KIROV BALLET AND ORCHESTRA

From April 1 to April 20, the Kirov Orchestra and Ballet will be at the City Center, making one of their rare appearances in New York.

They are being brought to the US by Ardani Management, a relatively new company, bringing modern Russian presentations to the US, which appears devoted to taking on the mantle of Sol Hurok, the legendary producer who brought great Russian Artists to the US half a century ago.

(Sergei & Gaiane Danilian, producers, were born in the Soviet Union, and both graduated from the Russian Academy of the Theater Arts where they met. They married in 1984. After five years working in different drama theaters in Moscow, in 1990 they founded Ardani Artists Management. In 1994, Ardani Artists entered the American market, bringing to the U.S. exponents of arts and culture from the former Soviet Union.)

During its three-week season, the 200-year-old Russian company, under the Artistic Direction of Valery Gergiev and Director of the Ballet, Makhar Vaziev, will be performing a wide range of works by the choreographers and artists who have made the Kirov one of the world’s greatest ballet companies, as well as works by contemporary dance makers.

The company’s rich classical repertoire includes works by Marius Petipa, Michel Fokine and George Balanchine and more modern works by William Forsythe.

The Kirov Ballet will bring some of its most acclaimed repertory classics: Petipa’s The Kingdom of Shadows from La Bayadere, Fokine’s Scheherazade and Chopiniana, Gorsky’s The Grand Pas de Deux from Don Quixote and Balanchine’s Jewels and Ballet Imperial, as well as Forsythe’s Steptext.

The historic Kirov Ballet was founded in 1783 and is closely linked with the legacy of classical Russian ballet, and throughout the centuries, the company has produced the world’s greatest dancers in ballet, including such legendary performers as Anna Pavlova, Vaclav Nijinsky, Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Natalia Makarova, and many more.

Under the artistic direction of Valery Gergiev since 1988, the Kirov continues its tradition of discovering exceptional dancers: Uliana Lopatkina, Diana Vishneva, Daria Pavlenko, Igor Zelensky, Igor Kolb, Andrian Fadeev, Danila Korsuntsev and Leonid Sarafanov will be part of the 200-member company performing at City Center.

The ballets include choreography by Michel Fokine, including some reconstructed by Fokine's granddaughter Isabelle Fokine (with "inside info") and dancer, Andris Liepa (as shown in the film, "Fighting for Fokine," that can frequently be seen on Ovation -- Next showings: Monday, March 24/2008, 10AM, 1PM, 4PM).

Here is the Kirov program (as of today, according to the Ardani web site, and subject to change):

WEEK ONE
April 1, 2008 at 7:30PM

Act One
Raymonda (Act 3)
Music: Alexander Glazunov
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Cast: Lopatkina, Korsuntsev

Act Two
Paquita (Grand Pas)
Music: Ludwig Minkus
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Cast: Vishneva, Fadeev

Act Three
La Bayadere (The Kingdom of Shadows) Music: Ludwig Minkus
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Somova, Sarafanov


April 2, 2008 at 7:30PM

Act One
Raymonda (Act 3)
Music: Alexander Glazunov
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Cast: Novikova, Fadeev

Act Two
Paquita (Grand Pas)
Music: Ludwig Minkus
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Cast: Tereshkina, Ivanchenko

Act Three
La Bayadere (The Kingdom of Shadows) Music: Ludwig Minkus
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Cast: Lopatkina, Korsuntsev


April 3, 2008 at 7:30PM

Act One
Raymonda (Act 3)
Music: Alexander Glazunov
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Cast: Tereshkina, Korsuntsev

Act Two
Paquita (Grand Pas)
Music: Ludwig Minkus
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Caat: Somova, Korsakov

Act Three
La Bayadere (The Kingdom of Shadows) Music: Ludwig Minkus
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Cast: Vishneva, Ivanchenko


April 4, 2008 at 8PM

Act One
Chopiniana
Music: Frederic Chopin
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Osmolkina, Korsakov

Act Two
Le Spectre de la Rose
Music: Carl Maria von Weber
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Golub, Kolb
Pause
The Dying Swan
Music: Camille Saint-Saens
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Lopatkina

Act Three
Scheherazade
Music: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast:
Cast: Vishneva, Kolb


April 5, 2008 at 2PM

Act One
Chopiniana
Music: Frederic Chopin
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Kolegova, Korsuntsev


