segunda-feira, 22 de fevereiro de 2016

Wiener Staatsballet: The Snow Queen (Die Schneekönigin) - Volksoper - 2016, February 21st


Corder's "Snow Queen" is definitely not one of my favourite pieces.


The choreography neither follows nor contains an uniform line, a strong structure - it is sometimes "sprinkled" with a too obvious use of the music, sometimes too slow and all of a sudden - but lacking any stylish connection - too ferocious
(I am thinking about the gypsies at the third act's beginning - one of the few exciting and lively parts of the evening – but on its own!).

In fact, my chronic dislike to anything that is usually played at Christmas time – and specially targeted at families and children – is immense.
I dislike those "Season's spells" intensely.

Still “Snow Queen” offers good opportunity to young dancers.

Leonardo Basilio and Jakob Feyferlink were very secure and effective as the two wolves.

Basílio/Feyferlink/Ioanna Avraam - picture: copyright: State Opera

The same should be said about Tristan Ridel (making a good impression on stage) and Alexandru Tcacenco – both impressive, professional, melodic and very lyric as the two “roses”.
Not to be overlooked: Adele Fiocchi and Suzan Oppermann as the two polar foxes. Very, very effective.

The elves (or fairies) have quite dominated the stage and were splendidly danced by Natascha Mair, Eszter Ledán, Elena Bottaro (giving her debùt of this role) and Nikisha Fogo (unlike the others,focusing directly at the audience - and probably unintentionally "stealing" a bit of the show!).

Delightful Géraud Wielick made a good, secure impression as the reindeer.
He “wins the audience” on his first entrance: an obvious display of sympathy and good stage presence. One must say that Mr. Wielick seems changed everytime I see him on stage – he is developing fast, his stage persona is getting stronger with every single performance. A good thing.

Ketevan Papava and Eno Peçi, two great performers, were at ease, not being that much challenged as the gypsies. But their performances, as usual, were brilliant and precise – and always full of energy. Never dancers to “relax” on stage, they are – because of that quality – extremely appreciated by the audiences.

Nina Poláková, a dancer I have never – by coincidence – seen much of, gave a good, aggressive show of the (in fact) glacial character.
Unfortunately the choreography for the “Queen” tends to turn quite repetitive at the very end of the ballet, as if the choreographer’s vocabulary had vanished completely, finished.
The incessant, never ending lifts on jeté by the wolves are boring and make her look more like a drowning “Fliegende Holländer” than like a queen… also here Mr. Corder seems to have missed some more inventive ideas…
still…
Miss Poláková seemed a bit tense around the mouth and jaw area - A fact that is not seen at the video close-ups!
(which, in fact, I detest: they remind me of the wicked witch of the East in the Wizard of Oz!).
I am looking forward to watching Miss Poláková next week in “Onegin” – so shortly after having seen her in “Queen”.

The evening belonged completely to the lovely couple Nina Tonoli/ Greig Matthews.

Tonoli/Matthews - picture: copyright State Opera

Both, still very young, gave confident performances and were rewarded with huge applause.
Mr. Matthews was a steady, strong partner and had his joy while dancing the young Kay. Also a very "clean dancer" Mr. Matthews pays lot of attention to "details" - always displaying his (marvelous) demi-pointe and an impecable turned-out passé relevé.
Miss Tonoli, a very modest dancer and a hard worker, was absolutely enchanting. Her technique is clean, seeming completely natural to her - as if she'd be a dancer who makes no efforts (that is an utopia!).
I consider Miss Tonli one of the few candidates for future 100% classic roles... and I could already imagine her in "Coppelia".

It should also be noted that their first pas-de-deux, in which they seem to be playing with each other and having lots of fun, is especially entertaining.
The use of the diagonals is extremely effective – and combines lot of fun with step precision.

All in all: a pleasant evening, very “Volksoper-like”.
Not a real challenge for an “every day, average ballet-goer” but still… colorful and “neat”!

17 comentários:

Jakob Feyferlink disse...

thank you very much Ricardo

Nikisha Fogo disse...

Nice! Thank you hope your well

Elena Bottaro disse...



Thanks !

Natascha Mayr disse...

