiere dancer of the Bolshoi theatre, choreographer and the organizer of creative process, he has immeasurably expanded artistic horizons of the troupe and raised it on a world level of professional skill. Gordeeev's appearance in the company is not at all casual. Carrying out Irina Tikhomirnova's will the real master of the Russian choreography Asaf Messerer has asked Vyacheslav Gordeeev to take charge of a child of his spouse. Maria Muljash, a manager of the "Rossia" Concert Hall, has joined to this request as she was the one who assisted ensemble and was afraid of a real threat of its disintegration.
In 1984 Vyacheslav Gordeeev took over the company and started hard work on expansion of its repertoire and formation of its image. The tour life became more active. Performances over the Soviet Union as well as abroad have won love of the audiences and brought recognition of critics. Soon the company has got the status of the state theatre. More than the quarter-century history of the "Russian State Ballet" has incorporated impressive victories of its dancers at the international competitions, many artists have been conferred honorary titles "Honoured Artist of Russia", honorary citizens of some cities in several countries, prestigious personal and company awards. Among them are the "Golden Ticket" - a symbol of hundred thousand spectators who have visited performances of the RSB over only one tour, and a prize of the Association of West-European impresarios for the "Most Grandioso Performance of the Season" - the ballet "Sleeping Beauty" - and many many others.
The chronicle of the "Russian State Ballet" narrates about numerous premieres, tours, performances on the most prestigious stages of the world. Its bright pages are devoted to cooperation with the biggest choreographers - Valentin Elizariyev, Boris Eifman, Michail Lavrovsky, Nela Nazirova, Igor Tchernyshov. Just the enumeration of the names of outstanding ballet artists who worked with the RSB at different stages of its history takes the breath away: Makhmud Esambaev, Nina Timofeeva, Rakel Rosetti, Ekaterina Maximova, Galina Shljapina, Nadezhda Pavlova, Marina Semyonova, Asaf Messerer, Julio Bokka, Shamil Yagudin, etc. This tradition is continued by cooperation with present stars of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theatres Evgeny Ivanchenko, Adrian Fadeev, Nikolay Ziskaridze, Galina Stepanenko, Ruslan Skvortsov and many others.
Today the "Russian State Ballet" can fairly be called an international ballet star. It attracts spectators with its versatile repertoire. A professional can only envy it as here any dancer is able to find a solo part. Those who adhere to academic style can reveal their talents in masterpieces of classical heritage - ballets "Swan Lake", "Sleeping Beauty", "Nutcracker" "Giselle" "Coppelia", "Don Quixote". Psychologically delicate and refined miniatures present a wide field for creative search for the dancers ready to demonstrate their flash techniques, sense of style, temperament and musicality. A thoughtful artist will find oneself in full-length performances of the RSB; the dancers inclined to neo-classical and modernist style can try their best in stagings of professor V.M.Gordeev - a winner of special Maurice Bejaert prize and the award "Best Choreographer of the Year". It is not by chance that the RSB has literally generated and gave a chance to fully reveal talents to such dancers as Honoured Artists of Russia Yana Kazantseva, Marina Bogdanova, Yury Burlaka, Tatiana Gurianova, Maya Ivanova, Rimma Sologubova, Sergey Pupyrev, Svetlana Ustjuzhaninova, Dmitry Protsenko, Honoured Artists of Azerbaijan Vitaly Akhundov and Victoria Akhundova, winners of different international competitions Elena Knjazkova, Konstantin Durnev, Angelika Tagirova, Andrey Riabov, Bat Udval (Mongolia), Dai Sasaki (Japan), Morihiro Ivata (Japan), Oleg Kozlov, Konstantin Telyatnikov, Masami Chino (Japan) and others.
Eventually the list of the soloists of the "Russian State Ballet" certainly changed. Venerable dancers who have shaped sonorous glory of the theatre were gradually substituted by a new generation of young talents - Natalia Ashikhmina, Anton Geyker, Elena Osokina, Irina Ablitsova, Maxim Fomin, Vladimir Mineev... Graduates of the best ballet schools of Russia and the CIS countries annually replenish the company on a competitive basis, dancers from abroad take part in audition alongside with Russian performers.