Act Two
Le Spectre de la Rose
Music: Carl Maria von Weber
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Gonchar, Korsakov
Pause
The Dying Swan
Music: Camille Saint-Saens
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Lopatkina

Act Three Scheherazade
Music: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Choreography: Michel Fokine
Lopatkina, Ivanchenko


April 5, 2008 at 8PM

Act One
Chopiniana
Music: Frederic Chopin
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Osmolkina, Kolb

Act Two
Le Spectre de la Rose
Music: Carl Maria von Weber
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Golub, Sarafanov
Pause
The Dying Swan
Music: Camille Saint-Saens
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Vishneva

Act Three
Scheherazade
Music: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Lopatkina, Kozlov


April 6, 2008 at 3PM

Act One
Chopiniana
Music: Frederic Chopin
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Kolegova, Ivanchenko

Act Two
Le Spectre de la Rose
Music: Carl Maria von Weber
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Golub, Sarafanov
Pause
The Dying Swan
Music: Camille Saint-Saens
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Lopatkina

Act Three
Scheherazade
Music: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Choreography: Michel Fokine Cast: Vishneva, Kolb


WEEK 2
April 8, 2008 at 7:30 PM

Act One
Le Corsaire (Le Jardin anime and Pas de Deux)
Music: Adolphe Adam
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Cast: Vishneva, Korsakov, Korsuntsev

Act Two
Diana and Acteon (Pas de Deux)
Music: Cesare Pugni
Choreography: Agrippina Vaganova
Cast: Tereshkina, Lobukhin
Pause
Don Quixote (Grand Pas de Deux)
Music: Ludwig Minkus
Choreography: Alexander Gorsky
Cast: Somova, Sarafanov

Act Three
La Bayadere (The Kingdom of Shadows) Music: Ludwig Minkus
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Cast: Lopatkina, Ivanchenko


April 9, 2008 at 7:30PM

Act One
Le Corsaire (Le Jardin anime and Pas de Deux)
Music: Adolphe Adam
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Cast: Lopatkina, Kolb, Kozlov

Act Two
Diana and Acteon (Pas de Deux)
Music: Cesare Pugni
Choreography: Agrippina Vaganova
Cast: Osmolkina, Lobukhin
Pause
Don Quixote (Grand Pas de Deux)
Music: Ludwig Minkus
Choreography: Alexander Gorsky
Cast: Tereshkina, Korsakov

Act Three
La Bayadere (The Kingdom of Shadows) Music: Ludwig Minkus
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Cast: Novikova, Fadeev


April 10, 2008 at 7:30PM

Act One
Le Corsaire (Le Jardin anime and Pas de Deux)
Music: Adolphe Adam
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Cast: Tereshkina, Sarafanov, Ivanchenko

Act Two
Diana and Acteon (Pas de Deux)
Music: Cesare Pugni
Choreography: Agrippina Vaganova
Cast: Novikova, Lobukhin
Pause
Don Quixote (Grand Pas de Deux)
Music: Ludwig Minkus
Choreography: Alexander Gorsky
Cast: Vishneva, Fadeev

Act Three
La Bayadere (The Kingdom of Shadows) Music: Ludwig Minkus
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Cast: Somova, Korsuntsev


April 11, 2008 at 8PM

Act One
Chopiniana
Music: Frederic Chopin
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Bolshakova, Ivanchenko

Act Two
Le Spectre de la Rose
Music: Carl Maria von Weber
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Golub, Kolb
Pause
The Dying Swan
Music: Camille Saint-Saens
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Lopatkina

Act Three
Etudes
Music: Karl Czerny
Choreography: Harald Lander
Cast: Somova, Sarafanov, Fadeev


April 12, 2008 at 2PM

Act One
Chopiniana
Music: Frederic Chopin
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Vasnetsova, Korsuntsev

Act Two
Le Spectre de la Rose
Music: Carl Maria von Weber
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Gonchar, Sarafanov
Pause
The Dying Swan
Music: Camille Saint-Saens
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Vishneva

Act Three
Etudes
Music: Karl Czerny
Choreography: Harald Lander
Cast: Novikova, Schklyarov, Korsakov


April 12, 2008 at 8PM

Act One
Music: Frederic Chopin
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Osmolkina, Kolb

Act Two
Le Spectre de la Rose
Music: Carl Maria von Weber
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Golub, Korsakov
Pause
The Dying Swan ]
Music: Camille Saint-Saens
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Lopatkina

Act Three
Etudes
Music: Karl Czerny
Choreography: Harald Lander
Cast: Tereshkina, Sarafanov, Fadeev