Thank you!

Greig Matthews disse...

Thank you Ricardo:) happy you enjoyed us at least haha

As Tertulías disse...

You said it: I enjoyed the dancers but not the choreography - which I knew already from London. Take care.
Ricardo

Iris disse...

Obrigada, genial admirar uma obra assim pela sua delicada crônica.
Uma ótima crítica!
Gostaria também de assistir a Onegin, um dos ballets em que sempre me emociono muito. Shishov, maltratando o coração da jovem Tatiana e esta sofrendo para lhe dar o troco ao perder sua inocência.
Bom espetáculo 🎭 bjs

Tristan Ridel disse...

Thank you for sending me this really nice article I share your opinion about the ballet.

As Tertulías disse...

a clever man. Thank you!

Geraud Wielick disse...

Thank you
Nice to hear that I am growing :-)

As Tertulías disse...

up... ;-)

Anônimo disse...

Nina Tonoli sent me a kiss on Facebook.

Mike disse...

Hi Rick.great review.those youngsters are great.Flying back to Germany this week-end.do you think I could still get two tickets for corsaire on march 20th?Mike

Isabel Jardim disse...

Caro Ricardo

Foi muito interessante ler a sua crítica; tive de recorrer ao tradutor algumas vezes, mas acho que entendi a mensagem.
Entendi que não aprova os bailados que são adaptados ao Natal e eu acho que tem razão, pois penso que existe a possibilidade de desvirtua-los de alguma forma. Seria talvez preferível criar um ballet fresco e leve, dirigido a crianças e famílias. A excelente qualidade da coreografia, da orquestra e dos bailarinos, decerto garantiria uma apresentação deslumbrante e apropriada ao público natalício. Acha que faz sentido o que acabei de dizer?!
A seu ver, a coreografia nem sempre foi harmoniosa e por vezes repetitiva, mas os bailarinos fizeram o que se espera dos profissionais de qualidade, ou seja, desempenharam bem o seu papel, com arte, competência e alegria.
Por fim, acabou por ser uma noite agradável e, mais uma vez os bailarinos do Ballet de Viena puderam ler a sua opinião isenta, construtiva e, sobretudo, amiga.

Um abraço para si

Isabel Maria

As Tertulías disse...

Prezada Isabel,
Agradeco antes de tudo sua delicadeza e trato amigo para comigo! Sim, nao sou muito "fa" dos ballets de Natal - talvez por ter sofrido durante muitos anos no Rio de Janeiro com um !`"quebra Nozes" terrível, feilto por uma senhora sem talento chamda Dalal Achcar, que considero uma das obras mais bobas e piegas que já o (des)prazer de assistir. MInha antipatia por estes ballets "de temporada" tonou-se tamanha que nem o "Nutcracker" de Nureyev aguento mais... he he he... Este "Snow Queen" foi uma tentativa de lavra um "novo" ballet de Natal - mas nos moldes antigos - o que nao deu certo artísticamente. Tive porém o prazer desta vez de assitir mais uma vez belos talentos... Mal posso esperar pelo próximo sábado para assistir "Eugene Onegin" que (pasme!) nunca assisti ao vivo e só conheco de videos! Estou muito excitado com esta premiere (para mim) e esperei o bailarino nobre Vladimir Shishov dancar para poder assistir - quero ver esta alma russa desempenhando os sentimentos dos poemas de Pushkin!!!! Comentarei! Um grande abraco meu daqui de Viena (onde comecou mais uma vez a fazer frio! Bom assim... est´s na época).
Meus melhores cumprimentos para Lisboa (Estou certo em assumir que voce vive em Lisboa?)
Ricardo

Leonardo Basílio disse...

Obrigado!! Grande abraço!

Regina Ferraz disse...

Ricardo querido.Você sempre nos mostra
o que você vê de mais lindo.Integrado em todas
as artes.Que cabeça e sentimento que desperta
em nós uma cidade como a nossa que perdeu
o Charme e o Glamour.Muito lindo!!! E bailarinos
que sabem contar histórias com beleza e expressão.... Beijos da amiga.Tudo de bom e sucessos constantes nas suas aspirações.Beijos Regina