The Unofficial Information Exchange tickertape is whirling around again.
Will ABT follow the unprecedented generosity and guidance of the Royal Ballet and offer full or partial refunds when it fails to present Osipova and Vasiliev in the Don Quixote and Le Corsaire PdDs this week in Tokyo? When does ABT plan on telling the Tokyo buying public that they're not getting what they paid for – at curtain time?
It will be interesting to see how ABT frames this latest example of its foolish reliance on ballet's Gold Medalist in Unreliability. (Polunin took the Silver.) Let's look at some possibilities: (a) Natalia is still recovering from her concussion and she shouldn't fly around in Don Q or Le Corsaire - even though she was back on the stage in full force in London, or (b) Natalia and Ivan aren't getting along and don't care to dance with each other, or (c) Ivan is too tired from his super gala at the Mikhailovsky last week and doesn't want to make the trip, or (d) Sorry, no speaky Japanese.
More material for Flesh and Bone.
Update 2/24:
They chose version (c). Vasiliev is in poor health and can't make the trip. Osipova will bourree around in the solo from Manon Act II instead. lol. She's the victim again. Applause, applause. Report.
Hello, I live in Tokyo. I watched the morning class of ABT on Saturday and Natalia was attending that class so at least she is here. It seems Ivan has not arrived yet. I will inform whether they performed or not.
Posted by: naomi | February 23, 2014 at 02:38 PM
Thanks, Naomi.
Posted by: Haglund | February 23, 2014 at 02:45 PM
Natalia and Ivan are a couple no more. That might factor into their joint appearances being reduced.
Posted by: Ivy | February 24, 2014 at 01:40 PM
Interesting news. Since I live in Southern California, I wonder what will happen to their scheduled performances this July in Orange County where they are billed as the preeminent ballet partnership ["Dance’s reigning power couple return to Segerstrom Center in a special world premiere event created to showcase their matchless talents." See website for Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts] and are to dance Le Jeune Homme et la Mort and the Kingdom of the Shades from La Bayadere, sans the corps de ballet which would make it a kingdom of shades. As this was obviously set up through Ardani, my only concern is that Eifman Ballet might become a replacement.
Posted by: J | February 24, 2014 at 02:35 PM
Excellent Haglund :)))! Natalia Osipova is totally unreliable. At this point, it should be obvious to any Artistic Director who has a pulse and is PAYING ATTENTION, -> (is my 'mike' on?), that her association with a company will not be for the long haul. IMO, Covent Garden has been 1) too indulgent and 2) too generous re this "investment."
Posted by: Erica | February 24, 2014 at 05:29 PM
Hi, J.
Osipova and Vasiliev may have cooled but they could heat up again at any time. We haven't seen the last of them together. Remember - when they joined Mikhailovsky, their deal reportedly included being given property in Moscow if they remained with the company for five years. They have a ways to go.
But never mind them, you are getting BOTH the premiere of Ratmansky's new Sleeping Beauty AND Johnny Mathis in the 2014-15 season. Maybe now that Ratmansky has the reins of ABT's Sleeping Beauty, we'll finally get to see Stella Abrera as Aurora. Chances Are that will happen on The Twelfth of Never. Oh man, Johnny Mathis.
Posted by: Haglund | February 24, 2014 at 07:50 PM
Thank you, Erica.
I think ADs understand that they're rolling the dice when they hire her. But they know that the media will blow her importance out of proportion and as a result, tickets will be sold. Unfortunately, the media also plays a role in victimizing those ticketbuyers.
Posted by: Haglund | February 24, 2014 at 08:02 PM
What is your source of the Ratmansky Sleeping Beauty? I have obviously been too immersed in work to catch this. Thanks, Haglund.
Posted by: J | February 24, 2014 at 08:35 PM
Just found the article on Ratmansky's Sleeping Beauty in the NY Times, which I subscribe to.
Posted by: J | February 24, 2014 at 08:38 PM
I don't think it's any big loss if they are no longer partners. I saw Osipova in Don Q with Carreno and it was so much better than her Don Q with Vasiliev. He did not appear to be a strong or attentive partner. On top of that, much of what he did on his own was sloppy. I will avoid any performance of his in the future.
Posted by: Minnie | February 25, 2014 at 01:35 PM
All true, Minnie.
Posted by: Haglund | February 26, 2014 at 09:03 AM