Not only artistic talents are revealed in the theatre. Dmitry Protsenko who was brought up as a ballet-master by V.Gordeev staged quite a number of choreographic pieces and miniatures that formed a programme premiere night of which took place in the RSB and had great success. The remarkable dancer has declared himself as an interesting choreographer. At the IX-th International competition of ballet dancers and choreographers he was noted by a Diploma. Many artists of the RSB have received higher education, others continue their study in the Russian Academy of Theatrical Arts, the Moscow State Academy of Choreography and other institutions.
They say that if one wins in wisdom one will necessarily lose in passion. But this is not the case with the "Russian State Ballet". It toured successfully in Germany, England, India, Indonesia, Greece, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, Mexico, China... Numerous charity performances are given in Moscow and the Moscow area for invalids and veterans of the Great Patriotic War, children from orphanage.
Pleasures and grieves of the past have steeled the company the main characteristic features of which are unanimity and community of creative aspirations. Success has not turned young heads, artistic maturity has not turned back self-calmness. Today the "Russian State Ballet" with its enthusiasm and inspiration form an integral part of the world culture.
Further information on the company can be found at their website www.russballet.ru
In addition to solo performances, for their 2014 tour the company will this year be featured in the Come Prima production East Meets West at Christmas by Candlelight together with the Chamber Orchestra of Wales Further information on the Candlelight production can be found here
Russian State Ballet Theatre - Background
One can start the story of the "Russian State Ballet" Theatre of Moscow with the words of remarkable artist, People's Artist of the USSR, a winner of Lenin and State Awards Michail Lavrovsky.
"There are plenty ballet troupes which, unfortunately, have no face of their own. It is hard to name the reason. Probably it occurs because of aspiration to the fast commercial success leading to smash hit of repertoire, garish manner of performance behind which depth is not always looked through. Obviously not infrequently artistic directors simply cannot achieve high results though they are sincere in their wish to do so. In the "Russian State Ballet" we find a positive example. First of all it is The Theatre in the best sense of the word. The extended repertoire of the company is the result of carefully thought over strategy; it is very versatile which testifies that the troupe carefully preserves classical heritage and simultaneously is not afraid of searches and experiments. Secondly, the company is highly professional. It can cause heated arguments just because it is undoubtedly interesting. Active tours of the "Russian State Ballet" have not "stirred it up": one fails to find here elements of hack-work or desire to exploit well-established reputation. It is an alive, developing organism. And, certainly, high achievements of the theatre are indissolubly connected with the name of Vyacheslav Gordeeev who has not simply formed the "Russian State Ballet" and raised it to the international level, but also has defined parameters of creative growth".
The history of the "Russian State Ballet" Theatre is similar to story of Cinderella who has become princess due to her kindness, sincerity and indefatigable work. In 1981 at the Moscow philharmonic society was born a small company "Ensemble of Classical Ballet". At that time the company consisted of just 8 artists and was headed by a well-known ballerina Irina Viktorovna Tikhomirnova and was aimed at propagating the art of classical choreography in Moscow area. Nobody could imagine then that soon enough this small troupe will turn to one of the leading ballet theatres of Russia and will obtain the world recognition.
It was Vyacheslav Gordeev - dancer and ballet-master - who became the company's kind fairy. Premiere dancer of the Bolshoi theatre, choreographer and the organizer of creative process, he has immeasurably expanded artistic horizons of the troupe and raised it on a world level of professional skill. Gordeeev's appearance in the company is not at all casual. Carrying out Irina Tikhomirnova's will the real master of the Russian choreography Asaf Messerer has asked Vyacheslav Gordeeev to take charge of a child of his spouse. Maria Muljash, a manager of the "Rossia" Concert Hall, has joined to this request as she was the one who assisted ensemble and was afraid of a real threat of its disintegration.
In 1984 Vyacheslav Gordeeev took over the company and started hard work on expansion of its repertoire and formation of its image. The tour life became more active. Performances over the Soviet Union as well as abroad have won love of the audiences and brought recognition of critics. Soon the company has got the status of the state theatre. More than the quarter-century history of the "Russian State Ballet" has incorporated impressive victories of its dancers at the international competitions, many artists have been conferred honorary titles "Honoured Artist of Russia", honorary citizens of some cities in several countries, prestigious personal and company awards. Among them are the "Golden Ticket" - a symbol of hundred thousand spectators who have visited performances of the RSB over only one tour, and a prize of the Association of West-European impresarios for the "Most Grandioso Performance of the Season" - the ballet "Sleeping Beauty" - and many many others.