April 13, 2008 at 3PM

Act One
Chopiniana
Music: Frederic Chopin
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Kolegova, Ivanchenko

Act Two

Le Spectre de la Rose
Music: Carl Maria von Weber
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Gonchar, Kolb
Pause
The Dying Swan
Music: Camille Saint-Saens
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Cast: Vishneva

Act Three
Etudes
Music: Karl Czerny
Choreography: Harald Lander
Cast: Somova, Sarafanov, Schklyarov


WEEK 3
April 15, 2008 at 7:30PM

Act One
Steptext
Music: J.S. Bach
Choreography: William Forsythe
Cast: Vishneva, Kolb, Lobukhin, Sergeev

Act Two
Approximate Sonata
Music: Thom Willems
Choreography: William Forsythe
Cast: Scheschina, Ivanov, Riu, Popov Sergei, Selina, Pimonov, Kondaurova, Zyuzin
Pause
The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude Music: Franz Schubert
Choreography: William Forsythe
Cast: Androsova, Gonchar, Osmolkina, Sarafanov, Fadeev

Act Three
In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated
Music: Thom Willems
Choreography: William Forsythe
Cast: Golub, Kondaurova, Novikova, Scheschina, Selina, Dubrovina, Lobukhin, Sergeev, Pimonov


April 16, 2008 at 7:30PM

Act One
Steptext
Music: J.S. Bach
Choreography: William Forsythe
Cast: Kondaurova, Pimonov, Lobukhin, Sergeev

Act Two
Approximate Sonata
Music: Thom Willems
Choreography: William Forsythe
Cast: Scheschina, Ivanov, Riu, Popov Sergei, Selina, Pimonov, Kondaurova, Zyuzin
Pause
The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude Music: Franz Schubert
Choreography: William Forsythe
Cast: Androsova, Gonchar, Osmolkina, Sarafanov, Schklyarov

Act Three
In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated
Music: Thom Willems
Choreography: William Forsythe
Cast: Golub, Kondaurova, Novikova, Scheschina, Selina, Dubrovina, Lobukhin, Sergeev, Pimonov


April 17, 2008 at 7:30PM

Act One
Steptext
Music: J.S. Bach
Choreography: William Forsythe
Cast: Kondaurova, Pimonov, Lobukhin, Sergeev

Act Two
Approximate Sonata
Music: Thom Willems
Choreography: William Forsythe
Cast: Scheschina, Ivanov, Riu, Popov Sergei, Petushkova, Nedviga, Dubrovina, Timofeev
Pause
The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude Music: Franz Schubert
Choreography: William Forsythe
Androsova, Gonchar, Osmolkina,
Cast: Schklyarov, Fadeev

Act Three
In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated
Music: Thom Willems
Choreography: William Forsythe
Cast: Golub, Kondaurova, Novikova, Scheschina, Selina, Dubrovina, Lobukhin, Sergeev, Pimonov


April 18, 2008 at 8PM

Act One
Serenade
Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Choreography: George Balanchine
Cast: Somova, Korsuntsev

Act Two
Rubies from Jewels
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Choreography: George Balanchine
Cast: Vishneva, Fadeev, Kondaurova

Act Three
Ballet Imperial
Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Choreography: George Balanchine
Cast: Tereshkina, Kolb


April 19, 2008 at 2PM

Act One
Serenade
Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Choreography: George Balanchine
Cast: Osmolkina, Ivanchenko

Act Two
Rubies from Jewels
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Choreography: George Balanchine
Cast: Tereshkina, Korsakov, Gonchar

Act Three
Ballet Imperial
Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Choreography: George Balanchine
Cast: Somova, Schklyarov


April 19, 2008 at 8PM

Act One
Serenade
Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Choreography: George Balanchine
Cast: Kondaurova, Korsuntsev

Act Two
Rubies from Jewels
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Choreography: George Balanchine
Cast: Golub, Sarafanov, Gonchar

Act Three
Ballet Imperial
Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Choreography: George Balanchine
Cast: Lopatkina, Korsuntsev


April 20, 2008 at 3PM

Act One
Serenade
Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Choreography: George Balanchine
Cast: Tereshkina, Ivanchenko

Act Two
Rubies from Jewels
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Choreography: George Balanchine
Cast: Novikova, Schklyarov, Kondaurova

Act Three

Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Choreography: George Balanchine
Cast: Vishneva, Fadeev