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The DQ Blog

Stay tuned to hear news from the ballet world, discuss iconic dancers and performances, and read about my ballet experiences.

Don Quixote at the Bolshoi Theatre starring Svetlana Zakharova and Denis Rodkin

9/24/2018

4 Kommentare

 
During my one-month long stay in Moscow this September, I was lucky enough to see Don Quixote at the Bolshoi Theatre with my two favourite dancers starring in it: Svetlana Zakharova and Denis Rodkin. It was an evening that changed my life forever and that I will never forget! 
The first monumental moment was definitely entering the majestic building of the Bolshoi Theatre. After an early dinner at the famous Vogue Cafe in Moscow, my friends and I set off on our way. I could barely breathe and couldn't utter a word. I was simply taking in every single one of the corners, every one of the walls, every one of the doors and people in the theatre. It was an emotion that I can't explain. 
After getting our programs and showing our tickets, we entered into the auditorium. This was the most incredible moment of all. One that has never visited the theatre cannot understand the beauty and energy of this room. The golden decorations and the breathtaking architecture astounded me immediately. The Bolshoi is the temple of ballet, and you can feel this royal energy in every detail of the theatre.
Eyes wide, I waited impatiently for the performance to start. Once it did, I fell into the magical world of Don Quixote and my eyes were glued to the stage.
It was, by far, the most beautiful and most well-executed performance I have ever seen. When Svetlana entered as Kitri, smile on her face and fan in the air, my eyes welled up with tears. 
Zakharova gave a brilliant, outstanding performance as usual. There are no words to describe her. This is a woman that was created to dance, and born for the stage. Not only is her technique impeccable (her jumps were simple magnificent!), but every move she makes and every step she takes is that of her character and that of a ballerina. She shone like a star and was perfect in the role of Kitri. I often hear from people that they dislike Zakharova because she is "too focused on the technique" and "not emotional enough". This, however, is a complete misconception. Zakharova's every aspect is ideal, and the emotions and attitude that she brings through in her movements are as expressive as those of Maya Plisetskaya's. 
Denis Rodkin was no less of a star than the beautiful Svetlana. His jumps made the audience hold their breath as he flew through the air. It seemed as if he would never return to earth, defying the laws of gravity. I never paid much attention to Rodkin, but this performance highlighted his brilliance and placed him in my mind as a magnificent male dancer, one of my definite favourites.
What I loved most about his performance was definitely his attitude and the unique flair that he brought to the role. At the end of each variation he shook his head explicitly to show the explosion of his flouncy hair. This was a lovely detail and made him even more fun to watch.
Apart from the two stars of the show, every single other dancer was unbelievable - this is no exaggeration. Kitri's two friends were charming, the Toreador and his partner flowed like water, and every single one of the corps de ballet dancers and soloists shone through as well. 

Highlights of the show: 
  • Kitri's Entrance
  • Kitri's Act I Variation (SVETA'S JUMPS!!!)
  • The Dream Scene - Dulcinea Variation 
  • Grand Pas de Deux (Act III)
  • Kitri's Act III Variation
  • Kitri's 32 fouettes

My two lovely Moscow friends who were kind enough to bring me with them had not ever been massive fans of ballet, and one of them was going to the Bolshoi for the very first time. They specifically told me after the performance that they fell in love with this art after seeing Don Quixote with me. Two weeks later, after I left, they came back to see Giselle at the Bolshoi - something they would have never thought of before seeing this magnificent show.

Don Quixote at the Bolshoi was the most special evening of my life, and something I will never forget. It showed me how Russian ballet is truly supreme to all other art forms.
Any performance at the Bolshoi is guaranteed to be fantastic. Please, please, please visit it and bring anyone who dislikes ballet - believe me, it will change their minds.  
4 Kommentare
Masha
7/1/2019 06:12:28 am

cool!! I saw Don quixote at the Bolshoi a few months ago, too but with Evgenia Obraztova. She was so good, but i really want to see Zakharova one day as well, but some people say that she is not that good in spanish roles.

Antwort
DQ link
7/1/2019 06:21:45 am

Hi Masha! So nice to hear from you! :)
It's so exciting that you got to see Evgenia in Don Quixote! I love her so much, and highly admire both her technique and her radiant and charming personality. She is beautiful, but has a completely different style from Svetlana - especially in this role. We actually have a section on Evgenia on DQ - I recommend looking at it if you haven't seen it yet! I hope to see her perform one day - that chance hasn't presented itself to me thus far.
As you said, a common opinion is that Svetlana isn't suited for roles like Kitri or Paquita, because she either "lacks flair" or "lacks expression". To be honest, I think this is completely false - Svetlana is delicate and graceful, and she might not be a stereotypical Kitri, with aggressive movements, extremely high jumps and fast turns. However, she brings her own fragility and beauty into the role, which I think is just as special! It really depends on what you are looking for. If you want to see a strong Kitri, tinted with speed and attitude, I recommend seeing someone like Natalia Osipova. But if you are fascinated by a more delicate Kitri with beautiful extensions and strong balances, Svetlana is just as good a choice!
If you want my advice: whenever you get the chance to watch Svetlana as Kitri, don't hesitate! You won't regret it.
Thanks again for leaving a comment, and for sharing you experience with DQ! Feel free to leave questions or suggestions in the Q&A tab of our website.

Antwort
Lila H.
7/1/2019 06:41:31 am

This looks amazing! How did you find the time to go to Moscow, did you go especially to see Zakharova? She's my favourite ballerina ever, you're sooo lucky! lots of love

Antwort
DQ link
7/1/2019 06:44:50 am

Hi again Lila, thanks for your message!
In fact, I travelled to Moscow at the beginning of September for the whole month for a traineeship with the Bolshoi Ballet Academy (Moscow State Academy of Choreography). This was an amazing experience, and I am currently writing a major blog post on it (it's coming soon!). It was definitely life-changing, and opened so many doors for me, offering countless opportunities such as this one: seeing the legend herself, Svetlana, at the Bolshoi.
It's great to hear that you love Svetlana too! Stay tuned for future posts with more details about Moscow!
Thank you for your support and enthusiasm!
Love from DQ

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    Author

    Alexia Dochnal, 15 years old.

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