The chronicle of the "Russian State Ballet" narrates about numerous premieres, tours, performances on the most prestigious stages of the world. Its bright pages are devoted to cooperation with the biggest choreographers - Valentin Elizariyev, Boris Eifman, Michail Lavrovsky, Nela Nazirova, Igor Tchernyshov. Just the enumeration of the names of outstanding ballet artists who worked with the RSB at different stages of its history takes the breath away: Makhmud Esambaev, Nina Timofeeva, Rakel Rosetti, Ekaterina Maximova, Galina Shljapina, Nadezhda Pavlova, Marina Semyonova, Asaf Messerer, Julio Bokka, Shamil Yagudin, etc. This tradition is continued by cooperation with present stars of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theatres Evgeny Ivanchenko, Adrian Fadeev, Nikolay Ziskaridze, Galina Stepanenko, Ruslan Skvortsov and many others.
Today the "Russian State Ballet" can fairly be called an international ballet star. It attracts spectators with its versatile repertoire. A professional can only envy it as here any dancer is able to find a solo part. Those who adhere to academic style can reveal their talents in masterpieces of classical heritage - ballets "Swan Lake", "Sleeping Beauty", "Nutcracker" "Giselle" "Coppelia", "Don Quixote". Psychologically delicate and refined miniatures present a wide field for creative search for the dancers ready to demonstrate their flash techniques, sense of style, temperament and musicality. A thoughtful artist will find oneself in full-length performances of the RSB; the dancers inclined to neo-classical and modernist style can try their best in stagings of professor V.M.Gordeev - a winner of special Maurice Bejaert prize and the award "Best Choreographer of the Year". It is not by chance that the RSB has literally generated and gave a chance to fully reveal talents to such dancers as Honoured Artists of Russia Yana Kazantseva, Marina Bogdanova, Yury Burlaka, Tatiana Gurianova, Maya Ivanova, Rimma Sologubova, Sergey Pupyrev, Svetlana Ustjuzhaninova, Dmitry Protsenko, Honoured Artists of Azerbaijan Vitaly Akhundov and Victoria Akhundova, winners of different international competitions Elena Knjazkova, Konstantin Durnev, Angelika Tagirova, Andrey Riabov, Bat Udval (Mongolia), Dai Sasaki (Japan), Morihiro Ivata (Japan), Oleg Kozlov, Konstantin Telyatnikov, Masami Chino (Japan) and others.
Eventually the list of the soloists of the "Russian State Ballet" certainly changed. Venerable dancers who have shaped sonorous glory of the theatre were gradually substituted by a new generation of young talents - Natalia Ashikhmina, Anton Geyker, Elena Osokina, Irina Ablitsova, Maxim Fomin, Vladimir Mineev... Graduates of the best ballet schools of Russia and the CIS countries annually replenish the company on a competitive basis, dancers from abroad take part in audition alongside with Russian performers.
Not only artistic talents are revealed in the theatre. Dmitry Protsenko who was brought up as a ballet-master by V.Gordeev staged quite a number of choreographic pieces and miniatures that formed a programme premiere night of which took place in the RSB and had great success. The remarkable dancer has declared himself as an interesting choreographer. At the IX-th International competition of ballet dancers and choreographers he was noted by a Diploma. Many artists of the RSB have received higher education, others continue their study in the Russian Academy of Theatrical Arts, the Moscow State Academy of Choreography and other institutions.
They say that if one wins in wisdom one will necessarily lose in passion. But this is not the case with the "Russian State Ballet". It toured successfully in Germany, England, India, Indonesia, Greece, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, Mexico, China... Numerous charity performances are given in Moscow and the Moscow area for invalids and veterans of the Great Patriotic War, children from orphanage.
Pleasures and grieves of the past have steeled the company the main characteristic features of which are unanimity and community of creative aspirations. Success has not turned young heads, artistic maturity has not turned back self-calmness. Today the "Russian State Ballet" with its enthusiasm and inspiration form an integral part of the world culture.
Further information on the company can be found at their website www.russballet.ru
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